Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth

Sheffield Wednesday vs Plymouth Argyle Preview

Despite suffering the worst start to a Championship season in club history, Sheffield Wednesday produced a great escape and finished last season in the relative safety of 20th place and three points above the relegation zone, while Plymouth Argyle produced a crucial 1-0 home win against Hull City on the final day of the season to confirm their Championship status for another term.

Sheffield Wednesday produced a horrific start to last season's Championship campaign under former manager Xisco Munoz as The Owls failed to win any of their opening 13 games and being dealt no fewer than 10 defeats within this miserable period of results as well, but the arrival of German manager Danny Röhl proved to be a masterstroke by the Sheffield Wednesday board.

Up until the end of December, Sheffield Wednesday had managed to capture just five league wins which had dumped The Owls second from bottom in the Championship table and six points adrift of safety.

However, the second half of last season saw a dramatic turnaround in form for The Owls as the Yorkshire club doubled their win tally by collecting 10 victories which included winning their last three league games on the trot with crucial wins against Blackburn Rovers, West Brom and Sunderland - the latter being a 2-0 win away from home on the final day of the season.

Plymouth Argyle also secured Championship safety on the final day of last season's campaign as The Pilgrims registered a narrow 1-0 home win against Hull City but another long and tough season is expected to unfold for the west country club this term.

Plymouth had previously looked doomed and in the throws of a downward spiralling trajectory after producing just one win in 11 league matches from mid-February through to the start of April which came in the form of a 2-0 win away from home at Middlesbrough but also included no fewer than eight defeats dealt out to them as well.

However, caretaker manager, Neil Dewsnip, managed to inspire the Plymouth Argyle squad for one last push towards the end of the season and the west country outfit produced a season-saving three wins from their final six games of the season to achieve safety.

Victories against Rotherham United, Leicester City and the aforementioned 1-0 win against Hull City on the final day of the season proved to be enough but the appointment of manager Wayne Rooney was certainly a curious one given what transpired at Birmingham City.

Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth Argyle Verdict

Both Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle will be desperate to avoid a repeat of last season's survival heroics but it's the hosts that look the better equipped to take the spoils in this upcoming opening fixture.

Therefore, our main bet will be Sheffield Weds win @ 1.80

Other side bets worth considering:

Sheffield Weds win & Under 2.5 goals @ 4.00

Correct Score: Sheffield Weds 1-0 @ 7.00