Salford City welcome Sheffield Wednesday to the AIG Stadium on Tuesday night for the opening round of EFL Trophy group fixtures. Peter Cklamovski’s side arrive in good spirits after three straight League Two wins, with the latest a controlled 1-0 victory over Swindon Town.
Wednesday sit second in League One after a strong start under Henrik Pedersen, although their last two league games have both finished 0-0. The Owls have been difficult to beat and excellent away from Hillsborough, but this competition should bring changes after Saturday’s draw with Stockport County.
That rotation point matters. Salford have been organised in their recent 5-3-2, Wednesday may rest several senior regulars, and neither side needs to open the game up early in a Trophy group match where a draw still leads to penalties for an extra point.
Our prediction is 1-1, with Under 2.5 Goals at odds of 2.30 our best bet.
Quick Prediction
Best Bet: Under 2.5 Goals
Market: Total Goals
Correct Score Prediction: 1-1
Odds: 2.30
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Expected Goals: Under 2.5 Goals
Both Teams To Score: Yes
📅 Date: 22 September 2026
🏟️ Venue: AIG Stadium, Moor Lane
🏆 Competition: EFL Trophy
Match Preview
Salford’s season has quickly settled after three opening league defeats. They are now 12th in League Two with 10 points from seven matches, and the recent run has been built on a much firmer defensive base. Cklamovski’s team beat Newport County 2-1 before recording 1-0 wins over Port Vale and Swindon, while the 3-3 draw at Rotherham showed they can still create chances when the game becomes stretched.
The Swindon result was especially encouraging. Salford had 59% possession, 21 attempts and six shots on target, eventually winning through Joe Powell’s 77th-minute goal. It was their third clean sheet in four league fixtures and showed more patience than the earlier, chaotic draw at Rotherham.
Cklamovski has generally favoured a 5-3-2, with the wing-backs asked to give Salford width while the central three make the side hard to play through. Adebola Oluwo and Dan Scarr bring experience to the back line, while Taylor Allen, Ollie Turton, Kelly N’Mai and Luke Molyneux give the manager options out wide. Powell has become the key figure in midfield, scoring in each of Salford’s last three league matches, and Macaulay Langstaff offers a focal point up front.
Wednesday bring the higher league status and have made an impressive start to life back in League One. Pedersen’s side have taken 14 points from seven league matches, scoring 13 times and conceding only six. Their away record is particularly strong: they have won all three competitive trips this season, each by a 2-1 scoreline against Leyton Orient, Wycombe Wanderers and Peterborough United.
Recent home performances have been less convincing, though. Wednesday drew 0-0 with Wigan and Stockport either side of the international break, and Stockport had the greater shot volume at Hillsborough on Saturday. Pedersen admitted his side were too passive before half-time and needed to create more, which is relevant against a Salford team that have defended well in recent weeks.
The Owls’ strongest league set-up has been a 4-2-3-1. Barry Bannan and Billy Mitchell have controlled the middle, with Callum Slattery operating ahead of them and Jamal Lowe providing the sharpest goal threat from the front line. Lowe has five goals in eight appearances in all competitions, but Pedersen is expected to rotate heavily, potentially changing the shape and rhythm of a side that has played its key senior players regularly.
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Why Under 2.5 Goals Makes Sense
At 2.30, Under 2.5 Goals is the better way to approach a match where the likely personnel are as important as the league positions. Wednesday have more depth, but a rotated away XI is unlikely to play with the same fluency as the side built around Bannan, Mitchell, Slattery and Lowe.
Salford are also unlikely to abandon the structure that has delivered three consecutive league wins. Their recent back five has protected Will Norris well, with clean sheets against Port Vale and Swindon. Powell is in excellent scoring form, but Cklamovski’s side have not needed to chase games recklessly during this home run; four goals across those three league victories tells its own story.
Wednesday’s last two league matches ended 0-0, and their display against Stockport showed an attack still working on ways to break down compact opponents. Salford should be comfortable without the ball in spells, while the hosts can make use of Langstaff and their wing-backs on the counter rather than commit numbers forward.
Under 2.5 Goals wins if there are no more than two goals in 90 minutes. A 0-0, 1-0, 0-1 or 1-1 scoreline all land the bet, which gives us room for either team to find a breakthrough without needing an entirely goalless contest. The main risk is Wednesday’s attacking quality if Lowe or Slattery start, especially given their three 2-1 away wins this season. Still, the prospect of rotation and Salford’s recent defensive discipline make the line look generous.
- ✓Salford have won their last three League Two matches.
- ✓Salford have kept three clean sheets in their last four league fixtures.
- ✓Joe Powell has scored in each of Salford’s last three league games.
- ✓Sheffield Wednesday are unbeaten in five League One matches.
- ✓Wednesday’s last two league matches both finished 0-0.
- ✓Wednesday have won all three competitive away matches this season, each by a 2-1 scoreline.
- ✓This is the first official meeting between Salford City and Sheffield Wednesday.
Team News
Salford have usable depth after a busy summer, with Lee Burge now another goalkeeping option behind recent number one Norris. Cklamovski could freshen his team after Saturday, with Ryan Graydon, Ben Woodburn, Kallum Cesay, Luke Molyneux, Nathan Asiimwe and Luke Garbutt all pushing for minutes. Abraham Odoh was absent from the Swindon match after his red card at Rotherham, so his status will need checking when the teams are announced.
Wednesday have a longer injury list. Di’Shon Bernard, Max Lowe, Cole McGhee, Tyler Onyango, George Brown, Louie Barry and Jordi Liongola are reported sidelined, while Ali Al-Hamadi missed the Stockport draw with a foot issue. Ricardo Santos and Davis Keillor-Dunn were withdrawn with cramp on Saturday rather than reported long-term injuries.
Pedersen is expected to rest several regulars. Bannan, Liam Cooper, Yan Valery, Mitchell and Slattery have all played heavily in the league, so younger and squad players could be given the opportunity at Moor Lane.
Possible Starting Lineups
Salford Possible XI
Will Norris; Ollie Turton; Dan Scarr; Adebola Oluwo; Taylor Allen; Kelly N’Mai; Elliot Bonds; Joe Powell; Jorge Grant; Macaulay Langstaff; Daniel Udoh
Sheffield Wednesday Possible XI
Ashley Maynard-Brewer; Liam Palmer; Gabriel Otegbayo; Ernie Weaver; Reece James; Jaden Heskey; Jarvis Thornton; Kieran Morrison; Davis Keillor-Dunn; Harry Gray; Mason Burstow
Players to Watch
Joe Powell — Salford City
Powell has scored in three consecutive league matches and has become Salford’s most reliable late-arriving goal threat. His work around the edge of the area and from set pieces gives the hosts a route to goal even if Wednesday control possession.
Macaulay Langstaff — Salford City
Langstaff scored in the 3-3 draw at Rotherham and will be important if Salford can turn clearances into attacks. He should have opportunities to test a Wednesday defence that may be altered from the usual Cooper-Santos pairing.
Jamal Lowe — Sheffield Wednesday
Lowe has made the quickest scoring start of Wednesday’s new-look attack, with five goals in eight outings. If he is involved, his movement from wide or through the middle is the main reason Salford cannot simply sit too deep.
Kieran Morrison — Sheffield Wednesday
Morrison came off the bench against Stockport and is among the players who could benefit from Pedersen’s expected rotation. His ability to operate between the lines could be useful against Salford’s three-man midfield.
Head-to-Head
This will be the first official meeting between Salford City and Sheffield Wednesday. There is no previous competitive result at Moor Lane to guide the match-up, so current form and likely cup selection are more relevant than historical trends.
Final Verdict
Wednesday have started the season well and their perfect away record deserves respect, but this is not likely to be their strongest league XI. Salford are playing with confidence, have won their last three home league games and should keep the contest competitive through their compact 5-3-2.
The main danger to the bet is an early goal opening the game up, particularly if Wednesday’s senior attacking players are used. Even so, the recent 0-0 draws for the Owls, Salford’s improved defending and expected changes on both sides point towards a measured contest. At 2.30, Under 2.5 Goals remains the value choice, with a 1-1 draw the correct-score prediction.
FreeOddsTips Prediction
Salford should be difficult to break down at home, while Sheffield Wednesday may not carry their usual league rhythm if Pedersen makes the expected changes. Under 2.5 Goals remains attractive because the match can be close and competitive without becoming open.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 Goals
Odds: 2.30
Confidence: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Correct Score: Salford 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
