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Sheffield Wednesday arrive at Griffin Park on the crest of a wave after back-to-back victories in league and cup in the past week.

They hit the headlines on Wednesday with their 1-0 giant-killing win at Premier League Newcastle in the third round of the Capital One Cup, which followed last Saturday’s 3-2 defeat of Fulham – only their second Championship victory of the season in their eight games.

Despite those wins however, it’s not been the best of starts for the Owls, whose only other three-pointer came against promoted Bristol City (2-0) on the opening day of the season.

Their other home games have resulted in a goalless draw with Reading and a 3-1 defeat by Middlesbrough while on the road they have drawn at Leeds (1-1) and Bolton (0-0) and lost at Ipswich (2-1) and Burnley (3-1).

Their Capital One Cup run has at least produced wins with defeats of League Two Mansfield (4-1) and our conquerors Oxford (1-0) setting up the trip to Newcastle – and their reward is a fourth round tie at home to Arsenal next month.

The Owls underwent a change of manager in the summer with Carlos Carvalhal being appointed at the end of June to replace Stuart Gray, who had parted company with the club earlier in the month.

The Portuguese dipped into the transfer market to sign several players including two former Bees in Lewis Price and Michael Turner as well as midfielder Lewis McGugan from Watford, former Burnley winger Ross Wallace, Celta Vigo midfielder Alex Lopez and former Portugal Under-21 striker Marco Matias.

This week they have also been linked with a loan move for Sunderland striker Danny Graham, who was a target for Brentford last season.

Sheffield Wednesday are in their fourth consecutive campaign in the Championship after winning promotion as League One runners-up in 2012.

Since the year 2000 they have flitted between these two divisions following relegation from the Premier League, of which Wednesday were a founding member.

WE’VE MET BEFORE

Brentford have failed to beat the Owls in any of our last four meetings.

Last year we didn’t even score against them – sharing a goalless draw on a Tuesday night in October on which the Bees celebrated the club’s 125th anniversary and then losing the return, again midweek, to a solitary second half goal.

Our previous meetings came in League One in 2011/12 and after a November goalless stalemate at Hillsborough, Wednesday won 2-1 late in the season in TW8 to move closer to automatic promotion.

The season before that we did the double over the Owls – following an early season 1-0 Griffin Park win live on TV with a 3-1 late March win in Yorkshire.

IN CHARGE

Carlos Carvalhal managed 14 different teams in three countries before arriving at Hillsborough this summer.

The 49-year-old has mostly worked in his home country of Portugal but has also been in charge in Greece and Turkey, with Besiktas the most well-known of his clubs.

He was a central defender in his playing days and won nine caps for the Portugal Under-21 side.

On the day of his appointment, Wednesday chairman Dejphon Chansiri told the club’s website: “It is important for our supporters that they watch their team play attractive, aggressive and entertaining football.

“Carlos buys in completely to this philosophy and I am confident that his experience, knowledge and ability will herald the start of a successful new era for Sheffield Wednesday.”

BRENTFORD CONNECTIONS

As mentioned earlier, Wednesday now have two former Bees in their ranks in Lewis Price and Michael Turner.

Lewis played 18 matches for us during a season-long loan spell from Derby in the first half of the 2009/10 season – one of four goalkeepers to turn out for us during the campaign.

He lost his place in the side when manager Andy Scott signed a certain Wojciech Szczesny on loan from Arsenal and he spent most of the rest of the season on our bench.

The Wales international joined Wednesday after being released by Crystal Palace in the summer.

He missed the start of this season after having his appendix removed but made three appearances after an injury to Keiren Westwood, who has reclaimed his place in the side.

Michael made more than 100 appearances for us in two seasons under Martin Allen in the middle of the last decade and formed a formidable central defensive partnership with Sam Sodje.

He is on a season-long loan from Norwich and if he plays on Saturday, will be making his third appearance against Brentford in 2015 – each time for a different club.

He was in the Norwich side beaten 2-1 at Carrow Road in January and the Fulham team which lost 4-1 to us on Good Friday.

Michael was in the Brentford team beaten by Sheffield Wednesday in the 2005 League One play-off semi-finals.

SQUAD NEWS

Wednesday made 10 changes for the League Cup tie at Newcastle but are likely to revert to the side which beat Fulham last weekend for this Saturday’s encounter.

Former Watford striker Fernando Forestieri was cup-tied but also had a hamstring strain so may not return today.

Their only Championship ever-present Tom Lees also featured at St James’ Park but is set to continue his central defensive partnership with Turner, who was on the bench in the north-east.

IAN WESTBROOK

@ianwestbrook

Drinking in Brentford

For Wednesday coming down, you are probably aware there plenty of pub options pre-match and all are most welcoming. Colours are fine and there is no ‘bouncer culture’ on the doors of our boozers – not yet anyway. All fans are welcome and most fans usually cite Brentford as their favourite away-day which we’re quite proud of.

As is etched in common folklore , there were four pubs around the ground until a few weeks ago – unfortunately one closed down to leave only three now. The Griffin is closest to the away end (like 30 secs walk) and is very popular with away fans – but also very very busy. The New Inn is on the other side is also popular with away fans. The Princess Royal is the other option (The Royal Oak was the one that closed down).

Other pubs slightly further afield for the more creative amongst you include (and this is by no means a definitive list) the  … The Globe (Windmill Rd) is the Beesotted fanzine main pub – a very friendly pub indeed. The other boozer is The Lord Nelson (Enfield Rd)  – both incredibly friendly and cosy away-frienly pubs and 30 seconds walk from each other .. frequented by ‘away fans in the know’. Boro fans and Bees fans had one hell of a party before and after last season’s match in both these boozers (despite us losing)- and The Plough (Northfields Ave – 1 minute walk from the tube) in Northfields is a decent stop-off if you are coming by tube to Northfields before making your way down to the ground (normally stopping off at The Globe and Lord Nelson en route on the Northfields pub crawl).

Easily the best way to Brentford is to get the Victoria line from Euston to Green Park and the Piccadilly line from Green Park to either Northfields or South Ealing (35 mins). Northfields is preferred by fans in the know as it has a decent pub crawl run on the way to the ground (Plough, Lord Nelson, Globe). South Ealing has one posh puben route that doesn’t really like football fans so we won’t even give it a mention here. It’s 20 mins walk from either South Ealing OR Northfields to the ground or you can get the E2 bus from Northfields or 65 bus from South Ealing for the short 5 minute journey.

Some fans prefer to take the tube to Vauxhall then get the overground to Brentford mainline station. Depending on your connection time, this could be a slightly longer route as you could be waiting for up to 15 mins for a train and the train takes 26 mins to Brentford. Including you connection from Kings Cross this journey could take you the best part of an hour as opposed to under 40 minutes (plus the journey to the ground).

If you do take this route, there is also a pub right by Brentford station always referred to as … er …  the Pub by Brentford station.

For ale head to the Magpie and Crown pub on Brentford High Street. The Royal Horseguardsman can probably hold 15 of you at a push. The Brewery Tap is a cosy boozer by the river. And if you are super adventurous, get off at Kew Bridge and visit the brand new boozer One Over the Ait right on the river – beside the bridge. Great views over The Thames. It’s around 15 mins walk to the ground from here.

There are loads more too. A quick google search and you’ll find them all. There are many many more too if you have a look around.

Parking is pretty easy away from the ground going up towards and over the A4 Great West Rd (ie. North) via Ealing Rd or Windmill Rd.