Sheffield Wednesday’s manager is making no bones about it – the side he selects for Tuesday’s fourth-round replay at Coventry City will be picked with Friday’s Championship visit of Birmingham City very much in mind.
Bar resting Josh Windass, whose muscle problems continue to be a concern, Rohl named a strong team for January’s 1-1 draw but it seems unlikely one of only two Yorkshire sides in the competition – Leeds also face a replay on Tuesday, at Plymouth Argyle – will be going all out to secure a fifth-round home game against the lowest-ranked side left in the competition, Conference South Maidstone United.
Saturday’s 4-0 defeat at 21st-placed Huddersfield Town widened the gap to safety to eight points, and was compounded by a Queens Park Rangers win at Blackburn Rovers.
After five games without victory, the Owls could do with one in the west Midlands to pick up some lost momentum but it appears Rohl’s thinking will be all about going into Friday’s game at Hillsborough fresh.