The Game
Sheffield Wednesday vs Argyle. Hillsborough. Saturday, 14 November. 3pm. Sky Bet League One.
The Opposition
Sheffield Wednesday come into this fixture as quite the unknown quantity, despite being 13 games into the Sky Bet League One season. This is because less than two weeks ago former manager Henrik Pedersen was sacked and swiftly replaced by former Stockport County man Dave Challinor. Since then, Wednesday have not played a game in the league, instead losing both in the Emirates FA Cup and Jersey Mike's Trophy to League Two opposition.
However, what has come before and the quality of squad at Challinor's disposal is enough to suggest that things will turn around in the near future for the Owls. They began the 2026/27 campaign well, beating Championship side Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup before an away win at Leyton Orient in the league. They won four of their first five games in the league, only losing against Bradford City and putting seven past Bromley in that run.
It was not until 20th October that Wednesday were next defeated in the league, a period lasting seven games. However, since that loss against Notts County, the Owls have yet to win in all competitions. All it took was back-to-back defeats against County and Doncaster Rovers for Pedersen to be dismissed in late October. Former Rotherham United boss Matt Hamshaw took over matters on an interim basis and was eventually succeeded by Challinor.
In his first two games in the post, the 51-year-old has yet to taste victory. However, a first league fixture at Hillsborough could be just what Challinor needs to kick start his reign in charge of the Owls.
The Gaffer
Former defender Dave Challinor featured in the Football League predominantly for Tranmere Rovers and Bury, also spending time at Stockport County and Colwyn Bay. The 51-year-old took his first steps into coaching when he became player-manager at Colwyn in 2010. In his first campaign in the post, Challinor led the Welsh side to promotion after winning the Northern Premier League play-offs and to the North Wales Coast Cup.
It was no surprise that just the following season he was recruited elsewhere with Challinor opting to join AFC Fylde. He enjoyed more success in his debut campaign in Lancashire, winning the Northern Premier League Division One also being named the division's Manager of the Year. The following season they made the play-offs in the Northern Premier League, but were defeated on penalties.
In the year that followed, Challinor and Fylde righted those wrongs and achieved promotion into the National League North. They kept up their upwards trajectory in the seasons that followed, eventually making it into the National League play-offs on two occasions and winning the FA Trophy for the first time in the club's history. However, just the following season he was let go by Fylde after eight years, with Challinor then opting to join Hartlepool United.
He spent two years at Victoria Park, winning promotion into the Football League in that time. He stepped down after doing so and joined Stockport County midway through the 2021/22 campaign. In that same season, Challinor's Stockport side won the National League with the former Defender also winning Manager of the Season. After a solitary season in the fourth tier, they were promoted again after winning the league.
It was not long before they continued to push up the table, making the League One play-off final in 2026. After losing on penalties to Bolton Wanderers, Challinor opted to depart Edgeley Park by mutual consent. Less than six months on from making that decision, Challinor is back in work having recently replaced Henrik Pedersen at Sheffield Wednesday.
Ones to Watch
Born in London, Jamal Lowe broke through at Barnet and had loans away from the Bees with Hayes & Yeading United, Boreham Wood, Hitchin Town, St Albans City, Farnborough and Hemel Hempstead. In 2015, he was allowed to join St Albans permanently in 2015 before subsequent moves to Hemel Hempstead and Hampton & Richmond, the latter where he starred. This promoted Portsmouth to make a move for the Jamaica international. In his time at Fratton Park, Lowe netted 29 goals in 119 games and went on to have moves to Wigan Athletic and Swansea City before achieving promotion to the Premier League with Bournemouth. Loans followed away from the South Coast at Queens Park Rangers and Swansea City before a permanent transfer to Sheffield Wednesday in 2024. The 32-year-old has since remained at Hillsborough, making 91 appearances and scoring 16 goals.
Attacking midfielder Callum Slattery is a product of Southampton's academy, having previously spent a small period at Chelsea. He signed professional papers at St Mary's and went on to make his senior debut for the Saints. Loans came at De Graafschap and Gillingham before a permanent move to Motherwell in 2021. Whilst in Scotland, Slattery featured 148 times for the Steelmen, notching 18 goals and assisting 16. In the summer, Sheffield Wednesday recruited the 27-year-old to come to Hillsborough on a permanent basis, where he has since impressed in Sky Bet League One.
Max Lowe is a former England youth international that broke through at Derby County. After loans at Shrewsbury Town and Aberdeen, Lowe broke into the Rams' first team. His impressive performances prompted a move to Sheffield United, who were then in the Premier League. After a season at Bramall Lane, the full-back was loaned to Nottingham Forest and returned to play for the Blades upon their relegation to the Championship. In 2024, Lowe made the unlikely move to sign for United's cross-city rivals Sheffield Wednesday, where he has since made 76 appearances.
The Strip
We will be in our orange third kit for the trip to Hillsborough.
Argyle TV
Supporters unable to attend Argyle's Sky Bet League One fixture against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday can follow the action live on Argyle TV.
Our hour-long pre-match show will be live on Argyle TV and YouTube from 2pm.
2pm - Charlie Price and Aaron Cusack are joined by Ian Stonebridge for the Pre-Match Show, bringing you all the team news, exclusive interviews, and thoughts from inside the camp.
3pm - Kick-off at Hillsborough, with live commentary from Rob McNichol, who will be joined on co-commentary by Lee Makel.
UK & Ireland Supporters
Due to EFL broadcast regulations, live video streaming is unavailable in domestic territories. However, you can listen to every Argyle game live throughout the season with an Argyle TV subscription - available for £5.50 per month or £55 for the year.
If you’re not a subscriber, you can still purchase an individual audio match pass for £2.50.
International Supporters
Live video streaming is available overseas - You can watch every Argyle game live with an Argyle TV International subscription, available for £30 per month or £200 for the year.
If you prefer, you can buy an individual video match pass for £10 per game.
Audio match passes are also available overseas for £2.50, giving you full commentary wherever you are in the world.
Click here to access Argyle TV and view our subscription and match pass options.
