Accrington Stanley need a point at Sheffield Wednesday in EFL Trophy
Accrington Stanley need only one point to advance from the EFL Trophy group stage, but first they face Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough, in Sheffield, England, on Wednesday, 11 November 2026. The match is the last round of the group stage in Group A of the northern section.
Sheffield Wednesday have already secured a place in the next round and lead the group. Accrington, in second place, can go through with a draw. Kick-off is at 19:00 GMT, which is 16:00 in Brasília.
Sheffield Wednesday field 11 changes and a possible fine
Sheffield Wednesday have named a young side, with 11 changes from their usual starting team. A report in the local press calculated that the club could face a fine of up to £5,000 for not following the EFL rules on team selection. The same report said it is not yet clear whether the club will be excused from the fine, given the large number of injured players.
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The club has also cleared the way for a return from injury. George Brown has been cleared to start, after not playing since December of last year. Loan players from other clubs, including Louis Poland, Fortune Onoh and Samuel Onoh, have also been cleared to play for Sheffield Wednesday, according to the same report.
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Dave Challinor’s first match at Hillsborough
The match is the first at Hillsborough under Dave Challinor, who is the head coach of Sheffield Wednesday. The club was knocked out of the FA Cup at the weekend by Oldham Athletic, so the EFL Trophy game is its next competitive fixture.
Accrington Stanley are coached by John Doolan. Their main threat in attack is Charlie Warren, who has scored five goals for the club this season. Accrington were knocked out of the FA Cup after losing 2-0 at home to Wycombe Wanderers. Their last result before this match was a 5-0 win over Rochdale, in which Tyler Walton scored two goals.
Accrington Stanley’s group record and the first meeting
Sheffield Wednesday won their first two group games, against Salford City and Sunderland Under-21. Accrington drew 3-3 with Sunderland Under-21 and 1-1 with Salford City in the same group. Accrington have never played Sheffield Wednesday in an official match, according to a football statistics website.
Sheffield Wednesday were relegated to League One in the previous season and are ninth in the third tier, according to a football news website. The EFL Trophy offers the club a chance to play competitive matches in a different competition while the league campaign continues.
How to watch Sheffield Wednesday v Accrington Stanley in the UK
- Date and kick-off: Wednesday, 11 November 2026, 19:00 GMT (16:00 in Brasília)
- Competition: EFL Trophy, group stage, final round
- Venue: Hillsborough, Sheffield, England
- TV: Sky Sports+, through the Sky Sports app and NOW TV
- Radio: audio commentary on local radio in Sheffield
Bookmakers make Sheffield Wednesday favourites to win, although the prices quoted vary between companies. The official team sheets have not yet been published by the clubs, and the line-ups reported before the match are predictions from pre-match websites.
Result and an unidentified international player still unclear
The result of the match is not yet known. A report also mentions an international player in the Sheffield Wednesday squad, but his identity and the details of his case could not be confirmed by another source. It is also not yet clear whether the EFL will grant Sheffield Wednesday an exemption from the team selection rules.
Whatever the result, the match is the last of the group stage for both clubs. Sheffield Wednesday are already through, and Accrington will know that a draw is enough to join them in the next round of the EFL Trophy.
