Sheffield Wednesday: Danny Rohl can spark season-defining run with Cardiff City win | OneFootball

Sheffield Wednesday's upcoming run of fixtures in November and December could be defining for their season.

It has been a decent start to the season for Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship, but they are facing a crucial run of fixtures over the coming weeks that could potentially define their season.

After Wednesday narrowly avoided relegation last season following a remarkable turnaround under Danny Rohl, many expected them to climb the table this term, and there have been signs of progress in the opening months of the campaign.

The Owls currently sit 15th in the table, but they are only three points clear of the relegation zone, and inconsistency has been a problem this season, while only Plymouth Argyle, Luton Town and Portsmouth have conceded more goals than them.

Wednesday will be looking to respond to their 1-0 defeat to Steel City rivals Sheffield United when they host 22nd-placed Cardiff City at Hillsborough on Saturday as the Championship resumes following the international break.

The game against a Bluebirds side who remain without a permanent manager two months on from the sacking of Erol Bulut represents a good opportunity for the Owls to pick up three points, but it is also a chance for them to kick off an important set of fixtures on a positive note.

November and December fixtures could be make or break for Sheffield Wednesday

Wednesday have faced nine of the 12 sides currently sitting in the top half of the Championship table this season and their tough fixture list in the first few months of the campaign could help to explain their unpredictability.

However, the Owls have a much more favourable run of games coming up, starting against Cardiff on Saturday, and the results they achieve in the next seven matches will give a big indication as to which direction their season is heading in.

Wednesday take on four sides that are currently sitting below them in the table, with three games against opponents that are just above them as things stand, so there is no doubt that it is a perfect opportunity for Rohl's side to get some points on the board.

With seven points separating the Owls from the play-off places, positive results in the upcoming fixtures could enable them to close the gap to the top six and start dreaming of a potential promotion push.

However, Wednesday must remember that they are also only three points clear of the relegation zone, and should they lose to the likes of Cardiff, Hull City, Preston North End and Oxford United, they could be dragged into another survival battle.

Danny Rohl must take golden Sheffield Wednesday opportunity

In what is an incredibly tight and competitive division, there are certainly no easy games, and Wednesday must take nothing for granted, but it is rare to get a run of such winnable fixtures in succession.

The Owls had a dismal record against the better sides in the Championship last season, picking up just 10 points from a possible 54 against the clubs that finished in the top nine of the division.

That trend has continued into this campaign, with Wednesday suffering comprehensive defeats against many of the promotion contenders, including Sunderland, Watford and Millwall, while they have also been beaten by Sheffield United, Leeds United and Burnley.

With that in mind, it is even more essential that the Owls take advantage of their favourable fixture list over the coming weeks to build up some momentum and breathe new life into their season.

In truth, Wednesday may not have the quality needed to sustain a play-off push, but few would have expected the likes of Watford, Millwall and Blackburn Rovers to challenge at the top end of the table this season, and anything is possible if you can put together a consistent run of results.

The Owls were one of the form teams in the Championship in the second half of last season, so they have proven under Rohl that they are capable of going on a winning run, and the upcoming games could be the ideal chance for them to do so again.