Wolverhampton

Birmingham City V Wolves

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 7 January 2012 – 12:30 GMT

Venue: St Andrews

Preview

The first of five FA Cup Third Round ties to be shown live, either on ITV1 or ESPN, takes place at the home of last season’s Carling Cup winners, Birmingham, with St Andrews the setting for an all-Midlands clash between Chris Hughton’s Blues and Mick McCarthy’s Wolves.

Birmingham are of course Championship opposition now, after their relegation from the top flight on the final day of last season, although that hasn’t counted against them in the betting with bookmakers installing the Blues as 7/5 favourites to progress into the Fourth Round.

The main reason behind the market support for Chris Hughton’s Blues is their impressive record on home soil this term. In all competitions, and this includes three Europa League encounters, Birmingham have lost just once at St Andrews (W9 D5 L1) – a 3-1 loss to Braga of Portugal, who just last season were beating Arsenal in the Champions League.

Since their solitary defeat of the campaign at home, back on 15 September, Birmingham have won six of eleven in an unbeaten sequence; they’ve also conceded just seven goals during this run, which is typical of a team who were renowned for their staunch defence during their recent two-year spell in the top flight (2009-2011).

However, so much upheaval has taken place since the 2011 Carling Cup winners were strutting their stuff in the Premier League. There has been a change in manager, with Alex McLeish replaced by former Magpies boss Chris Hughton, while many of the club’s highest earners were urged to seek pastures new with goalkeeper Ben Foster, defender Roger Johnson, whom could start for Wolves on Saturday, Lee Bowyer and Cameron Jerome among those no longer at St Andrews.

The battle for top flight survival is Mick McCarthy’s top priority this season – and it is this reason why so many consider Birmingham the most likely winners in this contest. As following a gruelling festive schedule which saw Wolves contest three league games within the space of six days, two of which were against Arsenal and Chelsea, we’re all anticipating changes from the Wanderers tactician.

Mick McCarthy made wholesale changes in the Carling Cup earlier in the season, and the rumour going round is that he could do something similar in the FA CUp, a competition Wolves rarely go far in nowadays (they’ve exited at the Fourth Round, so the next round, in eight of the previous twelve editions of the competition). Although, those currently on the periphery of the Wolves first-team aren’t bad players; Kevin Foley, Ronald Zubar, Karl Henry, Emmanuel Frimpong and Matt Jarvis all come into contention.

Another almost certain to start is top scorer Steven Fletcher, who was used only as a substitute in the 2-1 home defeat to Chelsea last time out. Fletcher is Wolves’ leading marksmen this season with 8 goals, four shy of the tally he managed in the whole of the previous campaign.

Match Pointers

- Birmingham have lost just one of the last seven matches in which they have hosted Midlands rivals Wolves; however, that rare loss did occur in this very competition, and at this very stage of the tournament, back in 2009 as goals from Andy Keogh and Sam Vokes sealed a 2-0 success for Wolves in the Third Round of the 2008/09 FA Cup.

- There are seventeen positions separating these two clubs, with Wolves occupying 16TH in the Premier League and Birmingham 14TH in the Championship.

- Birmingham are unbeaten since Boxing Day, winning one and drawing two of their last three matches.

- The Blues haven’t lost a Championship match at St Andrews all season (W7 D4 L0), with their only reverse on home soil this season coming against Portuguese side Braga in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League.

- Chris Hughton’s Birmingham boast the strongest defensive record at home in the second tier with just five goals conceded in eleven games, keeping six clean sheets.

- Wolves are without a win in six in the Premier League,losing three, although their festive schedule was gruelling to say the least having faced such likes as Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.

- The Molineux outfit have won just once away from home in the Premier League this season (W1 D3 L6), losing six and winning none of their previous eight.

Betting

A tricky contest to call, this. Whereas Birmingham merit a heap of respect for their exploits at home, having not lost a league match all season at St Andrews, they’re a shadow of the team they were last season under Alex Mcleish in the Premiership. Nonetheless, new manager Chris Hughton has retained some of the defensive fortitude which made the Blues such stubborn opponents in the top flight, especially at home; they’ve conceded just seven goals in their last eleven matches at St Andrews in all competitions, including the Europa League.

The hosts also go into the tie in good knick, too, having gone three unbeaten since Boxing Day. Wolves, meanwhile, have chalked up six without winning – three draws and three defeats – and were last victorious away from home at Northampton in the League Cup, losing seven of their subsequent nine road matches since. And if rumours are true that manager Mick McCarthy is considering resting a few of his key figures, establishing any sort of pre-match confidence in the visitors will be close to impossible.

Much does depend on the strength of the Wolves’ line-up, but even so Birmingham are formidable on their own patch and would be stern opposition for anyone. In the end, though, I’m struggling to select a winner – so draw it is.

Recommended Bet: Draw – 23/10 SkyBet

Value Bet: 0-0 Correct Score – 10/1 Ladbrokes

Match Odds

Birmingham City – 7/5 Ladbrokes

Draw – 23/10 SkyBet

Wolves – 9/4 VictorChandler

BLACKBURN ROVERS V WOLVES

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 13th August 2011; 15:00 BST
Venue: Ewood Park

PREVIEW

These two teams played out a thrilling match that will live long in the memory on a climatic final day of the 2010-2011 Premier League, a match which both sides could ill-afford to lose as the prospect of relegation lurked over them. So I suppose we better brace ourselves for more drama, as the two clubs will renew their rivalry on the opening day of a brand new season this weekend – only this time there isn’t as much riding on the final result as there was just 84 days ago.

Of the two, Wolves are the team gunning for revenge on Saturday. Mick McCarthy’s men never take defeat on their own patch lightly and the sheer fact the 3-2 reverse back in May so nearly cost them their status as a Premiership football club will only heighten the team’s desire and motivation to win their opening fixture. However, their record on the road was extremely disappointing last season – only Bolton amassed fewer points on their travels in 2010-2011 – while the last time they were victorious away to Blackburn was way back in 1992.

Blackburn, on the other hand, will be feeling extremely confident ahead of Saturday’s fixture. Their league form at Ewood Park during 2010-2011 was relatively healthy (W7 D7 L5), while they’ve tasted defeat on just two occasions in their last nine league matches on home soil, and those were a pair of narrow 1-0 defeats to quality opposition in the form of Man City and Tottenham.

However, it is Blackburn’s record at home to Wolves which is particularly eye-catching, and is perhaps why some believe Steve Kean’s team to be an attractive betting proposition this weekend. Not since the early 90′s have Blackburn lost a league fixture at home to their Midlands rivals, and that includes comfortable 3-0 and 3-1 wins in the last two seasons. In fact, Rovers have won the last four matches at home to Wolves by an overwhelming aggregate of 12-2.

TEAM PREVIEWS

Blackburn Rovers

If Blackburn are to make the step up from relegation candidates to European contenders then Steve Kean’s men simply must score more goals, and with far more regularity, certainly at home. Just four teams conjured fewer goals than Rovers last season, two of which ended up being relegated, while only Birmingham scored fewer at home, also a team who were relegated from the division. So those are some pretty damning statistics

But despite the alarm bells ringing out for all to hear, the club have taken a blaise attitude to the whole issue. Scotland’s David Goodwillie was brought in to bolster Kean’s uninspiring forward armoury, which includes several young, inexperienced foreign imports, as well as Jason Roberts, an outcast at the club under former manager Sam Allardyce. Roque Santa Cruz and Benjani both left the club in the summer – the former back to his parent club while the latter released – while El-Hadji Diouf seemingly has no intention of involving himself in the club’s future plans.

In the seven games that preceded their final day triumph at Molineux over Wolves, in which they stunned everyone with three first-half goals, Blackburn amassed just four goals, three of which were scored in their final four matches at Ewood Park.

So the problem is unlikely to have disappeared over the summer, although their record at home to Wolves in recent Premier League contests is incredibly strong and would suggest Blackburn are primed to score yet more goals against Mick McCarthy’s men, after notching up ten goals in their last four clashes alone, six of which were netted whilst playing at home.

As well as a distinct lack of proven forwards at this level, Steve Kean could also be without key defensive duo Ryan Nelsen and Christopher Samba for Saturday’s game.

Wolves

What would appear to most as a gentle, pleasant opening fixture is in fact formidable to Wolves. The Midlands club have a truly retched record against their Lancashire rivals, having won none of their last eight league encounters with Blackburn, a dismal run which does include five defeats, four of those occurring on their previous four visits to Ewood Park. The last time Wolves celebrated victory away from home against Blackburn? Almost two decades ago, back in 1992.

To compound all the hopes and expectations of those travelling to Lancashire this weekend, Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is once again facing an injury list as long as his arm. Adlene Guediora is a definite absentee while the likes of Kevin Foley, David Edwards, Michael Kightly, Sylvain Ebanks-Blake and Kevin Doyle are all doubts. Fortunately for Wolves, there is strength in depth at the club.

Looking back on their performances from last season, there were two aspects which urgently required attention; their inability to raise their game against the lesser sides in the league, and their poor displays on the road. As mentioned in my initial preview, only Bolton registered fewer points on their travels last season than Mick McCarthy’s homesick Wolves, while only Stoke netted fewer than Wolves’ paltry sum of 16 away goals.

Has Mick McCarthy addressed these issues during the summer? I would have thought upping their game against the lesser sides would be far easier than amending their drastically poor away form, which could be their undoing right from the word ‘Go’, as this is by no means a fixture Wolves would have wished for on the opening weekend.

TEAM NEWS

Although both are included in Steve Kean’s squad to face Wolves on Saturday, defenders Ryan Nelsen and Christopher Samba are both doubts for the Ewood Park clash. Samba is nursing a groin injury while Nelsen hasn’t fully recovered from a knee operation he had in the close-season. However, new signing David Goodwillie is set to make his Premier League debut for the club.

As expected, David Edwards, Kevin Foley and Adlene Guediora all miss Wolves’ opening fixture through injury. Striker Kevin Doyle is also doubtful after withdrawing from Republic of Ireland’s international with Croatia in midweek. On the up side, Michael Kightly and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake were both named in Mick McCarthy’s matchday squad, as was summer signing Roger Johnson, whom will captain Wolves on his Premier League debut for the club this weekend.

BETTING – NEWS, ODDS & TIPS

Blackburn are utterly dominant in the head-to-head, their form at Ewood Park over the last twelve months has also been decent, while their opponents just don’t do travelling… So I’m sure many of you will snap up the 23/20 on offer with VictorChandler on yet another Rovers victory over Wolves.

Considering how poor their record against Blackburn is, Wolves would probably settle for a draw. It’s 12/5 with a whole host of firms including BetFred and Totesport.

Now what about a Wolves win? The Premier League has a reputation for springing surprises, the 2010-2011 season was full of them, so what are the chances of Mick McCarthy’s taking maximum points from a trip to Ewood Park for the first time since 1992? Not all bad actually, according to various bookmakers. You can get 11/4 with Coral and SkyBet on Wolves securing a rare away win on the opening weekend.

Match Odds:

Blackburn Rovers – 23/20 (2.15) VictorChandler
Draw – 12/5 (3.40) BetFred
Wolves – 11/4 (3.75) SkyBet

My Prediction: Wolves to win @ 11/4 (3.75) SkyBet
Value Bet: Over 2.5 Goals @ EVENS (2.00) Bet365

I found this fixture particularly tough to call, mainly because Blackburn’s lack of goals is disturbing but not quite as sickening as the sight of Wolves’ record at Ewood Park down the years. But this is always a competitive fixture, normally one where both team give no half-measures, so the draw is out of the question in my book. A tentative vote, then, goes the way of the visitors. The statistics surrounding Wolves aren’t pretty but at the odds I’ll be getting more value for money by backing a team who have more options going forward.

Wolves V Everton

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 9 April 2011 – 12:45 (GMT)
Venue: Molineux
TV Coverage: Sky Sports HD2

Two of the league’s resurgent sides clash in the Midlands this Saturday, as an unbeaten in five Everton travel down to Molineux to tackle a Wolves outfit who have lost just one of their previous five matches on home soil.

At Christmas time this precise fixture would have been a relegation six-pointer for Everton, such was the predicament those Toffees found themselves in. Ironically, their first consistent spell of form for quite some time has probably saved their bacon right at the last minute, with Everton now enjoying a five-match unbeaten run – three wins and two draws – which has helped them climb to as high as seventh in the table, where they now reside just four-points behind bitter locals Liverpool.

The same cannot be said for Wolves unfortunately, for whom despite putting together a similarly impressive run of results – losing just one of their last five in the league; as many home games too, but more importantly registering eight points from a possible 15 – are still very much in the relegation mire and in need of all three points from this weekend’s fixture if they’re to return to dry land any time soon.

The background surrounding these two teams doesn’t naturally spell out stalemate, so we should be in for a committed clash between two sides who are just as desperate as the other for points. Interestingly, though, the previous three league meetings have ended all-square…

Team News: Wolves manager Mick McCarthy is still shorn of Irish duo Noel Hunt and Kevin Doyle, the latter for the remainder of the season it would seem, though striker Steven Fletcher could be available. David Moyes of Everton, however, is also missing several key players, including Marouane Fellani and Louis Saha for the rest of the season, while Mikel Arteta still has some weeks left before he’s back in action although Tim Cahill and Seamus Coleman should both return to the match day squad.

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Wolves

League Position: 19th
League Form: DWDWL

Second-from-bottom Wolves, who have caught the eye of many in recent weeks with their form, are still in need of as many points they can get their hands on between now and the end of the season. A visit from Everton probably isn’t ideal then considering the Merseysider’s have also been impressing the pundits of late, although the Toffees will be depleted in size and so inside a raucous Molineux, where Wolves have claimed such big scalps as Chelsea, Man Utd and Man City this season, this is a fabulous opportunity for Mick McCarthy’s men to register three crucial points on a weekend where all the teams struggling down near the foot of the table face tricky assignments.

A 4-1 thumping at the hands of Newcastle United last time out wasn’t just Wolves’ heaviest league defeat of the season thus far, it was their first for five games and ended an encouraging four-match unbeaten run, which included a couple of victories and as many draws. Now Mick McCarthy has to pick his deflated troops from off the canvass in time for another do or die battle, as they all are for Wolves between now and the end of the season, as in-form Everton pay them a visit at Moilneux.

The good news for fans is that your team are back on home soil this weekend, and they should fare well with home comforts on their side. Only a resurgent Liverpool, Everton’s arch local rivals, on 22 January have won a league fixture at Molineux since the beginning of January – Wolves recording an impressive three wins, one and one loss in their last five on their own patch. Furthermore, Wolves haven’t tasted defeat at home to the Toffees in 29-years, though they couldn’t muster even a goal when the two sides clashed there last season.

Wolves have racked up seven goals in their last two matches at home, so not only does their overall form at home make for promising reading, so does their recent goal return. The only real disappointment is that Mick will once again be without his workhorse up top, with Republic of Ireland international Kevin Doyle still sidelined with a knee injury. Nevermind, as former Gillingham wide-man, Matt Jarvis, has been in tip-top form for some time now and if he keep Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Steve Fletcher busy through the afternoon – the pair accounting for three of Wolves’ last seven at home – then the Midlanders should stand a fair chance of recording a vital win.

Everton

League Position: 7th
League Form: WWDWD

David Moyes was well within his rights to lay down the gauntlet for his team at the start of the season, when the Everton boss claimed his side should be challenging for a return to Europe. His squad was certainly capable of mounting a challenge, although quite where this bid for Europe went we have no idea – the players simply never got going and as per usual, only now are they looking back with a rueful smile.

It’s almost become the norm these days that Everton finish a season strongly. Had they began the term in a similar vein then they would be a force to be reckoned with. As it is, any chance of a return to Europe has diminished – Everton nine-points adrift of fifth-placed Tottenham having also played one game more – and now the general consensus all around the Blue half of Merseyside is that the team should at least be aiming to finish above their arch local rivals Liverpool, who are now only five-points above the Toffees in the table.

The Reds entertain third-in-the-table Manchester City on Monday, so victory away at Wolves for Everton would pile the pressure right onto a Steven Gerrard-less Liverpool. To be honest, though, Moyes is only thinking about accumulating as many points as humanely possible before the season is out, as he knows more than most never to get carried away when discussing Everton’s potential. Still, the threat of relegation appears to have officially passed them by – Everton have already surpassed the magic 40-point milestone which normally ensures survival – so perhaps now the Toffees can relax a little and start playing the football we all know they can, the sort of football which has recently produced a five-match unbeaten run in the league.

Confidence in camp should be sky-high following their upturn in form, though they were pegged back in their latest conquest, when drawing 2-2 at home to Aston Villa. It should also be noted that while Everton are in decent knick (Without defeat in their last five), four of their last five league games have all been at Goodison Park. Everton were 2-1 winners away at Newcastle last time out however, the same Magpies outfit which spanked Wolves 4-1 just last weekend in fact, but that was only Everton’s third away win of the season, and their first since 20 December.

Not only is their recent vein of form just a little misleading, Moyes will also have to do without a whole host of star players who would have started from the off had they otherwise been available. Louis Saha and Marouane Fellani are out for the remainder of the season, Mikel Arteta is still in the treatment room while Seamus Coleman, Jack Rodwell and Tim Cahill are not certainties to be included in the squad which travels to Molineux for Saturday’s only live Premiership clash.

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Head-to-Head (Premier League ONLY)

Wolves wins: 1
Draws: 3
Everton wins: 1

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Everton 1-1 Wolves
2009/2010: Wolves 0-0 Everton
2009/2010: Everton 1-1 Wolves

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Betting

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.30 SkyBet

Not the mast imaginative of selections, however there shouldn’t be a great deal between them on the day.

The pair of them were in decent form before suffering recent setbacks, although Wolves’ was of a far more serious nature – going down 4-1 at Newcastle a week ago. Both managers will be without several key players, although in this instance it is Everton who lose out, with the Toffees certain to be shorn of Fellani, Arteta and Saha but possibly Rodwell, Coleman and Cahill as well.

I tend to say it a lot but there are few teams with a better fighting spirit than Wolves, who fight tooth and nail for every point. Even more so when they’re at home, which has been the graveyard for many a big name this season; Chelsea, Man Utd and Man City included. So I definitely fancy Wolves to register something from this fixture, I’m just not entirely sure nor confident that it will be maximum points.

Value Bet: Over 3.5 Goals – 3.80 SportingBet

These two teams have been involved in many a high-scoring affair of late, with Wolves’ previous two home games producing 4 and 6 goals respectively while Everton were part of a 2-2 thriller at Goodison last weekend. You normally get goals when two confident sides clash, and that should be the case at Molineux in the weekend’s early kick-off.

Match Odds:

Wolves – 2.62 PaddyPower
Draw – 3.30 SkyBet
Everton – 2.90 WiliamHill

Wolves V Manchester United

Saturday, 5th February – 17:30 (GMT)
Venue: Molineux
TV Coverage: ESPN

Wolves

Following his side’s last-gasp defeat in Bolton during the week, Mick McCarthy expressed just how frustrated he was at the final whistle by claiming that he felt ‘robbed’. Daniel Sturridge latching on to a Ronald Zubar pass-back before coolly slotting past a helpless Wayne Hennessey left the Yorkshireman furious, as his side once again shot themselves straight in the foot on a night when those in close proximity all collected valuable points. And if having to see Ronald zubar on the training pitch the following day wasn’t bad enough, a quick glance at the league table would have been enough to turn the straight-talking McCarthy sick with rage – The Midlanders now rock-bottom of the Premier League and don’t even have the incentive of being able to leap out of the relegation with an unthinkable victory on Saturday.

Some are suggesting that Wednesday’s shocking defeat at Bolton was the final nail in the coffin for Wolves, who are now propping up the table and unlikely to collect too many points over the coming weeks. On Saturday, in the second LIVE clash of the day, Wolves tackle United at Molineux while the following weekend they come face-to-face with United’s closer pursuers, Arsenal, at the Emirates Stadium. Once they get past those two formidable fixtures, the list of winnable games are endless. However, by that time the gap between them and safety will have lengthened unless they produce something extraordinary against one of the aforementioned sides, which isn’t necessarily out of the question despite few actually fancying their chances.

Wolves aren’t like those around them in that they’ve had a clear preference for the high profile clashes, the meetings with the more glamorous sides, instead of bringing their A-game to the fore in the crunch clashes with those in close proximity. However, as far as this precise fixture is concerned, Wolves’ ability to give the elite clubs a run for their money doesn’t make them the forlorn hope so many believe they are to be on Saturday. Defeats to Arsenal (0-2), Chelsea (2-0) and Tottenham (3-1) were completely undeserved, while no-one should forget their stunning efforts in beating Chelsea at Molineux and Liverpool at Anfield either side of the New Year. Oh, and did we forget to mention that in the reverse meeting, back at Old Trafford, United needed a goal from Ji-Sung Park in stoppage time to down Wolves 2-1 in what turned out to be one of many hard-luck stories for the Wolves against the big hitters of the Premier League.

Mick McCarthy will be well aware of the predicament he and his team find themselves in, so he’ll have his troops fired up for Saturday’s match-up with the Premiership pacesetters. In fairness, though, rarely do we doubt their commitment to the cause. Wolves always pour their heart and soul into every match. What they are lacking in is quality at the moment, with Matt Jarvis arguably the only player with that ability to make something happen out of nothing. So we aren’t surprised to hear that the Midlanders have only plundered six goals in their last nine league games, with three of those coming in one game away at Man City, while, somewhat ironically, Ronald Zubar was the last Wolves players to score, his strike at the City of Manchester Stadium coming 185 minutes ago.

However, if you are desperate for something positive then why not take heart from Wolves’ recent upturn in form at Molineux? Granted they were spanked 3-0 by Liverpool in their last home adventure, but their recent record on home soil remains solid nonetheless, winning three of their last five league games in their own backyard, one of those being a 1-0 triumph over Chelsea as well.

Manchester United

The lead-up to this game has been dominated by Gary Neville’s decision decision to call time on a glittering career which saw him win everything under the sun as a Red Devil, with Sir Alex Ferguson determined to keep the stalwart at Old Trafford in some capacity. And while he’s never been our cup of tea, a player loved by his own but despised by virtually everyone else, even we recognise just how exceptional a servant he was for Manchester United, a player would say is the best right-back of his generation.

Right, with our half-hearted praise for Gary Neville out of the way, time to concentrate of his former employer’s next assignment, a trip to Molineux, where they’ve won on their previous two visits in the Premier League – Not to mention successive wins this season at Old Trafford in the league and in the Carling Cup, though both were by the slimmest of margins and required late strikes in order to seal the wins.

Wolves were one of many teams United made heavy-weather of beating in the first half of the season, Ji-Sung Park sparing the Red Devils’ blushes by scoring in stoppage time as Sir Alex breathed a huge sigh of relief in a match where he made several changes, named a weakened line-up and almost paid the penalty against a dogged, tenacious Wolves side who will be just as pumped up on Saturday as they were in the reverse. The difference this time being that Ferguson won’t ring the changes like he did last time, nor are United scraping through games like they were back them. The goals are flying in, heck even Wayne Rooney has relocated the goal-trail, while we could even throw in extra sprinkles by claiming that United have won two of their last three away matches in the league, which they have, although that would only lead you up the garden path as overall, Man Utd have won only three of their eleven matches away from Old Trafford this season (W3 D8 L0).

No-one can really understand why Sir Alex’s men have encountered so many problems on their travels. Even those three stand-out triumphs all came in fortuitous circumstances, requiring further late strikes against Stoke City (1-2) and Blackpool (2-3) while they needed West Brom to miss from the spot before finally edging that contest 2-1. At home they’ve been authoritative, outside of Manchester they’ve been unconvincing and vulnerable, to such an extent that even a trip to Molineux is no foregone conclusion.

One thing which will be interesting is how Wayne Rooney does at Molineux. The former Evertonian scored his first brace of the season on Tuesday night, taking his tally for the season to an underwhelming four in all competitions but crucially aiding his side in their bid to regain the Premiership crown. His two-goal haul and Nemanja Vidic’s thunderbolt effort sealed a commanding 3-1 victory over Aston Villa which maintained United’s dominate lead at the summit, which currently stands at five points. Arsenal are their nearest pursuer and they play a couple hours earlier, but whatever happens Alex Ferguson knows full well that Saturday’s fixture is a golden one, a game they can ill afford to drop a single point in if they’re to keep the bloodthirsty chasing pack off their back.

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Recent Form (Last 5)

Wolves

Premiership: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Wolves
FA Cup: Wolves 0-1 Stoke City
Premiership: Wolves 0-3 Liverpool
Premiership: Wolves 5-0 Doncaster Rovers
Premiership: Manchester City 4-3 Wolves

Manchester United

Premiership: Manchester United 3-1 Aston Villa
Premiership: Southampton 1-2 Manchester United
Premiership: Blackpool 2-3 Manchester United
Premiership: Manchester United 5-0 Birmingham City
Premiership: Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Manchester United

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2010/2011 Premiership Statistics

Wolves

League Position: 20th
Win-Draw-Lose: 6-3-15 (Home: 5-2-5)
Goal Difference: 24-42 (Home: 15-18)
Top Scorer: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake & Steven Fletcher (4)
Form: LWLLL (Home: WWLWL)

Manchester United

League Position: 1st
Win-Draw-Lose: 15-9-0 (Away: 3-8-0)
Goal Difference: 54-22 (Away: 17-14)
Top Scorer: Dimitar Berbatov (19)
Form: WDWWW (Away: DDWDW)

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Head-to-Head (Last 5 Seasons):

2010/2011: Manchester United 2-1 Wolves

2009/2010: Wolves 0-1 Manchester United
2009/2010: Manchester United 3-0 Wolves

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Team News

Wolves - Mick McCarthy will be delighted with news that his treatment room is no longer full to the brim with first-team personel, though Michael Kightly and Michael Manceiine remain sidelined with knee injuries. Stephen Hunt is out for around another fortnight with a calf problem. McCarthy is likely to go with two up front on Saturday, as opposed to just the one in midweek away at Bolton, so either/both Sylvan Ebanks-Blake or Steven Fletcher will be drafted in. Nenad Milijas and Jamie O’Hara are also pushing for a starting berth after both started Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat to Bolton on the bench.

Manchester United - Before Tuesday, Sir Alex Ferguson would have been forgiven for showing favourtism with Javier Hernandez over the club’s highest earner, Wayne Rooney. However, Rooney’s two-goal haul against Aston Villa during the week means he’s now a certainty to start barring injury, alongside nineteen-goal forward Dimitar Berbatov, whose lead at the top of the scoring charts was reduced to four during the week. Gary Neville won’t be involved on Saturday, nor any other match day for that matter, the United great deciding now was the perfect time to announce his retirement from football with immediate affect. Rafael should return to the squad though may not initially start; Antonio Valencia and Owen Hargreaves remain long term absentee’s.

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Match Prediction: Manchester United to WIN – 1.45 Unibet

It’s top versus bottom at tea-time on Saturday and with their situation looking bleak, the jury is already out on whether Wolves can defy the drop for the second successive season. Meanwhile United are still there to be shot at and with their lead at the summit perhaps a little too cosy, even though the bigger the better as far as United fans are concerned, is there hope for the home side that complacency may creep into the away dressing room? After all, away from home is where the mighty Reds have looked their most vulnerable this season.

Credit to Wolves, there haven’t been too many games this season where they have been rolled over. Mick McCarthy’s charges have been competitive in virtually every fixture and could tell folk more hard-luck stories than any other top-flight club. However, while Lady Luck continues to ignore them, Wolves won’t have too many admirers as far as the punters are concerned.

United, on the other hand, have been blowing teams away of late, although they haven’t comprehensively beaten a team away from home all season. Even small-timers Blackpool pushed them to the brink of relinquishing their season-long unbeaten record at Bloomfield Road two weeks ago, so the Red Devils are by no means certainties in a fixture which, on paper at least, they should win with something to spare.

We have our doubts, as they are there in black and white, but we still can’t take our eyes away from another Manchester United victory. It will probably be another close-run thing, as Wolves are desperate for some points and will be giving absolutely everything for the cause on Saturday. However their determination to succeed isn’t likely to equate into points, so United to win this one I’m afraid.

Value Bet: Wayne Rooney First Goalscorer – 4.75 Bet365

Is he back? He’s been playing well for a little while now though without previously finding the back of the net, rarely looking like he would in actual fact. But his two-goal haul in midweek should have given him a taste for goals so I expect him to be sniffing out more goalmouth spoils on Saturday at Molineux.

Match Odds:

Wolves – 8.50 Bet365

Draw – 4.50 SportingBet

Manchester United – 1.45 Unibet

Blackburn Rovers V Wolves

Saturday, 4th December – 15:00 (GMT)

Venue: Ewood Park

Blackburn Rovers

In a candid interview with Blackburn Rovers TV, Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has declared the next month of Premier League fixtures, where the Lancashire club will play no less than seven matches in a little over a month, as a season defining period. And in the same week, ‘Big Sam’ has laid down the law with his side following the team’s embarrassing 7-1 rout away to Manchester United last weekend. Now the former Bolton and Newcastle manager is seeking a positive response from his players and hopes to be lauding his players with plaudits come Saturday night.

While there’s no hiding from an Old Trafford demolition, Blackburn can at least thank their lucky stars that their very next fixture is more than generous, although a lot less forgiving as well – a home meeting with second-bottom Wolves. On the back of such a heavy defeat, you would have feared for their chances were they to have come up against one of the top-six. However, the fact they’re up against a team inside the bottom three doesn’t necessiraly make Saturday’s encounter any easier, far from it in fact, as Wolves were victorious at the weekend and whereas Rovers will be reeling and still feeling the affects of an humiliating afternoon in Manchester, Wolves are still very much savouring a rare and morale boosting domestic win.

The 7-1 mauling at Old Trafford came at a disappointing time for Sam Allardyce, as the Blackburn boss had recently watched his side put in a number of pleasing performances as well as collecting their largest bulk of points in any one period. Rovers had lost just one of their last four games beforehand, but that positive has quickly turned into a huge negative following last Saturday’s forgettable outing up north. Now Blackburn have shipped eleven goals in their last two away outings and although they will return home for Saturday’s crunch meeting with fellow relegation candidates Wolves, two heavy defeats over the course of just a few weeks could do no end of damage to the morale in camp. Furthermore, to disrupt the harmony in the dressing further, the club was quick to slap full-back Pascal Chimbonda on the transfer list despite the former Spurs defender featuring prominently for Rovers this season.

In terms of omens, the fact Blackburn have always replied to an away defeat by following it up with one at home is a major concern, with this very instance occuring twice this season. However, Blackburn are miles ahead in the head-to-head, boasting a couple of home wins and a couple of away draws, and those pair of home success were both by a considerable margin, comprehensively beating the Midlanders 3-1 last season while they were 5-1 winners back in 2003. The United thumping has thrown a spanner in the works, though, but considering Blackburn have lost just twice at home in the league all season, including back-to-back wins over Wigan and Aston Villa preceding this fixture, I’m sure the home faithful will keep the faith. We, however, aren’t as confident.

Wolves

Few would argue that Matt Jarvis has been Wolves’ most impressive and consistent performer this season, to the extent where so many were stunned when England manager Fabio Capello completely overlooked the wide-man for a recent friendly international with France last month. Fortunately for his manager, Jarvis hasn’t let either the media adoration nor the neglect from Capello affect his superb level of performances and on Saturday, just seven days after having a helping hand in only Wolves’ third league win of the season, he’ll aim to play a pivotal role in the team ending many voodoo’s by beating a Blackburn Rovers side which were thumped 7-1 last weekend.

I’m sure manager Mick McCarthy will have shown his players several clips of their opponent’s on Saturday, with the images of Blackburn being mauled and torn apart by a ruthless Manchester United machine received in so many different ways. For some, they’re cautious. A wounded animal would be one way to describe the current state of the Blackburn team. Meanwhile others are of the opinion that there is no better time to catch a team off-guard than when they are at their lowest, and it bodes extremely well that just as Blackburn go and concede seven goals in one single outing, elsewhere Wolves were banishing a terrible run of form with a hard-fought and spirited performance at home to Sunderland. If Wolves are to be successful at Ewood Park at the weekend, they’ll need to show the same battling qualities against a Rovers side who always deliver in their promise of making life extremely difficult for opponent’s at home.

With regards to the bad omens and voodoo’s we highlighted a little earlier, there are a number which will make Wolves appear a nasty proposition on paper. For starters, Mick McCarthy hasn’t seen his side win back-to-back matches in the league all season, and that’s down to the fact they’ve only won three of their opening fifteen league games. On top of this, the team are currently stuck in a dire rut of having lost their previous six away league encounters and have now gone their last ten away fixtures in the Premier League without a win, as well as being the only team in the Premier League this season who haven’t keep a clean sheet. I can hear you all running to the shops now to get on the visitors.

Away from all the disappointing and downbeat statistics and fact, we do actually think Wolves are of value. Ewood Park is a difficult venue because Blackburn play a more expansive game there but manage to retain their combative qualities in the process. However, the hosts are a precarious sort right now following their humiliating drubbing at the hands of United last weekend, a performance which forced manager Sam Allardyce to apologise to the fans afterwards, where the visitors will arrive in confident and rejuvenated mood after their enthralling success at home to Sunderland last Saturday. It was one of a number of impressive displays Wolves have put in over the last month and with the team finally getting their just rewards for all their industrious and workmanlike efforts, perhaps now the Midland club can start churning encouraging performances into valuable points.

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Form

Blackburn Rovers

Premier League: Manchester United 7-1 Blackburn Rovers

Premier League:  Blackburn Rovers 2-0 Aston Villa

Premier League: Tottenham Hotspur 4-2 Blackburn Rovers

Premier League: Newcastle United 1-2 Blackburn Rovers

Premier League: Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Wigan Athletic

Wolves

Premier League: Wolves 3-2 Sunderland

Premier League: Blackpool 2-1 Wolves

Premier League: Wolves 2-3 Bolton Wanderers

Premier League: Wolves 0-2 Arsenal

Premier League: Manchester United 2-1 Wolves

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Statistics

Blackburn Rovers

League Position: 13th

Win/Draw/Lose: 5-3-7 (Home: 3-2-2)

Goal Difference: 18-25 (Home: 8-6)

Form: WWLWL (Home: DDLWW)

Top Goalscorer: Morten Gamst Pedersen

Wolves

League Position: 19th

Win/Draw/Lose: 3-3-9 (Away: 0-1-6)

Goal Difference: 17-27 (Away: 5-14)

Form: LLLLW (Away: LLLLL)

Top Goalscorer: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (4)

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Hot & Cold Bets

Hot:

Blackburn Rovers to WIN (1.80 Boylesports) – Winners of the only two previous Premier League meetings at Ewood Park, both by a clear margin of victory as well (3-1 & 5-1), Blackburn look good value based on past results at home to Wolves.

Wolves to Score Exactly 1 Goal (2.40 PaddyPower) - As bizarre a statistic as it is, Wolves have scored Exactly 1 Goal in each of their last eight matches with Blackburn in the top-flight of English football. Meanwhile the exact same number has cropped up on eight separate occasions for Wolves this season, scoring Exactly 1 Goal in eight of their first fifteen league matches.

Cold:

Blackburn Rovers to keep a Clean Sheet (2.88 StanJames) – After fifteen rounds of Premier League fixtures, Blackburn have just three clean sheets to their name, although all three were at home.

Wolves to keep a Clean Sheet (8.50 StanJames) – Yet again Wolves are responsible for another stand-out statistic in that they are the only team of the twenty currently competing in the Premier League who haven’t keep a clean sheet this season.

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Match Prediction: Wolves to WIN – 5.00 Bet365

Blackburn were without midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen and striker Nikola Kalinic, two of their top goalscorers for the trip to Old Trafford last weekend and the absence of both was telling. Neither are guaranteed to return for Saturday’s crucial home match with Wolves, crucial because it’s a fixture which is very much there for the taking considering where their opponent’s lye in the table beforehand. However, Wolves will arrive in Lancashire on a high following their spirited fightback at home to Sunderland last weekend and if they can go to Ewood Park and not be overawed – not that Ewood Park is in any which way an intimidating arena, but the hosts do have a formidable reputation at home over the past fifteen months in the league – then we reckon there’s only one side really worth backing at the odds.

However, Blackburn have won their last two home matches in the league and with only Arsenal and Chelsea the only two sides to have left Ewood Park with all the spoils this season, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see Blackburn as a popular selection in people’s Acca’s.

Match Odds

Blackburn Rovers – 1.80 PaddyPower

Draw – 3.80 VCbet

Wolves - 5.00 Bet365

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Stoke City

Sunday, 11^th April – 12:00 GMT

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 14th

Recent Form: WDWDL

Mick McCarthy will need to do some restoration work at Molineux ahead of Saturday’s clash with Stoke City. Wolves’ last league encounter was that 1-0 loss at The Emirates to Arsenal where Nicklas Bendtner scored a 94^th minute winner to break Wolves hearts. It was, however, a performance for McCarthy to be proud, and while the final result was a bitter blow, the way in which Wolves maintained the Gunners for 90 minutes will have impressed their manager, while punters around the country just might of took notice after their gutsy display.

No longer can you doubt the commitment of the Wolves players after they left their heart and soul on that Emirates pitch last Saturday. The Wolves’ perhaps displayed too much commitment as Karl Henry was dismissed midway through the second half for what the ref deemed a ‘dangerous tackle’. Mick McCarthy wasn’t best pleased with the decision and we would have to disagree. Wolves had to work so hard just to keep Arsenal to bay thereafter and did manage a whole 90 minutes without conceding. In terms of creating chances of their own, Wolves were non-existent, but the battled hard in defence and no-one would have begrudged them a point. However, you fall asleep for one minute against the big boys and you pay, and Wolves certainly paid a heavy price on Saturday for some lack in concentration. 

Karl Henry’s red card on Saturday means he will now miss the next three games through suspension as Wolves decided not to appeal the decision. Afterwards, though, Henry was outspoken on his views about Arsenal’s desire to go down easy, claiming Arsenal “Went down like a sack of spuds”. I’m sure those words won’t go down at all well with the Arsenal camp, and we doubt his own manager will be particularly happy either. McCarthy needs his players to concentrate on their next task at hand and not past matters, regardless of whether you’re available or not.

Despite falling to defeat on Saturday, Wolves still find themselves in a healthy situation in regards to avoiding the drop. After last weekends games, Wolves are sat in 14^th position and are five points above the relegation zone. Defeat on Saturday would make for a nervy last couple of weeks at Molineux but victory would take Wolves further clear of the bottom three and just five points away from that magic 40 point marker – Generally enough to save any team from relegation. They come up against a tough Stoke City though and will do well to attain all three points you would feel. These two played out a 2-2 draw earlier in the season but Wolves had to come from two goals down in that game and will be aware of the threat Stoke will cause.

Stoke City

League Position: 10th

Recent Form: DDLWW

Stoke City are on the brink of achieving a feat they’ve not managed all season up till now and that’s win back-to-back games away from The Brittania. While at the very same time they could make it three wins from three with victory at Molineux in what would be classed as their longest winning streak of the season. If Stoke were at the bottom end of the table then we would all be claiming Stoke are coming good at just the right time, however, they are not but are instead pushing for a more glamorous ten ten finish, and three points on Saturday would greatly enhance their chances of landing the spoils.

Successive victories over West Ham (0-1) and Hull City (2-0) have sent Stoke soaring over the 40 point marker, the dream target for most clubs with survival expectations at the beginning of the season. So, what with another Premiership season all but secured for another year, Stoke can now concentrate on a top ten push. The Potters are currently 10^th, bang on target, but there are several teams closing in on them so Stoke can ill-afford to let up now.

A Stoke side which has only won three times on the road all season is showing progressive signs of improving away from home after going five games unbeaten on their travels. In fact; Stoke have yet to lose an away league fixture in 2010 and it’s one of those records which looks so intimidating on paper, you just can’t afford to throw it away. Stoke will be trying their utmost to protect their unbeaten away status on Saturday but will have to fend off the challenge from a Wolves team who’ve been playing out of their skins themselves of late, while it’s the same Wolves that held Stoke to a 2-2 draw back in October. 

Stoke did manage to keep a clean sheet on the way to a 1-0 victory at West Ham in their last away encounter, which was just as well as their scoring exploits on the road haven’t exactly been something to shout about. The fact Stoke have scored in each of their previous four away games in the league speaks volumes in how Stoke have raised their away game since the turn of the year but it is worth pointing out that during their five away game in 2010, Stoke only accumulated five goals against what would be considered by most as ‘Average’ teams. Of course, Wolves will fall into the same category which will make Stoke a tasty proposition on Sunday, but something tells me Stoke’s goalscoring issues are still there and could surface at any moment.

Interesting Fact: Stoke have played 15 times away from home this season but have only managed to score 9 goals. The 2^nd worst away goal record in the Premiership.

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.30 BetFred

In fairness, though, this isn’t a fixture we would get overly excited about. Wolves aren’t the most consistent of teams at home while Stoke have been known to struggle for goals on their travels. To be honest, the 0-0 is beginning to look more of a proposition. We don’t fancy either sides chances on Sunday, at least not enough to back one of them, so the draw gets the nod from us, as well does a small wager on this ending in a drab 0-0 stalemate.

Match Odds:

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 2.30 bWin

Draw – 3.30 BetFred

Stoke City – 3.25 SkyBet

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: 0-0 Correct Score – 9.00 Ladbrokes

West Ham United V Wolverhampton Wanderers

Sunday, 10^th January – 15:00 GMT (Sky Sports 1)

West Ham United

League Position: 17th

Recent Form: LLDWL 

Ther Hammers don’t have too long to digest their FA Cup exit as they welcome Mick McCarthy’s Wolves to Upton Park in what appears to be an early six-pointer between two sides destined to be there or thereabouts come May. West Ham fans will believe that they have far more talent on show than their opponents, but will this equate into a winning formula?

Ginafranco Zola was in an optmistic mood at the beginning of the week and claimed there were plenty of positives to take away from their 2-1 defeat to Arsenal. We, however, felt it wasn’t the best performance we’ve seen from West Ham this season, far from it, but there were glimpses that particular areas are improving, more notably in defence. To concede just the two goals, late ones at that, against the country’s most prolific goalscorers takes some doing, although it must be said that Arsenal were without a whole host of attacking players; Fabregas, Van Persie & Arshavin to name but a few.

It’s good to see the West Ham defence rallying around as that is where West Ham have been at their weakest this season, but to concede two goals still shows signs that big improvements are needed, and to concede them both late on clearly shows that West Ham have a distinct lack of concentration at the back. They were, though, a lot brighter on the front foot as they were getting forward with ease, with some slick interchanging allowing them to carve through what should have been a tight and compact Arsenal defence.

However, although they came across no problems getting forward, West Ham’s final play in the final third was abysmal and how they managed to find the goal once was beyond me. They posses players that can take on a defender, Diamanti & Jimenez for example, but both lose their marbles when they enter the opposing penalty area. They weren’t the only culprits, though, and their shy display in front of goal is a big concern as West Ham look lost up front without their star man, Carlton Cole, driving them forward, although the England centre-forward could make his return to the fold against Wolves this Saturday.

If Carlton Cole does play, which we can’t honestly see happening, then West Ham will be a good bet. He provides them with a more reliable outlet. He is a player which can amply hold up the ball but can also finish, which is more than can be said for their remaining strikers. West Ham did manage a victory in their last home outing, though, in a 2-0 victory over Portsmouth so perhaps, considering they are facing another poor opponent, the home factor will get them through another big fixture.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 15th

Recent Form: WLWLL

Wolves were another Premiership side who scraped through their opening FA Cup fixture, beating League One outfit, Tranmere Rovers, by a single goal; 1-0. However, the result is all that matters and Mick McCarthy will be hoping the squad can push on now and hit the new year running with a couple of victories as their two upcoming fixtures are certainly winnable. However, Wolves have been pretty shabby on the road this season so perhaps a draw would be just as good as a win at Upton Park, despite West Ham being worse off than them in the table.  

Wolves put themselves in the hat for the fourth round and their victory over Tranmere should be a welcome boost of confidence that the players clearly needed after a tough festive period of fixtures. Mick McCarthy’s side didn’t manage a single point in their two games either side of Christmas, excruciating fixtures at that against Liverpool (2-0) & then Man City (0-3). However, with Wolves faltering over Christmas, the pressure is now on them to register some quick fire points in the new year starting with a very winnable fixture with West Ham. On paper anyway.

If this was at Molineux, with a capacity crowd cheering them on, then perhaps we would pluck up some courage and back Wolves for what would be the first time this season. However, that isn’t the case and Wolves have been a terrible away outfit this season, with the exception of their shock victory at White Hart Lane over Tottenham. Their away record this season stands at 2-2-6, but they’ve lost back-to-back away games since their sublime result over Spurs and have failed to score in three of their last four away outings. On the road, they lack that attacking edge while their defence has left gaping gaps – a recipe for disaster.

Wolves won’t, though, have too many better opportunities this season to win an away fixture than this, and Mick McCarthy will undoubtedly be drumming this fact into the players during the course of the week. Still, even with that said, we can’t see Wolves overhauling West Ham at Upton Park as they’ve generally been a very poor away outfit. At home they have this aurora about them where they storm straight out of the blocks and put their opponents immediately under pressure. They struggle to do this away from home, while their defence has often capitulated when times have got hard and with this we couldn’t touch Wolves even if those tight-fisted Irish bookies paid us to.

Match Verdict: West Ham United to WIN – 1.83 BetFred

We really fancy West Ham’s chances at the weekend as, quite frankly, they won’t have an easier opportunity to notch up three points than a meeting with Wolves at Upton Park. The same will probably be said in the Wolves dressing room but the roar of a home support should ensure that Zola gets the very best out of his players this Sunday. Wolves will be dangerous on the break, but West Ham should dominate in the chances created department, it’s just a case of whether their out-of-confidence forwards can take their chances when they come their way.

Match Odds:

West Ham United – 1.83 BetFred

Draw – 3.50 Bet365

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 4.80 Boylesports

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: West Ham to score EXACTLY 3 goals – 11/2 SkyBet

Liverpool V Wolverhampton Wanderers

Saturday 26^th December (Boxing Day) – 17:30 GMT

Liverpool

League Position:

Recent Form:

(Liverpool have scored in every home fixture this season)

Times maybe rough at Liverpool but what more could you ask for, to turn the tidings in your favour, than a home fixture with lowly Wolves. Rafael Benitez’s side won’t get an easier opportunity to pick up three points all season then this Saturday but will the added pressure of playing under the ESPN camera’s be a factor? After all, in the three matches that Liverpool have featured in on ESPN, the Reds’ have only managed to win one of them, and it would semm Liverpool prefer to shy away from the limelight, which is no surprise considering their drastic season up till now.

As if Liverpool’s season couldn’t get any worse they go and lose at bottom of the league Portsmouth. The 2-0 defeat at Fratton Park will now go alongside the six other defeats they’ve suffered this season, five more than they lost in the whole of the previous campaign. Liverpool did start the game brightly, passing the ball around crisply, but they failed to create anything clear cut and, once Portsmouth scored their first, quickly followed by the dismissal of Javier Mascherano, who will evidentially will miss this fixture, Liverpool never recovered and looked a demoralised bunch.  

That’s been the problem with Liverpool this season compared to last season. If they went a goal down last year then their battling qualities shone through more times than not. Remember their late victories over Middlesborough, Fulham and even Portsmouth? Well, they seem a distant memory now and on the seven occasions that Liverpool have fallen behind this season, only once have they managed to turn things around and record a hard fought victory. That rare sighting coming against Bolton, winning 3-2. However, an early setback really shouldn’t be on the cards in this encounter as, despite Liverpool’s recent form woes, they should stroll through an outing with what is a poor Wolves side.

At Anfield this season, Liverpool have been better but still not good enough. In nine home fixtures, Liverpool have slipped up four times, with a home record of 5-2-2. They’ve already lost twice at home which is ridiculous for a team that went the entirety of last season without a single loss at home. Arsenal & Aston Villa can both boast about their victories at Anfield this season but Wolves don’t even come close to the stature and quality available at the two clubs mentioned. Rafa has seen his side score plenty of goals at home, though, with a home goalscoring record of 24-11, but their defence has been very shaky and in nine home matches, Liverpool have kept just three clean sheets and haven’t kept one since their 2-0 win over Man Utd, five home fixtures ago.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 12th

Recent Form: LWWLW 

Yet another tough fixture for Wolves and there will be questions asked if Mick McCarthy doesn’t rest his entire starting eleven on Saturday in another fixture where Wolves look unlikely to get anything from. However, after the backlash he received after his Old Trafford antics, we doubt he will field such a depleted side at Anfield and who would blame him considering Liverpool’s current predicament. Still, a tough outing for the Wolves and one we can’t see them getting anything out of.  

Avoiding the drop is all Mick McCarthy is concerned about and his controversial tactics to field the fringe players at Old Trafford showed his intent and desire of doing whatever necessary to avoid such a disaster. The gamble did pay off, though, when goals from Milijas & Kevin Doyle gave Wolves all three points against Burnley at the weekend. Their third win in as many games. Mick McCarthy has now guided Wolves to three wins in four games but will be hard pressed to get a positive result from this fixture.

The win at home to Burnley last week lifted Wolves further away from the dreaded drop but they aren’t out of the woods just yet, far from it. They are currently just three points off Bolton who occupy the first of three relegation spots and a defeat at Anfield would see them drop right back into contention after an impressive run of form to get them out of the equation, albeit temporarily.  

Wolves, in general, have been a poor outfit away from home, bar a few shock results. Their record this season away from Molineux is 2-2-5, with their two wins both coming by a 1-0 scoreline, one at Wigan and the other at Tottenham Hotspur. The latter result was outstanding but they did ride their luck on several occasions and would need a miracle for a similar result at Anfield as they’ve been far too negative at times when on their travels. At Molineux, Wolves have been able to express themselves a whole lot more in terms of creating chances. On the road, though, they struggle to keep the ball let alone carve open any defence, whilst their defending at times has been laughable.  

Wolves are vulnerable to just capitulating and an early goal for the home side on Saturday could open the Wolverhampton floodgates. They battled on stoutly at Old Trafford but a Wayne Rooney penalty spelt the end for Wolves, with Rooney strike just 30 minutes into the game instantly demoralising Wolves who eventually went on to lose 3-0. They were battered 4-0 at Chelsea, with 4-0 an injustice on how superior Chelsea were that day. Wolves have shipped 19 away goals this season, managing just 8 in return, and have failed to score in two of their previous three outings.

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Liverpool W: 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers W: 0 Draw: 1

Encounters between these two aren’t all that common, just twice in fact, and it’s Liverpool who etched their way ahead on the h2h counter, only just, with a narrow 1-0 victory at Anfield the last time these two met. Wolves did, however, hold the Reds’ to a 1-1 draw at Molineux, although both results are somewhat insignificant as the last time these two clashed was nearly six years ago.

Match Verdict: Liverpool to WIN – 1.30 VCbet

We know Liverpool haven’t been playing well of late, and that Wolves will be confident after a victory in their last outing, but the gulf in class between the two sides is too big to ignore and only a Liverpool win will suffice in Saturday’s encounter at Anfield. The Reds’ will be desperate to return to winning ways at home after their last visit ended in a miserable 2-1 defeat by Arsenal. Fernando Torres is back and should scare the living daylights out of that Wolves defence, while Steven Gerrard, who hasn’t been half the player he was last season, really does need to up his game and take this match by the scruff of it’s neck. A comfortable home victory for us else anything else would lead to yet more criticism of this massively underachieving club.

Match Odds:

Liverpool – 1.30 VCbet

Draw – 5.80 SportingBet

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 12.00 PaddyPower

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: Yossi Benayoun Anytime Scorer – 3.50 Expekt.com

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Birmingham City

Kick-off: Sunday 29th November – 12:00 GMT

Venue: Molineux

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 19th

Recent Form: DDDLL

Wolves may have entered the Premiership as the winners of The Championship, but that has counted for nothing this season as they currently find themselves languishing in 19^th position, six positions and five points off the side that finished second behind them last season, Birmingham City. What’s more, Wolves failed to beat the Blues’ when they paid Wolves a visit at Molneux last season, that was, of course, in The Championship, but will both their current positions and the results of last year play some part, mentally, in how Wolves approach this fixture.

Wolves’ lowly position hasn’t surprise us in the slightest as, although their attacking ways seen them storm through most games in The Championship, their defensive still left a lot to be desired and has certainly been found wanting in this years Premiership. Thus far, Wolves have conceded 26 goals in just 13 fixtures, averaging nearly two goals against this season. A small shining light will be that 10 of the 26 have come at Molineux but still, that’s an awful tally, joint second worst in the league in fact, and it will be an area which Mick McCarthy will desperately need to reinforce during the January transfer market else Wolves could face an early exit from the league at this rate.

Scoring has been a real cause for concern, especially when playing at home. Of the twelve goals they have scored to date, just five have come at Molineux, with Wolves failing to score in two out of their six home fixtures. Both West Ham (0-2) & Portsmouth (0-1) managed to keep Wolves at bay while playing at Molineux, which doesn’t bode at all well when you consider that both sides are in close proximity to Wolves, with Portsmouth bottom of the table and West Ham just a point better off then them.

The 4-0 defeat to Chelsea at the weekend was their biggest loss of the season, although, it came straight off the back of shipping yet another four goals at home to Arsenal, losing 4-1. We will give them some lean way in that both those emphatic defeats did come against two of leagues best sides but Birmingham have played Arsenal, Man Utd & Liverpool thus far and have only managed to amass six goals against, that’s two goals less then Wolves have shipped in their two clashed with the top four.

Still, we mustn’t forget that Wolves aren’t having to contest a game with a far superior opposition this weekend, although, Wolves have failed to make any impression against the leagues stragglers at home this season, failing to beat Hull City (1-1), West Ham United (0-2) & Portsmouth (0-1). They did manage to beat a tough Fulham side but that came in the middle of some disappointing home results and Wolves putting together a string of good home results just doesn’t seem likely. However, Wolves are now without a home win in three outings so perhaps they are well overdue one.

Birmingham City

League Position: 13th

Recent Form: LWDDW

Birmingham are steadily gaining revenge over Wolves for their second place finish behind Mick McCarthy’s side last season. Birmingham couldn’t keep up with Wolves in the Championship last season, although they were still delighted with their end of season finish. However, although Birmingham couldn’t bridge the gap on Wolves last season, finishing seven points adrift of the eventual champions of The Championship, they have managed to pull away from them back in Premiership, with Alex McLeish’s side now five points clear of 19^th placed Wolves.

Birmingham will do well to stay as far away from Wolves as possible as their opponents appear to be a relegation stricken club in the making. Birmingham, on the other hand, have been a far more solid outfit and a much tougher side to overcome. This has certainly shown in their recent run of results, going on an unbeaten four match run, a run which includes draws with Liverpool & Man City, two teams vying for top four berths, while decent victories over two improving teams in Sunderland (2-1) & Fulham (1-0), has seen them notch up eight points from their last four games, a fine tally which has enabled them to stretch away from the bottom three.

It’s rare to see Birmingham involved a good old fashioned thriller of a game, simply because they don’t give too much away when they do make rare strides into the opposing half. This does of course have it’s downfall’s, a distinct lack of goals being one of them, but it also makes them a tough nut to crack and often leaves them with at least a point to show for their efforts. This has been evident in recent outings, with Birmingham somewhat stealing more points then they probably deserved in their last two outings, somehow managing to score two at Liverpool in a game where they spent the vast majority of it defending, while they edged out Fulham at the weekend in a rather drab affair with very little goalmouth action.

It’s never pretty with Birmingham, but it’s certainly effective. Alex McLeish has recruited players that aren’t afraid to nail their colours to the mast, they work damn hard for one another and sure as hell fight hard in terms of defending. Although Birmingham’s defensive attitude has earned them a tidy defensive record, conceding 14 thus far, it has meant their goals for has suffered, with Birmingham scoring just eleven goals this season, of which six have come on the road. However, although at first glance that may look pretty poor, Birmingham have only failed to find the back of the net once on their travels, that coming on the opening day of the season at Old Trafford, a very tough venue to visit. However, Tottenham, Arsenal & even Liverpool, a team they scored two against, are all sides Birmingham have managed to put at least one past on the road this season, which isn’t a too bad early away C.V.

However, although they can score the odd away goal, they still aren’t earning nearly enough away points. Their away record currently stands at 1-1-4, which is dire, although, three of the four have come at extremely tough venues. Manchester United (1-0), Tottenham Hotspur (2-1) a game they were very unlucky to lose, and Arsenal (3-1), are all away games Birmingham lost.

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

Wolverhampton Wanderers W: 1 Birmingham City W: 1 Draws: 0

These two flirt all to often with relegation and this has shown in the amount of clashes between the two at Premiership level. 2004 was the last time these two met in the Premiership, but the pair played out two draws in the 2003/2004 season, with the game at Molineux ending 1-1. However, the pair have met a few times in the Championship recently, last season in fact, with Wolves beating Birmingham at St. Andrews but Birmingham did exact some form of revenge when they held Wolves to a 1-1 draw back at Molineux.  

Match Verdict:- Wolverhampton Wanderers to WIN – 2.50 Boylesports

We won’t tip this sort of result up all to often this season but if Wolves are going to win a handful of games this season then fixtures such as this should be snapped up. So far, Wolves haven’t shown an awful lot in their home fixtures but Birmingham haven’t been much cop on the road, either. If we’re completely honest, we couldn’t back anything in this game with any real confidence but for one reason or another, we can foresee a win for the home side. Wolves are good at creating decent chances at home, although converting them into goals has been a problem, but we feel they could just sneak a narrow result here, perhaps a 1-0 win.

Match Odds:

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 2.50 Boylesports

Draw – 3.30 Boylesports

Birmingham City – 3.20 WilliamHill

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: 1-0 Correct Score – 8.00 Ladbrokes

Chelsea V Wolverhampton Wanderers

Kick-off: Saturday 21st November – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Chelsea

League Position: 1st

Recent Form: WLWWW

The Chelsea skipper, John Terry, is already dropping hints about the possibility of acquiring some new faces at the club in January but a bigger concern for the English centre-half should be his fitness. Terry should have captained England against Brazil last Saturday were it not for an Achilles injury. The injury is thought to be minor and he should be fit enough to face Wolves from the off, although, it’s hard to envisage the Chelsea back line coming under that much scrutiny during the course of the game against Wolves.

Chelsea went into the International break as the Premiership leaders and with a five point cushion over their London rivals, Arsenal. The Gunners have been in inspired form of late but Chelsea have shown no signs of crumbling under the pressure after three wins on the bounce, all without conceding a single goal. Blackburn (5-0), Bolton (0-4) & even Manchester United (1-0), all came up short against the Blues’ and anything but a win on Saturday would be a major shock and setback for Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

On the whole, Chelsea have been pretty sublime in the early part of the season, with the defeats away at Wigan & Villa now put down as a blip. Of the 12 fixtures this season, Chelsea have won 10, with six of those coming at Stamford Bridge. To make the task for Wolves sound even more daunting, Chelsea haven’t conceded a goal at home in over 450 minutes of football. Surprisingly, Hull City were the last and only team to score at The Bridge this season, with even the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham & Man Utd all failing to break through the strong Chelsea rearguard.

If Liverpool & Manchester United cannot score against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge then what chance do Wolves stand. 16-1 is Chelsea’s goalscoring record at home this season, with Chelsea averaging nearly 3 goals a game at The Bridge. A revitalised Didier Drogba is one of the reasons why Chelsea have been so prolific at home this season, with the Ivorian notching on 9 league goals for the season, four of which have come on home soil.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

League Position: 4th

Recent Form: LWDWL

A trip to Stamford Bridge to face one of Europe’s biggest sides is what you get excited about as a manager, that’s until the fixture actually comes about and then you start to understand the term ‘squeaky bum time’. With Chelsea dishing out a few thumpings at The Bridge already this season, some will feel that Mick McCarthy’s men will be lucky to escape with their pride still in tact, let alone actually take anything from the game. Nevertheless, there is a game to be won, in a matter of words.

The good news for Mick McCarthy, he doesn’t appear to have any fresh absentee’s after the international break, although that is mainly down to the fact that his squad isn’t wanted around the globe. The bad news is just that, McCarthy doesn’t have the required quality within the ranks to compete with the likes of Chelsea. However, McCarthy is a fighter, and he will do everything but throw in the towel as he aims to pull off a master-stroke by getting some form of a result out of this fixture.

What the newly promoted sides need heading into a game of this magnitude is good form, something for the opponent to think about, possibly even assert a bit of fear. Wolves, well, they would struggle to have my nephew’s Under 11′s team quaking in their boots. Since their victory over Fulham back in mid September, Wolves have picked up just three points from six games. That is fifteen dropped points, with three draws and three defeats. The positives are the 1-1 draws with Everton & Villa, while the negatives are the hammering’s they received by first Sunderland (5-2) and more recently, Arsenal (1-4).

We generally get punished whenever we completely write a team off but Wolves really shouldn’t get anywhere near the Chelski on Saturday. Their defence is woeful, shipping 22 goals in 12 outings, 12 of which have come on the road. While their lack of fire-power has shown in their goal tally of just 12, although 7 have come away from Molineux. Funnily enough, Wolves have managed to find the net in their previous four away outings but they won’t come up against a leaner defence than Chelsea’s all season. Expect their away goalscoring form to come to an abrupt end, as well as their goals against tally rising, perhaps considerably.

Head-to-Head:

Chelsea W: 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers W: 0 Draws: 0

With Wolves not a regular appearer in the English top flight, the pair have only had the pleasure of clashing on two occasions, back in the 2004/2004 season. However, unsurprisingly, Chelsea dominated both games, winning 5-2 at Stamford Bridge & 5-0 Molineux, scoring five goals in both meetings.

The pair haven’t met in a competitive fixture since that season so will Chelsea continue their dominance of Wolves or will the ‘Wolves’ have their day. The former looks the most likely, much to the displeasure of you loyal Wolves readers.

Match Verdict:- Chelsea to WIN – 1.17 Bet365

We won’t turn too many heads with this prediction and nor are we aiming to. Anything but a comfortable home win for the Blues’ would be a big shock as the gulf in class between then two is horrific. At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have been unstoppable, maintaining a 100% record at home, while Wolves are fresh off a 4-1 hammering from Chelsea’s local rivals, Arsenal. A similar scoreline wouldn’t be at all surprising with the only factor possibly hindering Chelsea’s display is the mass returns of players from international duty.

Match Odds:

Chelsea – 1.17 Bet365

Draw – 8.00 SKyBet

Wolverhampton Wanderers – 21.00 PaddyPower

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: Chelsea to WIN both Halves – 2.20 SkyBet

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Full-Time: Chelsea 4-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Goalscorer(s): Florent Malouda, Michael Essien X2, Joe Cole (Chelsea)