Wolves

Wolves V West Brom

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 8 May 2011 – 12:00 (GMT)
Venue: Molineux
TV Coverage: Sky Sports HD1

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Preview

The Barclay’s Premier League boasts a worldwide following and attracts a large scale audience, and over the years we’ve been treated to a wide variety of spectacles. However, one fixture which has rarely blessed our television sets is the Black Country derby between West Brom and Wolves – two of the Midlands’ finest – and we’re fortunate enough that Sunday’s billing should be a real cracker.

Wolves are the team who desperately need the points however, and at home, inside a sold-out Molineux, and where Mick McCarthy’s men have recorded seven of their nine Premiership wins this season, they are perhaps worthy favourites. That said, they aren’t in the best of shapes, having failed to win any of their previous five – two draws and three defeats – whereas West Brom not only arrive in high spirit following last week’s 2-1 victory over local rivals Aston Villa, they are also assured of Premiership football next season and will contest their remaining three games of the season without any pressure and with the freedom and license to express themselves on the pitch.

So whereas it’s a stress-free zone at camp West Brom, it is the exact opposite inside the Wolves dressing room. Floundering in 19th, the Molineux outfit are a point off safety but know a win in Sunday’s hotly contested Midlands clash may be enough to lift them out of the bottom-three, depending on how their rivals fare elsewhere around the country, with just two games left to play.

Securing that elusive win may prove a task easier said than done however, as Wolves have failed to take maximum points in each of their last five and on Sunday couldn’t even dispatch of Birmingham at St Andrews. Now the Blues are usually a difficult sort on their patch, but Wolves spent much of that game with a numerical advantage but failed miserably to seize on their golden opportunity.

Then, of course, we have their opponents, who have become one of the toughest nuts to crack under Roy Hodgson, whom has installed organisation and discipline into the ranks. They’ve only lost one of their last eleven in the league (W4 D6 L1) in a quite unbelievable turnaround, considering the Baggies were in the relegation zone when Hodgson first took charge. The atmosphere in camp has proved no end, as was evident last weekend, when the Baggies came from behind but also with a man less to secure the win which rubber-stamped their inclusion in next season’s campaign.

So whereas Wolves couldn’t see off ten-man Birmingham, West Brom did manage to overcome Aston Villa with a numerical disadvantage. Now it’s usually Wolves who are credited with being workmanlike and spirited, but it would appear we have a role reversal here and even though they are safe from the drop and can afford to take their foot off the pedal, because this is a local derby there shouldn’t be any let-up from the visitors and this is why I believe the Baggies are exceptional value to compound Wolves’ woes, who I also believe are certain to go down.

Moreover, West Brom are unbeaten in their last four away from home – 2 wins and 2 draws – scoring eight goals in that run, and on their last road trip had enough about them to hold Tottenham to a 2-2 draw at White Hart Lane. The only real flaw with the visitors is they have a few injuries; Chris Brunt and Jerome Thomas among them, while Paul Scharner will serve his one-match ban for seeing red against Villa last week.

Wolves have often been outstanding at Molineux this season but not in their last three at home, losing 3-0 to Everton and only managing a 1-1 draw with Fulham during April. Furthermore, Mick McCarthy is still without his star striker, Kevin Doyle, who continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. The Wolves boss only has one fit striker, and it shows as his side have only found the net three times in five games.

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Form & Last Result

Wolves – LLDLD (Newcastle 4-1 Wolves, Wolves 0-3 Everton, Wolves 1-1 Fulham, Stoke 3-0 Wolves, Birmingham 1-1 Wolves)

Their opponents weren’t in the best frame of minds and had to spend the vast majority of the game with ten-men, yet Wolves still couldn’t register the win which would have given their survival hopes a massive boost. Steve Fletcher had given Mick McCarthy’s men the lead early on from the spot but a mistake from Elokobi was emphatically punished by Birmingham’s Sebastian Larsson. Wolves did create some opportunities late on as they went in search of a vital win, however they didn’t create anything clear cut and in the end had to settle for a share of the spoils. A disappointing result, though.

West Brom – WWLDW (West Brom 2-1 Liverpool, Sunderland 2-3 West Brom, West Brom 1-3 Chelsea, Tottenham 2-2 West Brom, West Brom 2-1 Aston Villa)

Despite spending a large proportion of the game down to ten men, West Brom stunned everyone by scoring a late winner at home to local rivals Aston Villa as the Baggies recorded their first ever win over the Villains in the Premiership. Peter Odemwingie scored West Brom’s first, his 14th of the campaign, but it was Mulumbu who bundled home a winner to send The Hawthorns faithful into raptures. The win moved Roy Hodgson’s side up to 11th in the table, on 43-points where they are now guaranteed a spot in next season’s Premier League.

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Head-to-Head (Premiership)

Wolves wins: 0
Draws: 1
West Brom wins: 0

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: West Brom 1-1 Wolves

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Match Prediction: West Brom to WIN – 3.60 VictorChandler

Even on their travels, West Brom retain their shape and make life as difficult as possible for their opponents to break them down. So considering Sunday’s adversaries are that of Wolves, who haven’t been scoring an awful lot of late and may well be feeling a little down in the dumps following a five-match barren spell, the Baggies, who can play with an element of freedom and with a license to entertain in their remaining three games seeing as survival is assured, are certainly what I call value to clinch their third away win in four and leave their Black Country rivals on the brink of Premiership exile.

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Value Bets

Both Teams to Score @ 1.73 Totesport

At home, Wolves should be good for a goal against a West Brom outfit who haven’t kept a single clean sheet in their last 33 Premiership matches. The Baggies, though, to their credit have scored at least once in each of their last eleven.

Peter Odemwingie to Score @ 3.00 Coral

The Nigerian became the most prolific West Brom striker in a single season last week, when prodding home the equaliser at home to Aston Villa. The free-scoring forward has also netted in each of his last four starts, though only 4 of 14 strikes in the league this season were scored on his travels.

West Brom to Score Exactly 2 Goals @ 4.00 PaddyPower

The Baggies have scored precisely 2 goals in five of their last six.

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Match Odds

Wolves – 2.25 BetFred
Draw – 3.40 Bet365
West Brom – 3.60 VictorChandler

Wolves V Fulham

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 23 April 2011 – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: Molineux

Wolves were demoted to the bottom of the table after their lack of involvement last weekend, but they have a golden opportunity here to escape the relegation doldrums when they play host to a Fulham side within touching distance of prolonging their tenure in the Barclay’s Premier League – with a win good enough for the Midlands outfit to leap out of the bottom-three providing results elsewhere go in their favour.

Although very few of the teams in close proximity actually won their respective league games last week, Wolves still found themselves bottom of the pile courtesy of their inferior goal difference. The good news, though, is that safety is only a victory away while Mick McCarthy’s side also boast a game in hand over their survival rivals heading into the final few games of the season. However, propping up the table is never good for team spirit, or morale for that matter, and neither is suffering heavy defeats, which is what Wolves have done too much of in recent weeks.

It’s probably just as well Wolves weren’t involved seven days ago as it meant Mick McCarthy enjoyed a good two weeks with his team, nursing them through what has been a demoralising period. It all began with emphatic back-to-back defeats away at Newcastle (4-1) and then Everton at home (1-3) before helplessly sliding into the basement of the Premier League – but they’ve had plenty of time to reflect on where it all went wrong last time out, when putting in their poorest performance of the season thus far at home to Everton on 9 April.

If Wolves are to stave off relegation then Molineux will have a big say in the matter, which makes their 3-0 loss to Everton a fortnight ago an alarming result. Fortunately for them, they have an instant shot at redemption this Saturday, in a fixture which has bared plenty of fruit down the years. In fact, Wolves have a perfect record at home to Fulham in the Premier League, having won the only two previous Molineux meetings 2-1 and 1-0. It also helps that the Cottagers are woeful when it comes to travelling.

Whether it be under former manager Roy Hodgson or current boss Mark Hughes, Fulham still haven’t mastered the art of winning matches away from their spirtual home of Craven Cottage. Last season, under Hodgson, Fulham mustered a pathetic one win from their nineteen away games in the league, an embarrassing statistic which even Mark Hughes is struggling to better. A 2-0 victory over Stoke City at The Brittania on 28 December remains Fulham’s only away triumph of the season, after sixteen away outings, while a 2-0 reverse at Manchester United last time out was their second on the spin on their travels, extending yet another barren away run in the league to seven.

Not even once in a blue moon do Fulham win on their travels, however, they won’t have too many easier away assignments than a trip to Molineux to face rock-bottom and out of form Wolves. It isn’t as though they haven’t produced some decent performances though. In fact, they’ve been superb in all seven of their away encounters in 2011, from what I can remember. Defeats to Everton (2-1), Liverpool (1-0), Man Utd (2-0) and Tottenham (1-0) were all to be expected, yet they lost all four by the slimmest of margins and had chances in each to take something from incredibly difficult outings, while they were superb away at Aston Villa and Manchester City during February, when drawing 2-2 and 1-1 respectively.

So as you can see, Fulham haven’t had it easy on the road in 2011. Saturday’s clash will unquestionably be their easiest of the year, possibly even season, but their record away to Wolves is unsurprisingly lousy – two visits and two defeats – so while this is a definite window of opportunity for a side who require just one more victory in order to see them surge past that magic 40-point milestone which all but guarantees survival, you’d be mad to back Fulham at those odds.

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Head-to-Head (Premier League)

Wolves wins: 2
Draws: 2
Fulham wins: 1

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Fulham 2-1 Wolves
2009/2010: Fulham 0-0 Wolves
2009/2010: Wolves 2-1 Fulham

Streaks & Trends

Wolves have a 100% record at home to Fulham in the Premier League: W2 D0 L0, winning both previous Molineux encounters 2-1.

Wolves, who were unbeaten in four heading into April, have lost both their league fixtures this month, shipping seven goals in the process.

No team has won fewer away matches this season than Fulham (W1 D8 L7), who have secured maximum points on their travels on just one occasion, when beating Stoke 2-0 at the Brittania on 28 December.

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Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Wolves to WIN – 2.62 VictorChandler

In an ideal world, I wouldn’t have to go anywhere near this fixture. Fulham have put in some eye-catching displays away from home since the turn of the year but are still finding away wins elusive, and at the odds I just cannot see any value whatsoever in Mark Hughes men. Wolves’ recent form is more than just a little disconcerting, it’s alarming considering they’ve been conceding so many cheap goals. However, the two-weeks off they’ve enjoyed should benefit them in the long-run, as not only does Mick McCarthy boast the fresher set of legs, his players will have appreciated the fortnight reprieve following a disastrous couple of results.

As I mentioned in the preview itself, Wolves rely heavily on their passionate home support and if they are to put up a fight for their Premiership status, Molineux is where their resistance is likely to be staged. A combination of home advantage and a revitalised dressing room should see Wolves through a tricky fixture, but one they simply must win if they’re to keep alive their hopes of avoiding the drop, as next up is successive away encounters with Stoke City and Birmingham.

Value Bet: Wolves 1-0 (Correct Score) – 8.00 Bet365

When these two clash there is never a great deal between them, and I suspect their latest duel will be no different. Wolves should edge it, with 1-0 and 2-1 both catching the eye. Considering Fulham struggle to score goals on the road, I’m leaning towards 1-0.  

Match Odds:

Wolves – 2.62 VictorChandler
Draw – 3.30 Coral
Fulham – 2.90 BetFred

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

Newcastle V Wolves

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 2 April – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: St James’ Park

Newcastle

League Position: 11th
League Form: DWDLL

Just one win in nine in the Premier League has seen Newcastle’s previously rosy stance in the table turn into one of apprehension, with the Magpies now only four-points above the relegation zone. Defeat on Saturday would drag them closer to the dreaded bottom-three, but that is something manager Alan Pardew is keen to avoid and has stressed the importance of the club’s upcoming games, starting with this weekend’s home match with Wolves.

Victory over Wolves, who are third-bottom but have collected more points in their last four league games than Newcastle have in eight, would go some way to easing the threat of relegation. Three points would also move the Magpies to within a point of the magic 40-point marker which normally guarantees safety. However, this season is like no other, with many suggesting that 40 points may not even be enough to stave off the drop this time around.

The international break couldn’t have come at a more opportunistic time for Alan Pardew, who has had the luxury of a two-week reprieve to regroup the troops and nurse them through what was an horrific result last time out. A 4-0 spanking at the hands of Stoke will have felt like a hammer blow at the time, considering how drastic the team’s form over the last couple of months has been, having won only one of their last nine but also having registered a miserly 8 points in that time.

To complicate matters for Pardew, the 49-year-old is without several key men whose absences from this weekend’s clash with Wolves could turn out to be pivotal. Dan Gosling and Hatem Ben Afra will not be ready in time but are nearing a return to first-team action following long-term injuries. Alan Smith has been ruled out for the remainder of the season while both Ryan Taylor and Cheik Tiote are suspended. On the plus side, James Perch, Jose Enrique and Leon Best should all overcome minor knocks while there may even be a début for on-loan Villa midfielder Stephen Ireland.

Wolves

League Position: 18th
League Form: LDWDW

In stark contrast to their opposition this Saturday, the international break couldn’t have come at a more inconvenient time for Mick McCarthy and Wolves. The Midlanders were beginning to hit their stride after racking up a four-match unbeaten run which included a couple of tidy victories over Blackpool at home (4-0) and local rivals Aston Villa on the road (0-1), the latter also their most recent triumph and arguably their most impressive of the season; even more reason for McCarthy to rue the timing of recent internationals.

As well as an ample amount of points of late, goals have also been arriving thick and fast. Four against Blackpool and another three against Champions League hopefuls Tottenham means it’s now nine goals in four for one of the league’s previously bluntest attacks. However, their resurgence in scoring form is thanks in no small part to their fantastic record at home, with Wolves having won five of their last eight league matches at Molienux, a sparkling run of form which includes stunning victories over Chelsea and Manchester United. It’s a completely different story elsewhere.

Their hard-fought but thoroughly deserved 1-0 win at Villa Park last time out, over one of their arch rivals, was only their second away win of the term but still leaves them with a woeful looking away record: W2 D2 L11.To compound matters, as well as points proving hard to come by away from fortress Molineux this season, goals have been just as sought-after. 11 from 15 away matches in the league means Mick McCarthy’s charges average less than one-goal-per-game on the road (0.73), and, furthermore, have failed to score in 40% (6/15) of those. They are, though, unbeaten in their last two, so perhaps the foundations for a positive outcome at St James’, where they’ve never been beaten in a Premier League contest.

If Wolves do manage to pick up where they left off two weeks ago, building on a four-match unbeaten run which includes a couple of wins and as many draws, not to mention registering a healthy return of points, then they should fare well on Tyneside, where the hosts are without a number of first-team characters. In fairness,though, Mick McCarthy isn’t exempt from injuries. In fact, the Yorkshireman will be without one of the more influential figures in his dressing room in Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle, who has been ruled out for up to eight weeks. A damning blow at the worse possible time for Wolves, who were beginning to show signs that they were more than up for this relegation dogfight.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Seasons

2010/2011: Wolves 1-1 Newcastle

Premier League

Newcastle wins: 0
Wolves wins: 0
Draws: 3

Betting

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.60 VictorChandler

If form was to determine who leaves Tyneside with all the spoils, Wolves would win hands-down. The Magpies have been dire over the last couple of weeks whereas Wolves have been magnificent, rising to their relegation battle superbly. However, the two-week break may have stopped Mick McCarthy’s men firmly in their tracks, and if that didn’t then Kevin Doyle’s injury may well have.

History indicates that there is never a great deal to choose between these two, with all three previous Premier League meetings ending all-square. The smart money will be on a fourth successive draw as while Wolves boast the far superior form, they have generally been a terrible outfit away from home whereas Newcastle really ought to rise to the occasion at St James’ in a fixture which should they win, would be a significant step towards securing their top-flight status.

Value Bet: 1-1 Draw (Correct Score) – 7.00 WilliamHill

These two teams have clashed on just three previous occasions in the Premier League, all three ending not only all-square but 1-1, also.

Match Odds:

Newcastle – 2.00 BetFred
Draw – 3.60 VictorChandler
Wolves – 4.20 Bet365

Aston Villa V Wolves

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 19th March – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: Villa Park

Aston Villa

- The Villains are unbeaten in their previous 17 meetings with Wolves; 13 wins and 4 draws.

- A 1-0 defeat of Manchester City at Villa Park on 22 Jan is Aston Villa’s one and only clean sheet in their last 19 league matches.

- Villa boss Gerard Houllier hopes to have defensive duo Carlos Cuellar and James Collins back for Saturday’s clash with Wolves, although Luke Young is doubtful while Richard Dunne is unlikely to feature again until April.

Fans were left enraged when Villa manager Gerard Houllier thought best to restrict the club’s more talented players to second half cameo roles in their recent FA Cup Fifth Round clash with Manchester City, to which Villa bowed out of the oldest domestic competition with a whimper. The plan from the Frenchman was to protect the general conditioning of his key men ahead of important league fixtures, although his bold idea didn’t come to fruition as next time out the Villains were dispatched by Bolton at The Reebok.

A 3-2 defeat away to Bolton in the league was Villa’s second on the spin following their controversial 3-2 loss to Man City in the FA Cup. The latter reverse was only dubious for one factor and one factor only, Houllier’s bizarre decision to leave out his stars players in arguably the biggest match of the club’s season. The message from the Frenchman was clear, that he doesn’t have full faith in his current crop to stave off relegation, something myself and so many others believe should be a formality.

It would be fair to say that Houllier’s relationship with the Villa supporters isn’t an harmonious one, so it’s imperative that the French tactician plots someone’s downfall sooner rather than later. The latter point rings further true when you have a quick glance at the Barclay’s Premier League table and see that Aston Villa are now languishing in 13th, just two-points above the relegation zone and only six-points shy of rock-bottom Wigan.

Fortunately for both Gerard Houllier and the Villa fans, their team has a formidable record against this weekend’s opponents having gone their last seventeen meetings with Wolves without losing. Houllier in particular will have fond memories of the Molineux outfit as that was where his first Premier League victory came as Aston Villa boss, when goals from Stewart Downing and Emile Heskey sealed a 2-1 victory in the Midlands derby back on 26 Sep.

Wolves

- Defeat for Wolves could result in another spell at the foot of the table, though the Midlands club are currently unbeaten in their last three league games; 1 win and 2 draws.

- Wolves have now racked up 7 goals in their last two matches, although all 7 came at Molineux.

- Since the start of the 2010/2011 Premier League, Wolves have recorded only one away win from 13 and have won just one of their last 17 on the road in total.

- Mick McCarthy should have defender Ronald Zubar and David Jones fit although Noel Hunt and Michael Kightly may have to settle for a place on the Wolves bench at best, that is providing they recover in time from calf and knee problems respectively.

Second-from-bottom and in need of some inspiration, Wolves need only take a cheeky peek at their recent form for motivation ahead of Saturday’s eagerly anticipated clash with neighbours Aston Villa. To be honest, there are plenty of motivational pieces from a Wolves perspective, like the fact they’ve not beaten their local rivals in seventeen games in all competitions, or the simple fact that Villa beat them 2-1 at Molineux earlier in the season and are now on the verge of doing the double over them.

Back to my original regarding Wolves’ form, Mick McCarthy saw his side extend their unbeaten run in the Premiership to three matches two weeks ago. Their latest result, even though it isn’t really all that recent what with the schedule for league fixtures a sheer mess at the minute, was a thoroughly entertaining 3-3 draw with high-flyers Tottenham.

It wasn’t simple a case of savouring a well-earned point against one of the most talented sides in the country a fortnight ago, it was that Wolves kept pace with a free-scoring Spurs and that they had the courage and tenacity to claw back two deficits – a fantastic sight for their manager Mick McCarthy, who knows full well the importance of dressing room spirit when you’re down in the midst of a fight for survival. However, it could and perhaps should have been more had it not been for some dreadful officiating.

Wolves now have a platform upon which to mount a push for survival, with the Midlanders now unbeaten in their last three league contests but also having notched up seven goals in their previous two matches. What was also pleasing was the return of strikers Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher to the goal trail, with the former grabbing two against Spurs. And with the Villains having kept only one clean sheet in their last 15 league games, they’ll be sniffing out more scoring spoils this weekend in a match Wolves must get something from if they’re to avoid the possibility of spending the following week bottom of the Premier League.

Match Prediction: Aston Villa to WIN – 1.91 WilliamHill

The fact neither are renowned for keeping clean sheets – Villa one in their last 19 league games, Wolves one in 15 – should mean we get an enjoyable contest at Villa Park, which is where the Villains have reigned supreme in this fixture in eight of the last nine meetings.

Their respective forms, however, are contrasting, with Villa licking their wounds after quick-fire defeats, conceding 3 goals in both matches, while Wolves are looking upwards after collecting five points from their previous three league assignments, scoring seven in their last two. So Wolves are the stand-out bet at the odds, but I cannot take my eyes off Aston Villa’s price quote of just under evens. Villa Park is generally where we’ve seen some of their best football this season, where they’ve won six of their eight league victories, and where they spanked Blackburn 4-1 in their most recent home encounter.

As spirited and tenacious as Wolves are, the technical ability of the Villains should be too much for Wolves at Villa Park.

Value Bet: Both Teams to Score – 1.80 Totesport

Match Odds:

Aston Villa – 1.91 WilliamHill
Draw – 3.60 StanJames
Wolves – 4.65 bWin

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Tottenham Hotspur

Date & Kick-Off: Sunday, 6th March – 16:00 (GMT)
Venue: Molineux
TV Coverage: Sky Sports HD1

Two managers with similar woes meet at Molineux this Sunday, with both Mick McCarthy and Harry Redknapp missing half-a-dozen players who might have featured in a match neither party can afford to lose.

Wolves are desperate for maximum points in order to enhance their claims for survival, with the club currently languishing in the bottom three. Victory over Spurs, however, would go some way to boosting their disconcerting situation down near the foot of the table, as it would lead to them leaping out of the relegation zone and onto safe ground for a change.

Tottenham, though, are determined to to clinch a top-four finish for the second season running and find themselves in a tense battle with Chelsea, who are only one point ahead of Redknapp’s side having played the same amount of fixtures.

So there’s plenty at stake for both teams.

Wolves

For all those youngsters out there who reckon homework is a waste of time, just try telling Mick McCarthy that. The Wolves manager believes that between he and his scouts, who watch their opponents at least four times before Wolves even come into contact with them on a football pitch, they have a cunning plan which will bring down fifth-placed Tottenham at Molienux this Sunday.

You’re probably thinking he’s gone a little mad, but who would dare doubt a man who has masterminded Chelsea, Liverpool and even Manchester United’s downfall this season, the latter a team who were unbeaten in 28 Premier League matches at the time. If anything, Wolves have been ultra consistent in the seemingly improbable fixtures, and yet annoyingly frustrating in the supposedly straightforward encounters. Five of their eight league victories this season have come against sides currently residing in the top half of the table, so Spurs won’t be all that daunting a prospect for Wolves.

Those who are writing Wolves off really do need to think again. On the last occasion these two teams came to loggerheads in the league, Wolves went 1-0 up through Steve Fletcher at White Hart Lane only to conceded three goals in the final fifteen minutes of the match to lose 3-1, a match they certainly didn’t deserve to lose. Then we have last season’s outcomes, where Wolves did the double over Harry’s men, winning both contests 1-0. Three of Wolves’ seven wins at Molineux this season were without conceding, so perhaps that’s the way to go?

Unfortunately for Mick McCarthy, it isn’t as simple as doing all the hard work beforehand and the results will follow. While he may feel he has some inside knowledge on the Spurs team, his biggest obstacle lyes in his own dressing room. Midfield duo Adam Hammill and Jamie O’Hara, the latter having score in both appearances for the Midlanders since joining on loan from Spurs, have joined an extensive list of absentees which contain the likes of Noel Hunt, Michael Kightly and Ronald Zubar among others.

Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham know more than most never to underestimate the underdog, especially one named Wolves.

Spurs were beaten home and away by the Midlands outfit last season, bizarrely losing both by 1-0, while they were just 13 minutes away from suffering a third successive 1-0 defeat at the hands of Mick McCarthy’s men earlier in the season at White Hart Lane only for some last-gasp strikes from Roman Pavlyuchenko and Alan Hutton to spare their blushes – So Harry Redknapp knows full well what to expect from Sunday’s opponents.

Nevertheless, despite the several close-run affairs, Spurs are firm favourites to come out on top in Sunday’s Molineux encounter. That’s of little surprise when you consider that a couple of defeats away at Everton and Blackpool are Tottenham’s only blemishes in an otherwise highly impressive nineteen match streak in the league which contains 9 wins, 8 draws and 2 losses.

Furthermore, Tottenham should appreciate the fact they’ve been in action sparingly over the last couple of weeks. So much so that Sunday’s match will be their first in a fortnight. While that should lead to some fresher legs and refreshed minds, it hasn’t helped ease the burden on the club’s medical staff. Gareth Bale is among an extensive list of absentees which contains defenders Ledley King, Vedran Corluka and Younes Kaboul, as well as midfielder Tom Huddlestone, while Jonathan Woodgate, Rafael Van Der Vaart and Jermain Defoe are all doubts.

There is no question this fixture has the potential to cause Spurs plenty of problems, but they’ve collected so many more points that we expected them to gather from similar fixtures this season; for instance, impressive victories away at Blackburn, Fulham, Stoke and Sunderland, not to mention a stunning 3-2 win at the Emirates over their arch local neighbours, Arsenal.

However, Spurs were overturned on their most recent away day out, this despite creating almost three times as many goalscoring opportunities as their opponents as Blackpool clinched three massive points in a 3-1 triumph at Bloomfield Road. A momentum buster or has this two-week reprieve been a God send for Harry Redknapp and his depleted ranks?

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FORM & STATISTICS

Wolves

Last 5 Matches

Premier League: Wolves 4-0 Blackburn
Premier League: West Brom 1-1 Wolves
Premier League: Arsenal 2-0 Wolves
Premier League: Wolves 2-1 Man Utd
Premier League: Bolton 1-0 Wolves

2010/2011 League Statistics

League Position: 18th
Win-Draw-Lose: 8-4-16 (Home: 7-2-5)
Goal Difference:  31-46 (Home: 21-19)
Form: LWLDW (Home: LWLWW)
Top Scorer: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (6)

- No team has drawn fewer matches in the top-flight this season than Wolves (4).

- Wolves have won six of their last nine matches at Molineux in all competitions.

- Midfielder Jamie O’Hara has scored in back-to-back fixtures, both strikes were outside the box.

Tottenham Hotspur

Premier League: Blackpool 3-1 Tottenham
Champions League: AC Milan 0-1 Tottenham
Premier League: Sunderland 1-2 Tottenham
Premier League: Tottenham 2-1 Bolton
Premier League: Blackburn 0-1 Tottenham

2010/2011 League Statistics

League Position: 5th
Win-Draw-Lose: 13-8-6 (Away: 6-3-5)
Goal Difference: 38-31 (Away: 19-21)
Form: DWWWL (Away: LDWWL)
Top Scorer: Rafael Van Der Vaart (10)

- A 3-1 reverse away to Blackpool last time out put an end to a four-match winning streak for Tottenham.

- Spurs have only lost two of their last sixteen league games, although both of those were away from home.

- Tottenham have scored the last goal in their last five league fixtures.

- Of the fourteen times Spurs have been on their travels in the league this season, only once did they score 3 or more goals, ironically against their fierce rivals Arsenal at the Emirates.

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HEAD-TO-HEAD

Premier League

Wolves wins: 2
Draws: 0
Tottenham wins: 3

Recent Meetings (Premier League ONLY)

2010/2011: Tottenham 3-1 Wolves
2009/2010: Wolves 1-0 Tottenham
2009/2010: Tottenham 0-1 Wolves

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Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.40 WilliamHill

A full-strength Tottenham team would be mighty difficult to oppose, but that isn’t the case at the moment. Redknapp is counting the cost of Gareth Bale’s prolonged absence from the side, with the Welsh winger having missed much of the new year with a back problem. Van Der Vaart has had several niggling injuries and is by no means guaranteed to start on Sunday either.

Wolves aren’t exactly better off, though. Jamie O’Hara has two goals in two starts for Wolves but is ineligable to play against his parent club, while Adam Hammill has been ruled out through injury.

The majority of the chances should fall Tottenham’s way as they play with more ambition, while it goes without saying that they have the better quality of attacking options. However, there aren’t too many teams in the Premier League who play with more passion and hunger than Mick McCarthy’s Wolves. The Molineux outfit have been outstanding in just this sort of fixture as well this season, but Spurs have had a knack of grounding out creditable results at difficult venues, so it could be a case of honours even as industry clashes with forward flair and ingenuity.

Value Bet: 1-1 Correct Score -7.00 WilliamHill

Match Odds:

Wolves – 3.00 Bet365
Draw – 3.40 WIlliamHill
Tottenham Hotspur – 2.50 VictorChandler

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Wolverhampton Wanderers V Blackpool

Date & Kick-Off: Saturday, 26th February – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: Molineux

Wolves

In case anyone was wandering, this is officially Wolves’ biggest game of the season, or at least until the next one rolls along. That is according to their manager Mick McCarthy, though he does have a tendency to speak a load of nonsense. However, on this one occasion he may actually speak a little bit of truth, as while Blackpool are a great deal closer to that elusive 40-point milestone than Wolves are, this is without a doubt a relegation six-pointer, and they’ll be loads of those between now and the end of the season.

Looking back, Wolves haven’t won many crunch matches this season, and by that I mean beating those in close proximity. Five of their seven league wins this season have come against side currently situated in the top-half of the league, the Midlands outfit beating all of the traditional ‘Big Four’ bar Arsenal. Against the smaller side however Wolves have fared miserably, but that is something which needs to change, and fast, as there’s every chances of Wolves becoming stranded at the bottom if they aren’t careful.

I wouldn’t necessarily say Molineux has been a fortress this season, however it was where the vast majority of their league wins have occurred. Six of seven to be precise. Their recent form at home is also pretty impressive, even more so when you sit down and read aloud who they’ve beaten there. Birmingham City, Sunderland, Chelsea and even Manchester United, ending the latter’s season-long unbeaten run in the process, have all been put to the sword by arguably the Premier League’s most industrious, dogged, spirited team. After all, this is a club who saviours the big games against some of the countries finest and does all it can to protect its top-flight status.

Unlike most, Wolves were involved in league action last weekend, contesting a Black Country derby with West Bromwich Albion in a match they could and probably should have won. Jamie O’Hara’s stunning long-range effort was worthy of winning any match, but a lack of concentration in the dying embers of the game allowed the Baggies to score a last-gasp equaliser as Wolves spurned a glorious chance to register only their second away win of the season. So instead or a morale-boosting win, the result might have actually knocked their confidence for six. 

Blackpool

If anyone doubted the fighting spirit inside the Blackpool dressing room and their determination to escape the drop, highlights of their stunning 3-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Bloomfield Road should be all you need to assure yourself that the Tangerines are up for the fight and will be there fighting until the very end. The win helped lift the club up to 12th in the table, where they are now five-points clear of the bottom three and that little bit closer to that magic marker of 40-points.

In fairness, it wasn’t a dogged display which helped them overcome the might of Spurs, it was once again their all-out attacking style which saw them create plenty of opportunities, although nowhere near as many as their opponents, with the difference on the night being that Blackpool were clinical. Of course, they had to ride their luck on occasions, with Spurs creating twice as many chances as the home side, but you need those slices of luck when you’re down there fighting and Blackpool made their own on Wednesday.

One of the players at the heart of their midweek triumph was DJ Campbell, a player Blackpool manager Ian Holloway rates so highly that he reckons England manager Fabio Capello should bare the Yeading player in mind for future internationals. His record in the league this season speaks for itself, Campbell having found the back of the net more times than all those who were recently called up for international duty; with Bent and Rooney still trailing DJ’s tally of 9 league goals. Most of those, five, came while the Tangerines were on their travels so the former non-league star maybe a good shout to score at Molineux on Saturday.

His opposite number, Mick McCarthy, has been telling his players that Saturday’s meeting with Blackpool is their biggest match of the season thus far. No doubt Ian Holloway will be uttering similar sentiments to his team, who are now without defeat in two games following seven defeats in their last eight previously in the league. Only West Brom have shipped more goals in the league this season, however Blackpool have always based their philosophy on trying to outscore their opponents so expect an opening game of football rather than a cagey affair, the latter something you usually expect when two relegation candidates come to blows on a football pitch.

Recent Form

Wolves

Premier League: West Brom 1-1 Wolves
Premier League: Arsenal 2-0 Wolves
Premier League: Wolves 2-1 Manchester United
Premier League: Bolton 1-0 Wolves
FA Cup: Wolves 0-2 Stoke

Blackpool

Premier League: Blackpool 3-1 Tottenham
Premier League: Blackpool 1-1 Aston Villa
Premier League: Everton 5-3 Blackpool
Premier League: Blackpool 1-3 West Ham
Premier League: Blackpool 2-3 Manchester United

2010/2011 Premier League Statistics

Wolves

League Position: 20th
Win-Draw-Lose: 7-4-16 (Home: 6-2-5)
Goal Difference: 27-46 (Home: 17-19)
Form: LLWLD (Home: WLWLW)
Top Scorer: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake & Steven Fletcher (4)

Blackpool

League Position: 12th
Win-Draw-Lose: 9-5-13 (Away: 5-2-7)
Goal Difference: 42-51 (Away: 20-27)
Form: LLLDW (Away: WWLLL)
Top Scorer: DJ Campbell (9)

Premier League Head-to-Head (Last 5 Seasons)

2010/2011: Blackpool 2-1 Wolves

Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Wolves to WIN – 1.91 Boylesports

Make no mistake about it, this is a massive game which could have a massive say on who eventually goes down at the end of the season. At home, you would, more times than not, fancy them to come out on top in a relegation six-pointer, with a raucous home support behind them. In this instance, Wolves look to have strong credentials considering six of their seven league victories this season have come at Molineux, where they’ll once again be tenacious and workmanlike throughout on Saturday. However their record against those in and around them is extremely poor, whereas Blackpool will come to town to play their usual exciting brand of football.

So what is it to be? The resilience and tenacity of Wolves, who will have a capacity crowd roaring them on to victory, or a Blackpool team which are rarely phased in any environment and will go to Molineux to score goals, as they always do.

I admire Ian Holloway’s principles, how he expects the team to offer fans value for money, but there are certain games where you really do need to roll up your sleeves and alter your tactics and formation a little, and Saturday’s trip to Molineux is just that. It was be a battle and if Wolves do knock the Tangerines off their stride, which they will attempt to do with some physical but fair challenges, then I see only one winner, and that’s Mick McCarthy’s Wolves, who have their backs well and truly up against the walls heading into this fixture and are well aware that anything less than three points would be disastrous.

Value Bet: Wolves to WIN 2-1 (Correct Score) – 8.50 Bet365

Match Odds:

Wolves – 1.91 Boylesports
Draw – 3.75 WilliamHill
Blackpool – 4.50 VictorChandler

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Arsenal V Wolves

Saturday, 12th February – 15:00 (GMT)
Venue: Emirates Stadium

Arsene Wenger would freely admit that one of his side’s toughest encounters of the season thus far came at Molineux back in November 2010, when the Gunners somehow repelled a barrage of Wolves pressure to clinch maximum points courtesy of a Marouane Chamakh double, who subsequently has fallen down the pecking order, as Arsenal won 2-0. Everyone now expects the second meeting between the two inside Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium to end in a comfortable victory for the Gunners, however, Wolves have other ideas especially after their scalp of the previously unbeaten in the Premier League during 2010/2011, Manchester United.

Goals from Elokobi and Kevin Doyle sealed a memorable triumph for the Midlanders as Wolves recorded only their second ever win over the Red Devils in the Premiership era. Elsewhere, on the very same day only an hour earlier, Arsenal’s morale took a battering as Arsene Wenger watched on in dismay as his team threw away a seemingly unassailable 4-0 lead at half-time to draw 4-4 with Newcastle United in an incredible match at St James’ Park.

So who is better placed to win Saturday’s afternoon affair? An Arsenal side boasting an embarrassment of riches but do have their fair share of injury concerns, or a Wolves team who will be feeling on top of the world following their scalp of leaders Manchester United, and whom have also shown an abundance of character, spirit and determination in the high-profile meetings with the title protagonists?

I know where the value is, but is this a step too far for Mick McCarthy’s courageous Wolves?

Match Odds:

Arsenal – 1.29 WilliamHill
Draw – 6.00 VictorChandler (General)
Wolves – 15.00 Bet365 

Arsenal

With a last-sixteen tie with European supremo’s Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League less than a week away, Arsenal need to kick-start their recovery immediately if they’re to stand any chance of holding their own against the team many describe as the best on the planet this coming Wednesday. Fortunately for Arsene Wenger and his bemused charges, Arsenal have been handed a seemingly ideal warm-up fixture in the form of a home date with second-from-bottom Wolves, whom they have beaten on all five of the previous occasions they’ve met in the Premiership.

The question every punter should be asking themselves this weekend is just how damaging was last weekend’s capitulation in Newcastle against a team who, according to us and many others, couldn’t score and should never have found the back of the Arsenal net four times. There were a number of questionable decisions, all of which went against the Gunners, but there’s no time for wallowing in self-pity as the big matches continue to roll in, especially as they were the architects of their own downfall – Abou Diaby seeing red for two petulant pushes on Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan only compounding Wenger’s misery after seeing his side gift Newcastle two dubious penalties.

In football, you don’t get long to reflect. Wenger probably had a day, if that, to look back through footage of a game which would have resembled an horror movie. But, to add insult to injury, the Frenchman is likely to be without a whole host of key players for a now must-win encounter with struggling Wolves, although languishing in the lower reaches of the table they may be but high on confidence they most definitely are.

Abou Diaby will serve a three-match suspension following his childish antics on Tyneside a week ago, the combative midfielder only adding to his manager’s woes. Fellow midfielders Alex Song, Denilson and Samir Nasri are all out injured while Cesc Fabregas is a doubt through illness. It doesn’t stop there, though, as Thomas Vermaelen is still a month away from returning to the first-team, fellow centre-half Johan Djourou is now out for several weeks with a knee problem, goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has been ruled out for the remainder of the season while Robin Van Persie is also a doubt with the Flu. Who’d be a manager? An Arsenal manager to be precise.

Nevertheless, we shouldn’t overlook the fact that a possibly downhearted Arsenal side remain unbeaten in their last eight league matches – five wins and three draws – and have been victorious in four of their last five in the Premier League, seven in their last eight if you include their FA Cup and Carling Cup triumphs over Huddersfield Town and Ipswich Town respectively. So, as you can patently, see, this is still an Arsenal side bang in form albeit having recently suffered a damning blow in their aspirations of finishing the term as Premiership champions.

Wolves

Unlike their opposite numbers, Wolves have no prior engagements other than fending off the drop and last Saturday’s sensational win over Manchester United ensured they remained in the hunt in this intriguing battle for Premiership survival. However, as terrific as the occasion was – fans staying behind at Molineux to saviour the moment they saw a then bottom-of-the-league Wolves overhaul 18-time English champions United, victory over the Red Devils only added three points to their meagre tally of 24 from a possible 75 and if the club are to prolong their stay in the most watched and arguably entertaining league in world football, the Midlands club require another 16 points from their remaining 13 games of the campaign, with 36 points up for grabs between now and the end of the term.

All season now, the biggest criticism thrown at Wolves has been their inability to reproduce their sterling displays against the big boys in the crunch clashes with those in and around them. In this instance, that criticism turns into a positive, as another gritty performance similar to the one which saw them seal a 2-1 win over Manchester United last weekend, as well as victories over Liverpool at Anfield and Chelsea at Molineux, would see them cause a wounded Arsenal all sorts of problems in North London.

In fairness, though, despite their heroics seven days ago, few are tipping them to complete what would be a memorable, unthinkable and surely impossible set of back-to-back wins over Arsenal and United, whom sit second and first in the table respectively. But they’ve been just that in similar fixtures; heroic, however their form would paint a different picture altogether. Despite registering seven wins this season, none of those came in quick succession, while their away form makes for dour reading material. Twelve ventures away from Molineux have produced a solitary success at Liverpool, when winning 1-0 during a time when the Reds where reeling; a 1-1 draw with Everton on Merseyside, also at a time when the Merseysider’s were struggling and sapped of any form; as well as ten losses, losing their last three on the spin, and ten of their last eleven.

There is definitely a case to suggest that Wolves have thrived at Molineux this season, and that their home faithful has been their 12th man in what has been another arduous campaign. If so, and the statistics do back this up – six of their seven league wins this season have come on home soil, as well as 17 of their 26 goals, then we are unlikely to see another valiant effort accompanied by another remarkable result on Saturday. Then again, every time we write them off we tend to end up with egg on our face more times than not, while there may not be a better time to face the Gunners, who could be without a number of key personnel, not to mention perhaps still reeling after their 4-4 draw with Newcastle United.

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Recent Form (Last 5)

Arsenal

Premiership: Newcastle United 4-4 Arsenal
Premiership: Arsenal 2-1 Everton
Premiership: Arsenal 2-1 Huddersfield
Premiership: Arsenal 3-0 Ipswich Town
Premiership: Arsenal 3-0 Wigan Athletic

Wolves

Premiership: Wolves 2-1 Manchester United
Premiership: Bolton 1-0 Wolves
Premiership: Wolves 0-1 Stoke City
Premiership: Wolves 0-3 Liverpool
Premiership: Wolves 5-0 Doncaster

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2010/2011 Premiership Statistics

Arsenal

League Position: 2nd
Win-Draw-Lose: 15-5-5 (Home: 8-1-3)
Goal Difference: 54-27 (Home: 27-12)
Form: DWWWD (Home: WWDWW)
Top Scorer: Samir Nasri (9)

Wolves

League Position: 19th
Win-Draw-Lose: 7-3-15 (Away: 1-1-10)
Goal Difference: 26-43 (Away: 9-24)
Form: WLLLW (Away: LWLLL)
Top Scorer: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake & Steven Fletcher (4)

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Head-to-Head (Premiership: Last 5 Seasons)

2010/2011: Wolves 0-2 Arsenal

2009/2010: Arsenal 1-0 Wolves
2009/2010: Wolves 1-4 Arsenal

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Value Bet: Arsenal to WIN to NIL (Without Conceding) @ 2.00 PaddyPower

If you can see past their second-half horror showing at Newcastle last Saturday, then Arsenal are tremendous value to make lightwork of a Wolves side who have given just about every team in the top-flight worth their salt a thorougher examination at one stage or another.

Before their capitulation away at Newcastle, where they conceded four goals in the last quarter of the match, Arsenal had only conceded one goal in just over eight hours of Premiership football. Furthermore, no side in the top-flight has scored fewer away goals this season than Mick McCarthy’s bleak Wolves, who have also never scored a Premier League goal away to Arsenal, whether that be at their old Highbury ground or at their swanky Emirates Stadium.

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

Wolves V Liverpool

Saturday, 22nd January – 12:45 (GMT)
Venue: Molineux
TV Coverage: Sky Sports HD2

Wolves

Despite their uninspiring league position, with the Midlands club occupying 19th in the table but only a win away from leaping out of the bottom three, Wolves fans have plenty to be cheery about. Their team has been the king of upsets of late having watched Mick McCarthy’s charges seal stunning wins over Chelsea and Liverpool within the last three weeks alone, and after thrashing Doncaster Rovers 5-0 in the FA Cup during the week to record what was their most emphatic victory in over eight years, will come face-to-face with the Reds once again aiming to complete what would be an historic set of back-to-back league wins over Liverpool for the very first time since 1950, incidentially the last occasion Wolves had won on Merseyside before this very season – A sign perhaps?

29th December, 2010 – A night Wolves supporters won’t forget in a hurry, in particular the small contingent which actually went to Anfield to watch their team comprehensively beat a former powerhouse of the English game. And, to prove that it wasn’t just a flash in the pan, the same team went out and did the deed over Chelsea the following week. A touch of irony in that despite all the plaudits and praise Wolves received for those two quite magnificent results/displays, those pair of victories were only worth three-points-a-piece and weren’t enough to keep Wolves out of the relegation zone for long.

Are we mad to think that Wolves could do it all over again? Do Mick McCarthy’s fired up charges have it in them to produce another workmanlike performance against the second poorest travelers in the top-flight, second only to Wolves incidentially? I don’t see why not.

There will be no shortage of confidence following their drubbing of Doncaster in the FA Cup on Tuesday, while it’s now eight goals in their last two competitive games. Last Saturday, when handed the unenviable task of trying to keep over £150million of footballing talent at arms length for 90 minutes, Wolves almost produced one of the greatest comebacks in Premiership history, coming from 4-1 down to lose the contest 4-3. It was yet another spirited effort from Mick McCarthy’s side, something we’ve all gotten used to this season, though for once their valiant efforts are being rewarded with goals, just on this occasion there luck wasn’t quite in.

If Wolves replicate any of their three performances talked about in the above preview, during their victories over Liverpool and Chelsea or even in defeat to Man City last weekend, then it’s difficult to envisage anything other than a home win for Wolves, what with their opponents, Liverpool, having won just once away from home all season and just twice in the last twelve months.

Karl Henry and Jody Craddock both started in Wolves’ romp Doncaster romp in midweek, the pair now set to hand Mick McCarthy a massive boost ahead of the arrival of Liverpool. Kevin Foley should also return after sitting out the defeat to Man City last Saturday with an ankle injury, though Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is out with a hamstring problem while centre-half Elokobi is still suspended.

Wolves Fact: Since November 27th, Wolves have alternated between wins and losses (Eight games: four wins and four defeats – and should the pattern continue, Wolves would now be due a win following their 4-3 defeat away at Man City last weekend.

Liverpool

The fact they play for a prestigious club, or that they are being played handsomely to play a sport billions across the world adore has been enough to motivate Liverpool’s squad of underachievers this season. Kenny Dalglish was brought in to calm the storm and steady the ship following Hodgson’s drab six-month spell but even the great man himself has found rallying the Liverpool troops almost a mission impossible, so now it would appear the club’s owners are willing to pin their hopes on luring a superstar to the club in a desperate bid to resolve Liverpool’s ailing fortunes on the pitch.

I was left stunned on the spot when I heard that Liverpool were rumoured to be interested in Ajax striker Luis Suarez, a Uruguayan with a prolific scoring record wherever he’s plied his trade but a striker isn’t what Liverpool are in urgent need of.

Fernando Torres hasn’t suddenly become a poor striker overnight, which is basically what Dalglish buying Suarez is suggesting. The Spaniard is a proven goalscorer, one of the most clinical finishers in the game, yet he’s had miniscule service this season because of the lack of creativity and flair in the midfield. Maxi Rodriguez, Dirk Kuyt and Joe Cole aren’t going to win you games of football in this day and age I’m afraid. All three have absolutely no pace and can’t beat a man. There is literally no width whatsoever in this Liverpool team bar the odd marauding run from full-back from Glen Johnson. You could stick Carlos Tevez, David Villa and Torres up front and Liverpool still wouldn’t score as they simply don’t get the ball to their forwards regularly enough.

The point we’re trying to make becomes more emphasised when you see the meagre tally of goals Liverpool have plundered on their travels this season. In eleven Premier League away encounters thus far, Torres & Co have found the back of the net on just eight occasions. As a result, Liverpool now post the shoddiest away record (W1 D2 L8) in the entire top-flight bar Wolves, while a sixth successive away defeat on Saturday would be the club’s worst ever away run in their Premier League history.

I feel for Liverpool supporters as just when they think it can’t get any worse, the following match-day it does. Recently, Blackpool completed back-to-back league wins over the Reds and now Wolves are set to achieve the same feat. Dalglish’s presence alone hasn’t been able to life the doom and gloom around Anfield, at least not on the pitch, and without their suspended talisman, Steven Gerrard, you’re struggling to find anything positive as to why Liverpool might win on Saturday in a fixture they SHOULD be winning.

Liverpool Fact: Have lost their last five away games in the Premier League to an aggregate score of 12-4.
 

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Last 5 Results

Wolves

FA Cup (Replay): Wolves – Doncaster
Premiership: Manchester City 4-3 Wolves
FA Cup: Doncaster 2-2 Wolves
Premiership: Wolves 1-0 Chelsea
Premiership: West Ham 2-0 Wolves

Liverpool

Premiership: Liverpool 2-2 Everton
FA Cup: Manchester United 1-0 Liverpool
Premiership: Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Liverpool
Premiership: Liverpool 2-1 Bolton Wanderers
Premiership: Liverpool 0-1 Wolves

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Head-to-Head (Last 5 Seasons)

2010/2011: Liverpool 0-1 Wolves

2009/2010: Wolves 0-0 Liverpool
2009/2010: Liverpool 2-0 Wolves

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2010/2011 Premiership Statistics

Wolves

League Position: 19th
Win-Draw-Lose: 6-3-13 (Home: 5-2-4)
Goal Difference: 24-38 (Home: 15-15)
Form: LWLWL (Home: LWWLW)
Top Scorer: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake & Steven Fletcher (4)

Liverpool

League Position: 13th
Win-Draw-Lose: 7-5-10 (Away: 1-2-8)
Goal Difference: 27-31 (Away: 8-2-1)
Form: LWLLD (Away: LLLLL)
Top Scorer: Fernando Torres (7)

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Betting Odds & Tips

Match Prediction: Draw – 3.30 Bet Fred

Liverpool at odds just shy of odds-on is outrageous, while Wolves at over 2/1 is value, although far less than I was expecting.

These two clashed at Molineux last season, a match Liverpool were also in urgent need of a winning result but could only muster a 0-0 draw. With their away form in dire straights but in such a state that the players simply have to up their game in order to avoid being branded one of the worst away outfits the Premier League has ever seen, the club a defeat away from making their own piece of Premier League history – losing five away games on the spin.

You’ll struggle to find a team who shed more blood than Wolves, who give their all for Mick McCarthy. The straight-talking, although irritating Wolves chief is without a number of key players though, center-half Elokobi and striker Ebanks-Blake among them, however will welcome back Karl Henry, who will add some vital steel to the midfield, and Jody Craddock, a player with plenty of experience in the top-flight.

I generally believe Wolves aren’t big enough to be backing, though they remain a slice of value still. After all, this is Liverpool they’re up against. A team they put to the sword at Anfield three weeks ago when winning 1-0, and also a team who have lost their last five away matches in the Premier League. Still, there have been enough glimpses of encouragement from Liverpool’s recent displays, albeit without winning, to suggest they’re capable of at least taking a point from this fixture. Although this is a match they ought to be winning, though the fact everyone is now speaking of a point instead of points in such fixtures speaks volumes for how little faith the punters have in the Reds nowadays.

Value Bet: Stephen Ward to Score – 18.00 Unibet

According to Oddschecker, Unibet have Ward, scorer of Wolves’ famous winner at Anfield just three weeks ago, at around 17/1. If that’s true than I’m sure there will be more than the odd few willing to have a punt on lightening striking twice.

Match Odds:

Wolves – 3.40 Stan James
Draw – 3.30 BetFred
Liverpool – 2.32 Betsson