Much like their opponents tomorrow night, Crystal Palace come into this game in great form.
After losing their first 3 league games of the season, the Eagles strung together a run of 4 wins from the next 5, including a last gasp victory over Bolton at the weekend.
In Wilfried Zaha they have one of best young talents in the league and nullifying his threat will be vital if Wolves are to make it 5 league wins on the spin.
Striker Glenn Murray is also in fantastic form with 6 goals already. His confidence is sure to be sky high, which makes him a danger.
We know their manager very well of course. I always thought Dougie Freedman was a fantastic player for Wolves and definitely one who left before he should have done. Nice to see him doing well for the club he spent the majority of his playing career with.
Wolves
If there was a negative to come from Saturday it was the injuries we accrued. Boukari has been ruled out for several weeks, there are reports Ward won’t make it back in time and of course poor old George is out for the season. Get well soon big man.
I just wonder whether Ståle will contemplate rotation as he did at Portman Road a few backs? Either way, this would be the team I’d put out assuming Ward is injured:
As you can see, not much rotation in my XI, with only the enforced changes and Sigurdarson added to the team.
Moving Foley across to the left and bringing in Stearman/Zubar at right-back is a no-brainer. We don’t have many other options.
Sigurdarson is probably worth a first start at Molineux to give Ebanks-Blake a rest, so I’d give him a crack.
The only other player I can see coming in would be Dave Edwards and he can be deployed pretty much anywhere across the midfield. It wouldn’t surprise me to see his name on the team sheet.
Opposition view
Thanks to Palace fan Andy Watkins for sending me the following:
After a fairly hap-hazard start to the season, Dougie Freedman’s re-jigged Palace side is starting to take shape. After key departures in the summer by the likes of Nathaniel Clyne, Anthony Gardner and Darren Ambrose left us somewhat bereft of quality heading into the new season, a combination of shrewd signings to plug holes at the back and the welcome return to goalscoring form of Glenn Murray has renewed optimism around Selhurst Park. It’s still very much a case of work in progress but four wins from five outings in September mean Palace should be full of confidence ahead of Tuesday night.
Wolves appear a bit of an unknown quantity after relegation but they’re one of the title favourites for a reason. It’s no great surprise, especially under a new manager, they needed a few games to readjust to life back in the Championship but they too seem to be coming into form again now.
Palace are not to be underestimated, though, as Bolton and Cardiff have found out to their detriment in the past week, and there’s no reason why we can’t keep our recent purple-patch going. Successive wins on the road might be too much to ask but, for as long as this new-found optimism lasts, a repeat result of our last trip to Molineux (2-2 in the FA Cup three seasons ago) might yet be a realistic shout. Unfortunately, for Palace fans at least, it doesn’t look like we’ll have Danny Butterfield to call upon in the reverse fixture this time around …
Predictions
Well done to the 52 who correctly predicted we’d win on Saturday.
Only 3 pundits got the correct scoreline though, so it’s hats off to Louie, These are the days and dave h.
Until the run ends, I can’t predict anything other than a win.
I saw nothing on Saturday to make me believe we’ll struggle in this one and if we can nudge ourselves into the lead again, I think we’ll get another 3 points.
I’ll stick with 3-1.
Up The Wolves.
Well for the last few matches I have predicted that we would concede a goal and we didn’t.
That probably means that if I predict a clean sheet, we will concede…..
So I am going for Wolves 2 – 1 Crystal Palace
C’mon The Wolves Lets Keep this great run going !!
3-2 wolves. Going for a longshot on the old prediction. Could do with getting a few points on people 😉
I’ve got a funny feeling we’ll draw this 1-1.
We do seen to be getting things together again, but surely 5 wins on the bounce and against a resurgent Palace team is too much to ask.
If we do win, think my optimism will go off the scale.
But I’m sticking with my 1-1 prediction.
Isn’t it great to be actually looking forward to games again rather than dreading them or being indifferent?
Same here, we didint exactly pepper the Sheffield goal on Saturday and Palace are in form – go with 0-0
Hmmm…do I go draw or win? Ah screw it – 2-1 WOlves!
A close contest between two teams in form.
Wolves 2-2 Palace
Crystal Palace are due a defeat. Stale’s men can make it happen. Wolves 2 Palace 1.
My biggest disappointment in the last match was that wolves didn’t create clear cut chances from short range, with the exception of Pezsko (which could have set up Doyle or Ebanks clear on goal). It was the long shots match. The wings delivered many qualified crosses but the strikers failed to translate them into goals. I identify our attack as the weakest part of our team. Both the midfield and defence have shapen up. One striker which is strong in the air could have made a big difference for our team now with Sako’s excellent crosses from open play and set pieces. A 1-0 victory to Wolves.
I think confidence is up, but Palace have some useful players so hardly going to be a walkover. 2-1 to the Wolves though.
I cant see anything but a wolves win again, i think doyler might actually get a goal 2mra night aswell, it’ll be a tight one i think although i still think wolves will be dominant as the last few displays have shown so im going with wolves and a nice 2-1 win. I’ve been a goal out the last 4 games now so fingers crossed this is my first 3 points of the season. COYW
Hope the team is as you predict Thomas.
I’d like to see the rejigged defence keep another clean sheet.
Also hope it will be another 1-0 victory to Wolves and considering his endeavour, would like to see Doyle score.
Wolves 1 palace 0
Fifth win on the bounce, against a team who recently beat both Cardiff and Bolton? I’m a little worried with nearly everyone on here reporting Wolves lacking pace after the 75th minute or so, and the Eagles seem to be cut above the Owls.
Ah, enough with the concerns and the cheap fauna puns.
Doyle and Sigurdarson to score: 2-1 win.
I’m trying not to get carried away but WW have won again without playing well again. Sooner or later we will have to play well because the opposition will make us and if we don’t we’ll be brought down to earth with a bump. Are CP that team ?? possibly not or maybe they are…..and don’t forget DF is another ex with an axe to grind…Keep the faith, believe in Ståle’s ideas and as ever UTW..!!!!
I want it to be 2-1 to WW but more likely 1-1 I think, a draw for 2 teams in form.
Cassidy impresses at Tranmere. If he continues his goalscoring, it’ll just be a matter of time before his wolves career kick starts at Wolves:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19789275
Shame the defence has to be changed following three successive clean sheets (how long since we could last say that!!)
As I’m going, I’ll be positive….2-1 Wolves
Another tight 1-0 win for us
Seems a shame to have to switch Foley when he’s playing so well, I might be tempted to give Hunt a crack at left back or bring in one of the young lads. Would be great to see Sigs upfront.
2 – 0 the great run continues.
I really did’nt expect to be 3rd on 16 points already, But my head says we have to drop points evetually but what the eck my heart says we are going to win 2-1 and go top . just shame foley may move to the left he’s been top class since returning.
2-1 SEB & Sako.
Looks like ward is fit. So shape should be the same. I can see palace gettin at least one. Will go for a 2-1 home win again.
Very exciting times right now. This will be a step up compared to our last few fixtures but I can’t see anything but a win. I’ll go with 3-1 to the Wolves.
Can’t remember the last time Wolves beat an in-form Palace side (I’. going back to the 70’s here) and despite all the platitudes about the Wednesday victory, the Owls were quite abject going forward. Palace offer more pace from all areas. Score draw or 1-2 reverse.
A 1-1 draw. Still not convinced here. We”ve been narrowly beating relegation candidates. This will be a sterner test.
Wolves 1 – Palace 1
2-1 Wolves. No reason we can’t keep winning. Palace are high on confidence but short on real quality.
Hmm. 1-2 palace I’m afraid 🙁
3-2 Wolves
Doumbia, Siggy, and Sako with goals.
Every reason why we should keep this run going…. however
I fear we are due “one of those games” where we are flat and nothing quite works for us (opportunities, refs decisions, injuries…)
Wolves 0 – Palace 1
Just to get a rise out of CFH I’m gonna say that without Ward at LB we’ll be unbalanced at the back and end up conceding.
I also think that the slow pace we played against Weds to control the second half was deliberate, and the players would have kicked up a gear on gone for goal if they thought it necessary.
So I reckon we’re gonna edge it again
2-1 the lads
We are unbalanced at the back WITH Ward “playing” so nothing new there!
We should have had a penalty given against us on Saturday, courtesy of Ward’s slowness, so he is still is and always has been a liability.
If he aint fit (please lord!) I would leave “My heads out of proportion to my body” Foley at right back, and put A.N. Other at left back. Whoever plays there cannot do worse than Wardinho.
Prediction?
I think this will be a tough test tonight, but we’ll still win.
2 – 0
Just read somewhere that Big Nose is fit…
2-2 draw for me.
Wolves 1-1 Palace
The next 3 games will test our promotion credentials. It would be fantastic if we can get 7 points from them.
Doyle is going to score at some stage. Going for Wolves 2 – 0.
just ckecking the link
Really need another LB now big G is out. No excuses now.
Assuming the back 4 stays the same and seeing Palace concede quite a few, 2-1 Wolves.
My first experience of live action English football was at Selhurt Park back in the early 90s. Crap game with Everton running out 1-0 winners thanks to a Daniel Amokachi goal.
I’ll go for a 1-0 to the Wolves this time with Sako getting the goal. Don’t expect beautiful football at Molineux but who cares as long as we get points on the board. I will raise my expectations later on.
UTW
Wolves 2-1 Palace. Long may the run continue. Saying that after palace’s recent purple patch a draw wouldn’t be an entirely a bad result.
So far on this run we seem to be doing just enough to beat whatever is put in front of us. Hopefully we will eventually be able to assert ourselves more on the opposition, stuff bad teams and shade it over good ones.
Given the ‘just doing enough’ we have at the moment I will go with 2-1 to the lads.
The way we have been playing recently, plus the pace and height of some Palace players, 1-1 draw at best for us. Hope I’m wrong and we win!
I think we will see another lesson in controlled football…with the midfield ruled by Henry and Doumbia. For this reason I’m going for a 1-0 win for us! Doyle with that bit of quality that separates us from Palace.
2 – 0 Wolves 🙂
Best league form since our promo-winning season… Although hardly surprising given the opposition we’ve faced so far. Think we can keep the run going tonight, but we’ll concede for sure. Still, glad to enjoying looking forward to a game for a change! Our Doyler’s due a goal on the back of some encouraging performances, so 2-1 Wolves, Doyle & Peszko – Murray for them. COME ON ME BABBIES!
Bad feeling here. 2-1 palace.
2-1 Wolves
Keep on rollin.
I want to be really positive . I think we can win this , but , Palace are in simlar form . Can we keep this run gong ???? I’m not doing great in the prediction dept so , not to jinx our chances
Wolves 1 Palace 2
(hated typing that )
UTW
I too feel like it’s going to be one of “those” games that Wolves often suffer from.
However, I’m hoping that we can turn Molineux into a ‘fortress’ this season. It provides such a boost and it’d be great for the fans to be fully onboard so we can finally dispel the notion of “keep ’em quiet for 20 minutes and then their fans will get on their backs”. And *if* we’re successful with promotion this season or next, and you can take a decent home record in the Premier then you’re three quarters of the way there to staying up.
So I hope we’re still undefeated after tonight… 1-1.
After the misery of defeat after defeat in the premiership, the championship is a refreshing and welcome drop in standard of player and play.
There is a dearth of quality in this division, and I`ve seen nothing yet to indicate any other team has enough to beat us, if we get tactics, selection spot on. 2-1 to Wolves, can`t be there as I fly on holiday early Wed morning. Won`t miss the bum squaeky last 20 minutes – thank goodness.
some back to the wolves defending im going 1-0 to wolves
2-1 wolves. I’d like to see Doyler get off the mark because other than scoring he’s been great so far this season!
Loads of narrow wins predicted here and that’s exactly what I was going to go for (2-1 to us). But ever the external optimist, I’m going to up the stakes and predict a Goalfest and a Wolves win. I’m clearly absolutely barmy…. 4-2 SIG, DOYLER, BERRA, DOUMBIA.
Another win would be almost too good to be true after recent seasons but blow it I’m feeling optimistic with the way SS is shaping things and the mood in the team seems to be really positive. Doyle deserves to score.
2-1 to the Wolves. Come on the Wolves!
2 1 to the Wolves Berra to score
Its gonna be 2-1 for us.
We can up our game to cover CP
There must be a LB somewhere in our academy isnt their.
Keep backing ’em till they slip up. 1-0 to Wolves.
1-0 to wolves. in ss we trust, but give us a left back moxey and sm.
Im betting that SS will play destructive soccer and a really boring match… wich Wolves will win 1-0.
My confidence remains high with Foley at LB. A tight game but a clean sheet and a confident 1-0
One nil again for me.
COMB
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesss
Top of the table where we belong!
Oh buggar Cardiff…. cant trust the bluesnots to do anything. Cum on me babbies yes yes pleeeeeeeeeeese
Oh Buggar, sorry guys i will keep my mouth shut in future. We are pretty fanatical around here though. Damn and buggar
As expected. We simply cannot beat Palace when it matters, never have.
One of our bogey teams for sure.
Sorry guys, I feel like I casued this to happen. Damn
Sounds like we were a bit fragile at the back again. Looking forward to match report. Its never good but perhaps a knock back at this stage might be useful (Not sure why but makes me feel better)
Buy a fuckin leftback you tight fuckers.
By all accounts Ward was at fault for their winner.
Ward was at fault for their winner ,But when they equalized we went to pieces again and lost control of the game,in the first half we should have been out of sight with the chances we created with a half decent striker we would have won it in the first half.
Doyler should have made it 2-0 game over but what did he do miss the targit and hit the bar.
The only good thing to come out of this defeat is a wake up call to show we still need some more quality..L/B.+ BIG STRIKER .Also imo we need a proper fitness coach because we always seem to tire very quickly in the last quarter of the games.