Complacency might just be more dangerous than any of the five remaining opponents.
Wolves were playing at a different level to Leeds for an hour on Monday, but then allowed the game to wriggle away from them.
Of course taking your foot off the pedal at two goals up and coasting isn’t a bad situation, but it’s a trait that could ultimately prove costly.
There’s no question Kenny Jackett has found his best team and just at the right moment too, but they need to be more ruthless when the opposition are on the ropes.
Hopefully that starts on Saturday at St. Andrew’s.
Birmingham
There was a time I thought Blues might climb above us in the table. It was just after Gary Rowett took over in November and Wolves were sliding.
Fortunately for us, things picked up in the new year, while Birmingham couldn’t maintain the charge.
Still, for a club that continues to be in such turmoil off the field, midtable isn’t a bad place to be. They could yet finish in the top half.
Their home form has also improved significantly under Rowett and they’ll be highly motivated to put a dent in their neighbours’ late season surge.
Our old friend Paul Robinson won’t be playing though. He was sent off as they capitulated against Bournemouth on Monday.
Wolves
Same team and go again? That’s got to be the mantra for Kenny Jackett with momentum rapidly building.
Doherty, van La Parra and Edwards could all be pushing for a start if the manager wants to change things around but can’t see it happening.
Interesting that Michael Jacobs was recalled today. He remains a player I’m never disappointed to see around the team. He might yet be needed.
The gaffer
Predictions
No team will want to face our front three and I can’t see Blues being any different. In fact, I haven’t felt more confident going into any derby for a long time.
If Wolves play well, I think they win this game and hopefully with a degree of comfort. Blues will raise their level and have some difficult players. Donaldson in particular is someone I’ve always rated.
But overall, it’s got to be an away win. Four points from the next two would be a good return, but six isn’t beyond the realms of possibility.
3-1
Up The Wolves.
This is the make or break week: local derby; Boro away; & Ipswich. 5 points or better would be a brilliant outcome and should secure the play-offs given we’ll be playing 2 (probably) relegated teams to wrap the season up.
Confidence must be high at the moment and a win against Blues would put serious pressure on Boro for Tuesday, perhaps enough to unsettle their home form. But one game at a time, Saturdays match is the easiest of the 3 to win on form so let’s get that done first.
With 4000 passionate, screaming, loyal wolves fans as the 12th man as oh so often this season I can only see a 4-0 to Wolves.
My 5 year old Grandson will be between me and er indoors and he’s our lucky mascot.
Thomas, I think the team picks itself lately, but I would like to see Stears left at home playing Grand Theft Auto, we don’t want a needless yellow card in what will be a passionate game that will end up with us losing him for two vital matches. so Iorfa, Batth, Doherty and Hause shoring it up.
So shit on the Brummies.
Shit on the Brummies too right.
Game over.
Happy fans.
On the way home.
Job Done.
Bring on the Boro.
Defense gets back to their regular form, COYW, would love to see us at Wembley. Only 5 points off of automatic promotion too.
Difficult game this one.
As most of the games left -this is a “must win game”. We have the manpower to do it.
Trying to predict with my head not heart so going for a draw. Agree with the preview that nobody will want to face us at the moment but it’s a derby away from home and how often do we win them. Looking abit further ahead if we do get in the playoffs i just can’t see us beating a team in there over two legs. On our day yes I think we’ll do any team in the league so if we were to make it to Wembley id be confident. If we finished in 6th and lost in the semi’s it would still have been a good season all considered with a real push next season. Would be tough to replace sako tho
Disagree. We have a strong side capable of really great things! Come on the old gold n black!
Think we will have to settle for a draw here, though I hope to be proved wrong and it is the first time I have not gone for a Wolves win.
Please, please prove me wrong !
This will be a win without a doubt. It will help us if Brum have a go then we will crucify them on the break. They have no pace at the back and the full backs are poor
Scorers Batth , Sako , Afobe.
Plenty of noise from the gold and black army
The Leeds game was not good for the old ticker that is for sure. I thought they were a little nonchalant after going to 3-1. If Benik had have buried that chance instead of what looked like a casual strike then I think we would have gone on and scored 5 or 6. He didn’t (that’s not a knock he is probably the best bargain since Bully) and then Danny’s unusual error had the cat in amongst the pigeons for a while.
With any game you are not sure of how it will play out but more so a derby. I always feel wary when they travel to the next destination but there is no doubt the team he is currently putting out looks strong throughout. I still don’t think they are playing to their full potential though and if they hit top gear I seriously think we could do automatic. Couple of important ones coming up but a week on Saturday is the big one for me when Super Mick arrives…..do them and I think a top 6 will be near enough there.
Whatever way the season finishes it has to be the most exciting finish ever to a Championship and all credit to Kenny and the lads and the magnificent support they have enjoyed all season.
I think we need to stick to our winning side and make changes if they’re forced on us.
So Stears to start and Wolves to win.
Hoping we stick it to the blues in their shed of a stadium
We’ll play them off the park.
Come on me babbies
A little bit afraid of this one.
Hope McD dont need to use Stairm. as a target and Bath to put the ball in Birminhams goal 🙂
We are on a good run, and I want it to continue.
Bath to score in the right goal on a corner.
A nervy derby but l feel fairly hopeful of us bringing home the 3 points.
Destiny week almost definately..
everyone take their pills..
Brum,Middlesborough, Ipshit..7 points would be nice..all of them difficult..
Wolves odds 6-1 to go up..Brentford and Derby our nearest rivals.. Ipshit faltering..we could reel in Boro though..Bournmouth Watford Norwich still steaming..
Is the last game with Millwall (brentford play Wigan) going to be significant?…
It’s all getting a bit nervous for me…
Blues..
We should do this at a canter but local Derby etc ..in worried about injuries..
Our big three should run riot but the middle of the pitch could run the match…K Mac Henry …
We HAVE to stabalise the first 20mins and not get caught out (again).
KJ.
COYW
Worth remembering that in Thomas’ hypothetical run-in we only get one point from the next two matches and still sneak the playoffs. Even a defeat should not spell panic.
Having said that, I think we’ll win.
hopefully Blues players have packed their cases and are now thinking of their holidays so an early goal for us will make it a comfortable win
Whilst I have my concerns about Stears and another yellow card I think it could be a mistake to leave him at home. The old sayings “never change a winning team” & “if it ain’t broke don’t bloody fix it” come to mind.
The fact that Robinson (dirty bastard) got sent off last week should help considerably nobody in their defence to crock any of our front three (that’s if they could catch them) should give us a helping hand.
Onwards & upwards bring on the Boro’ & Ipshit after 3 points in Small Heath.
COYW
Too much pace for the blouse. The Magic Boys – Oh oh oh the’re magic, you know, Dicko, Afobe, Sako to score one each and K Mac with a belter from 30 yards. Back line keeping a clean sheet. Therefore:
Oh, I forgot to add……. 1 down 4 to go. Sorry Bournemouth but you are ending up in the playoffs and we are taking an automatic spot.
I believe.
Its squeaky bum time with everything to play for. Win it and we will continue to dream of top 2 promotion. Come on Wolves.
So many variables. Birmingham have nothing to play for but professional pride. They will still want to prove their worth against promotion contenders, especially when they are next door. They will want to erase the Bournemouth capitulation. Just hoping the momentum is with us and we got the silly defensive errors out of our system last match. We need to be really tight at the back this, (and every), time around if we are to achieve our dream.
I’ve got faith in Afobe and Dicko carrying on their goalscoring form all the way to the end of the season and think it’ll be enough for us against the Blues.
Let´s hope all defensive errors are over for the season. 2-0 Wolves.
If the team overall, and the defence in particular play like they did against Forest away, then its 3 points. Work hard and play deep for 20 minutes, ease our way into the game, and then when the early sting has been taken out of the game, unleash the front three. Let them create havoc and give Kenny`s gold and black army of 4000 fans even more to cheer. Nice to win a local derby as well. Come on you wolves…..
Another must win game – so be it!
Their home form mirrors our away form and local derbies are notoriously unpredictable. They’ve only lost 2 of 13 home matches since Rowatt came in. All of that suggests its going to be a very tight and competitive game. Having said that, I don’t see Blues as being better than either Derby or Forest. Us to sneak it.
On the Stears question, whilst I agree with the principle that ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’, maybe we should be looking at it another way. Injuries permitting, would we prefer Stears to be definitely available for the two tough upcoming 2 games or potentially available for either only one (Blues) or for all three ? It’s a tough call, especially given that there is plenty of quality cover available.
The last time I went to St Andrews the roof was blown off part of the ground, the Wolves crowd didn’t need any further prompting –> “S**t ground, no fans”.
This time the team will do talking and easy win for the boys from the Mol!!!!
No slip-ups, we are on the way here. I think that Stears should play, old cliches survuve for a good reason. He is professional enough to stay out of trouble.
Defensive aberrations against Leeds cost the team their swagger, so I’m thinking Kenny will have pushed the concentration aspects for this one. Local derbies are always close affairs though, so while I want to predict a Clive, I’m going for a secure professional solid two nil.
The first of 5 Cup Finals.
Well, I want this one to be the Cup Final of 1949 (the year I was born actually).
Wolves 3-1 Leicester City.
We got to the final beating Liverpool, Manure and… OH! Joy! sandwell village.
I don’t expect Jesse Pye and Sammy Smyth to score this time – one each from Sako, Dicko and Afobe will do me.
Let’s make this season one in which the names of our present side will be remembered like the team of ’49 in 65 years time.
Make us proud lads.
I didnt realise you were THAT old!!!
Nor me. That is REAL OLD, and I did not realise I was one of the younger bloggers!!!
We owe Birmingham a THRASHING. After the disappointing long-ball bore-draw fiasco against them in October, confidence evaporated and we immediately went on a five-game losing run. Not only that, didn’t Robinson effectively end SEB’s career February two years ago with a horrible tackle? No place in football for such tackles. That tackle also helped relegate us, as SEB had started to find his scoring boots with a brace in that match, and we had failed to sign a back-up striker in the preceding January window.
I think we should win this one one nil .
None of that stuff you put us through against Leeds please kenny .
Remember when we started conceding goals before? And you put four centre backs on , that is much better for the Heath of your supporters !!!
feeing a bit cautious after mini melt down vs Leeds
But momentum matters and we have it
No doubt blues will raise there game and a draw would not be J disaster but the way our forward line is playing you have to fancy beating anyone
A game we have to win to maintain a gap between us and the others. But its a derby so anything could happen….
i think this will be tougher than many on here think.
Defending last Monday was alarming, so let’s hope it was a one off.
Agreed that anything can happen in a derby, but hopefully we’ll have too much up front for them with the Magic Boys!
COYW!!
Nervy 2-1 until a last minute 20 yard screamer into the top corner from Sako settles it. Then 3 sides of St Sh!thole break apart from the noise generated by 4000 Wolves fans singing. Oh oh oh they’re magic, you knooooowwww, Dicko, Adobe, Sako!
Dicko, Afobe, Sako!!!!!
This will be a tight game with it being a derby, but feel we will edge it with the firepower and momentum we have currently.
Tight game my arse…..3pts n vast improved goal difference .
Coyw
Tight game whatever way you look at it. But the triple pronged magical front three will see the triumvirate triumph and a trio of points
After the rarity of conceding 3 in the manner in which we did, I’m sure the back 4 will be well drilled and pumped to get the clean sheets back. I can’t really see Birmingham scoring as I believe we’ll dominate possession, and stifle their opportunities (such is our hunger to keep in the playoff positions. Afobe hatrick.
Just can’t see us losing (although a draw is a possibility). But I have a growing belief that we are destined for a play off place at least and this is another step along the glorious way.
As long as we keep tabs on Donaldson we’ll be fine and Dandy …..
As I said 3 games ago, these are all cup finals….
4-0 to us.
I can’t help but think that we’ll forget to duck a punch at some point in the run in, and this feels like it could be that punch….but bugger it I’ll go for a win instead!
After watching the complacency in the Leeds game this one has banana skin written all over it. I think we should sneak it again though.
This is the young lad Iv’e been rabbiting on about for a while, they say he’s got a lot of potential for the future. He was elevated from the U17s and played in the U21s due to his onvious talent . Conor Ronan
http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/first-contract-for-connor-2391413.aspx?
Looks like a bright prospect, hope he continues to do well.
The academy seems to be working well and is a very sound investment by S Morgan.
Faith in the back line and knowing that the blouse won’t be able to stop the ADS from scoring it will in the words of the Dark Destroyer be ” Just another day at the office”.
Derbys are always so unpredictable, and even though I think there’s a possibility of a Blues win,I’m going for us to get the three points and continue the brilliant run we’re on.
Local derbies tend to be close affairs, ,allthough I hope my prediction is wrong and the dream goes on.
My brother is a lifelong Blues supporter so family bragging rights are involved too.My dear departed Uncle George,the nicest olkd boy you could wish to meet,was a Blues AND Villa supporter.To his credit he was also more than happy to support Wolves too whenever he came along to games with me……you don’t see many of those about these days!
Brilliant, absolutely brilliant, as not one of your family supports the shit.
3 more points nearer a trip to Wembley
It will be great to win this one and not just to keep the run going. Pity that twat Robinson won’t be playing. Would have loved to have seen him against our current forward line.
Won’t be easy though
yes, a must win game we will win.
Jasper Carrott.Ozzy Osborne.Ali Campbell.Lord Digby Jones. Sally James.Bev Bevan… your boys are in for a severe beating (in a Norweigan accent)… cor wait. In brum tomorra 10.20 on lash. FWAW. 4-1 the magic to do the business. And Dangerous.
When I was a spotty teenager, I had a crush on Sally James……
Yeah, you, me and 10 million others.
Sally who? I must be too young to know!!
Tight, score the winner two mins into extra time
Sally James???? I used to have a crush on her
We’ll score the winner two mins to go
Scrappy local derby, God I hope I’m wrong !!!
Confidence is high, goals in abundance, lots of intelligent scheming – and all that’s just among the Bloggers! Can’t quite see us getting to the automatic places as whenever record runs are beckoning, something goes chest up. But we really should hold on to the playoffs and shouldn’t get closed down by the minor neighbours as we did at home when they were in new manager and 8-0 reaction mode. After years of scars and the cock-eyed nature of the Championship, the DGer’s suggestion that this team should carve it’s name in history and our hearts with automatic promotion is maybe a hope rather than expectation, but a hope I’ll hang on to as there’s so much in this team to admire and excite (& of course test the ticker!).
I reckon Stears should be left out – too much to lose, much to gain.
It would be nice to win at Blues and not get relegated like last time. I fancy us, but I don’t think for a minute it will be comfortable.
Nothing to fear… Robinsons replacement has to be 6 months gone… (See photo) unsure if its within the rules as could be seen as a twelfth player!
Bollocks to all this talk about Wembley, I don’t want to go there, that’s three extra games we don’t need.
I want to avoid all those squeaky bum, nail gnawing moments, and go straight up!!
With regards to Stearman.
I have rated this bloke since the day we bought him, as Scooped will attest. For me, he is the best defender we’ve had in the last 20 years.
There is no earthly reason to bench him, and if KJ does, what sort of negative message does that send to everyone else?
You cannot be trusted to NOT get booked?
No, keep a winning team and it’s momentum going at all costs.
Put them blouses through the ringer, 5 – 1 to Me Babbeez.
Plus, I’ve never considered this a local derby, they are too far beneath us for that.
Three weeks and I’ll be there, so lock up your daughters, Clive O is coming!!!
FOwb
24 minutes to go and Cheatmouth being held at Brighton. Is there a God after all
Blues got stuck in at molineux having been thumped the week before. They will really need to do the same again to stem the flow of goals from our own warriors. I expect our quality to show through and they all come back unscathed.
One can feel a coming together of fans, players and management. We are a force. There maybe one game though that doesn’t go our way.That will be the test how well we bounce back. Hope its not this one. I will back us to keep scoring.
I’m pleased Kennys seen sense over Jacobs give me him any day over RVP it’s the one big criticism of got with Kenny surely he can’t think RVP is better than Jacob’s
I was looking at some games from last season and Jacobs scored some cracking and vital goals something RVP has failed to do and I know he plays on the wing but so did Jaccobs most the time. Jacobs is a all round better team player he tracks back he tackles and he doesn’t lose his rag with the opersition or when substituted.
If Kenny changes the line up I hope it’s only to replace Jacobs for RVP, just one more thing re: Jacobs the rest of the team are familiar with his game they know him having played most of last season with him he would slot in no problem.
If Kenny has worked with the defence this week and he only tinkers re: the above I carnt see why we shouldn’t come away with all three points …..here’s hoping.
Feck me. A free kick and cheatmouth score again.
Bah Hunbug
You re all good lads and lasses on here , Ben , Thomas. Of course due to the work they put in , but can I just say well done to you stu wolf for all the reserve s info that you post . I usually try attend such fixtures in the the south and it’s a real insight into the mechanics of the club .. Well done for your posts stu wolf .. They re appreciated . Fucking cheat mouth have just scored , bastards
Anything Wolves that’s me, can’t get enough.
Bastards indeed, they will come straight back down when they try they’re shite against proper referees.
Wolves should win easily, hence my prediction for a draw
Same team as Monday, no need to rest Stears. Confident about this one, think Tuesday is the big test but a win tomorrow will give us a boost.
Those were the days
I’m getting a bit worried. I would hate us to lose out on the play offs due to goal difference. That’s the first priority, hope Derby and Brentford bore draw each other to death too
Boremouth score again, just after Brittleton should have had a penalty.
I think the blouses will start on the front foot but only for about a second then bang wolves 1 up.
Joking apart we must start the quicker if we’re gonna win this one,and I think we will.
We must treat every game as a final,I’m sure KJ has instilled that into them.
Afobe and Dicko will frighten the shite out of them I hope and don’t forget sako he will score tomorrow.
JUST 5 MORE WINS WE’RE IN THE PROMISED LAND AGAIN,WE CAN DO IT.
Sausages? What’s all that about?
They deserve a spanking. Let’s do it Wolves.
Iv’e thought it over carefully but just can’t find a “link”
Sorry. Had to do it
🙂
That’s Brilliant 🙂
Keep your sausage in your pocket, Bluenoses!
This one could be difficult for all the reasons already mentioned, but I don’t think it will be difficult enough to prevent a win.
The rule under which we are concerned about Stears seems as arcane as calculating the date of Easter – what’s special about the second Sunday of April?
For me the Prem is over-hyped and frequently fails to live up to expectations ….. but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to get there … so COYW.
It’s a difficult one to predict being a derby, any team can beat any other in this division, it’s been proved time and time again.
And Brum are no different, they’ve done the double over Forest and thumped Reading 6 – 1 at home.
They have a lot of draws against the top teams all so, just look at there results.
Having said all that, a Wolves win for me.
Provided the team won’t let complacency get the better of them, they should be more than capable of winning this tough derby.
Oddly enough, our current season is reminding me of B’ham’s in (our dreadful) 2002 season when B’ham got into the playoffs late on with a timely run of form and won promotion. Hopefully we can emulate their performance that season with similar outcome.
You know, it’s easy to lose perspective in the footballing world, but the truth is, it’s cutthroat. In 2010, B’ham were flying in the EPL, finishing no less than 9th (we had our best season in recent history finishing 15th). We’re not talking ten centuries ago; just 5 years. The following season they were relegated. One year they’re 9th with all to play for, next year they’re toast.
Ownership and investment is key. Our resurgence in January was no fluke or coincidence. It had all to do with the entrance of a certain Mr Afobe, and the departure of donkey. I truly hope that our management has learned this now, and that when we go up, they will continue to invest to stay there.
Here’s to another fine win tomorrow, and another step closer to the big time!
Go Wolves!
This is a must win game to keep the momentum going. COYW.
Will prob be a scrappy game being a local derby which suggest a draw having said that I know we can get the win.
COYW
Sets up for a Wolves win, just like at home earlier in the season.
180 minutes this season and no scoring
No sitting back No passing it around our own box Ninety minutes of Thjis Van LEER and Jan AKKERMAN
Odd you should use the boys from Focus to illustrate your point, as I’m reading this in Amsterdam.
🙂
Surely we don’t want no hocus pocus, especially by Focus?!
We definitely want more Focus than Hocus or Pocus.
Well and truly motherfocussed
No matter how well we played for most of the Leeds game, a team that loses concentration and focus like we did is lucky to take the points. Fortunately it didn’t cost us on the day so no harm done and if we’ve learned the lesson it may have done us good. I’m sure we won’t suffer those lapses again and will hopefully have more than enough up front to give us a well-deserved three points. An exhilarating day for the travelling goalden hoardes and increasing pressure on those teams above us. Life is good.
COYW 🙂
Shut the back(front) door! Win by a nose. Ruthless rurhles ruthless.
Derby day & anything can happen but it has to be an away win & keep winning.
UTW
Final push, come on me babies
UTW
We have plenty enough in our locker to see this one through relatively comfortably.
Come on Me Babbies.
Have a great day to all of you traveling.
They’re magic you know!
Drab game with a silver lining.
Bit of an odd one this, their season is effectively already over, but the fact it’s a local derby will likely keep their minds focused rather then thinking ahead to their Sumer holidays.
Based on recent results and performances from both sides you would expect a comfortable away win.
Hoping Michael Jacobbs gets a bit of game time as a sub, certainly a mystery why he’s been so underused this season after the clear quality he showed week after week in league one last year.
As others have said before me, this is a tough one to predict. My head says a draw but my heart says a win. Heck, let’s go with the heart! Also, worried about Stearman but we’ll see how KJ plays it.
Jacobs is very strange. He has not had a fair crack with the whip even when we had that extremely bad patch in November. Anyway, looks like things are getting sorted and he is a timely addition to the squad at this crucial time. Sort of feels like a new signing, sort of! Come on the old gold n black!
got keep up the momentum and keep in the play-off positions
Too hungover to expand
UTW
Is this game online anywhere?
Come on me babbies!
At this stage in the season it is hard not to get carried away with results. From feeling like we were on track to flirt with the automatic spots this defeat really feels like a hammer blow. Although it has to be seen as no more than a blip. We have 4 games left and need 9 points for me to make the top 6. Nail biting but must keep behind the boys
Truely tragic..tragic..we had to shut up shop at the back but gave them two..and to that shit..inconsolable…..
Didn’t see that coming really didn’t, but when you don’t turn up what do you expect.
The blouses deserved to win it by all accounts ,what is it with us when we play the likes of blouses,we seem to capitulate against these pretenders.
All we can do now is soldier on and hope we turn up for the remainder of the fixtures.
Tough now at boro.
Fuckin mcidiots done us over again,really big game next weekend,I hope we stuff the bastards.
So pissed off now.UTW.SO SAD?
Ooops. Hey ho, we move on, and we get our heads up for Tuesday. This is not over yet.
Come on lads, let’s re-group, put a plan together, and fight for what we deserve. We can do this.
We were poor from start to finish and although blues deserved to win, they didn’t have to do too much to get it. Only Dicko and Afobe really came out of it with any credit, everyone else was mediocre to poor. The concerning for me was that we looked so flat and lacking energy. We moved the ball very slowly, sako was full back for large chunks of the game and. As soo as we scored we just retreated and let them come onto us. Anyway, to Middlesbrough ……………..
Sutton Wolf
Couldn’t argue with one item of your blog.
What a poor performance against a poor team a best.
See you at Middlesboro
A very disappointed StuWolf
I can’t comment about this match as I did not see it other than the few minutes on TV at silly o’clock. The only word that springs to mind is “consistency”
If we play extremely well in one game, mediocre in another and then poor, then surely we cannot expect to reach where we are trying to reach. As I said, I believe consistency to be a key factor here. Kenny will advise the players, it is us to them when they get on the pitch to deliver. We Expect.
Hey ho Brompton I hear you but what a lost chance yet again ..
Totally. A massive lost chance. As I keep harping on, if only we were consistent. We are better than yesterday, Kenny knows that, the players know that, we know that. I am at the Boro game on Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!