Wolves head to Ewood Park this weekend with renewed confidence following last Saturday’s dramatic late win over Sunderland, whilst Blackburn will be looking to banish the memory of a seven goal defeat at Old Trafford.
With such contrasting results, this game is nicely poised and it will certainly be interesting to see how both sides respond.
Blackburn will be keen to bag their fourth home win of the season and quickly put their humiliation at the hands of Man Utd behind them. Their three Ewood victories to date came against Villa, Wigan and Everton and they’ve also managed draws with Sunderland and Fulham, losing just twice against the might of Arsenal and Chelsea.
Big Sam has made a living out of beating the lesser sides to steer his own team away from trouble, so he’ll definitely have this game penciled in as a must-win. If we’re to upset these plans, we’ll have to play a lot better than we did in last season’s 3-1 defeat, where Mick chopped and changed the side leaving Wolves woefully short at both ends of the pitch.
But our manager has some tough decisions to make this weekend too with Christophe Berra back from suspension as well as Stephen Hunt and SEB pushing for recalls following their heroics from the bench against Sunderland.
Personally, I’d bring Berra in alongside Elokobi at the back and drop Stearman to the bench. The former Leicester man struggled last weekend and has the unfortunate knack of losing concentration, making mistakes and costing us goals. Berra is the more reliable option and better in the air, which will be important against Blackburn. I believe Mick will share this view.
Hunt could be worked into the side, but I’d be surprised to see Foley dropped. Perhaps Foley could play in the center of midfield instead of Jones, with Hunt taking his place on the right?
SEB will almost certainly start on the bench again, with Doyle deservedly retaining his place as the sole frontman in the 4-5-1 formation. Still, it’s great to have a fit and firing number 9 again, ready for action should we need a goal.
Here’s my predicted lineup:
Hennessy
Zubar
Berra
Elokobi
Ward
Jarvis
Mancienne
Jones
Milijas
Foley
Doyle
Prediction League
A host of people picked up a point for predicting we’d get the win against Sunderland last weekend, but nobody went all out for 3-2. Hardly surprising though when you consider that was the first time we’ve scored three goals at home since being promoted.
Still, well done to Louie, Bob China, Jon Sidwell, kWolf, Jub, myself and yes, Lawro, for adding to their totals.
This weekend, I’m leaning towards the draw.
We’ve played terribly at Ewood on our last two visits, so we’re due a decent performance at the very least. We’ll almost certainly concede, but I reckon we’ve got enough going forward to score at least once.
1-1.
If you’re going this weekend, have a great time and get behind the lads.
Up The Wolves.
Well I would be quite happy with that starting XI, Thomas. And it will be interesting to see our often-successful 4-5-1 up at Blackburn (don’t think we played it there last time?)
Anyway, given our current goal glut, I’ll stick out my neck and go for: Blackburn 1 – 2 Wolves.
By the way, in the sidebar (the menu on the right of the page) you’ll see a brand new ‘Join the Pack’ section, where you can show your support for the Blog on Facebook.
Just click ‘Like’ if you’re logged into Facebook.
Would be good to get a few others on there ASAP. At the moment it’s just me on my own 🙁
Its that place in Wales now, the TWO-ON-WE:-)
Nice one Scooped. You’ve opened the floodgates.
We’re up to 8 already. Bound to have at least 100,000 by the weekend.
I can’t see them not scoring and though my head says we’ll lose, i’ll go for 2-2
We ought to have Ward in goal, so we can have 10 useful outfielders, and he will have to stay in position, relatively speaking, so he can’t go AWOL like he usually does.
He is bound to play, sorry, be on the pitch, so we will concede, as usual.
I’m going for a 3 -1 victory for our first away win, and McCowardly’s job safe for another week, ………as I’m his biggest fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FOWB
Shame that Blackburn had that drubbing the week before they play us, as they’ll be desperate to make amends. Still, I think those last 9 minutes last week will have done a world of good for our confidence. If Milijas and Jarvis keep up their good form I reckon we’ll make enough chances to win 2-1
Don’t want to be negative, especially after last weeks win, but Blackburn are a very tricky side at home and we are poor away, and we leak goals like my car leaks oil, therefore Blackburn 2-0 Wolves
Blackburn 2-0 Wolves
Never get anything at Ewood Park.
Has to change sometime 🙂
0-0 Neither side will want to concede.
Will probably be Berra and Stearman (at centre back), but I’d prefer Berra and Zubar.
Neither side will want to, but we have for 19 games on the trot (i think!!) I’m going for a 2-1 win and a maximum high for the rest of the weekend. Milijas with a late free kick that floats over everyone and into the far corner!!
Well as my change to being pessimistic last week bought a good result I think its more of the same. Blackburn 3- 1 Wolves. Its gonna be a cold one but hopefully third time lucky for me at Ewood!!
Back to the depths here. Couldn’t be playing Blackburn at a worse time….Blackburn 3 Wolves 0 ( jason roberts hat trick)
BTW Dazza just finished watching our terrible bowlers bowl out your adopted country for 245, the lowest first innings score at Adelaide since God knows when. Happy days!
2-1 to Blackburn. I think Blackburn will respond well after last weekend.
2-1 Wolves (Doyle and Jones)
We take lead but Hennessy beaten by
‘unstoppable’ shot(or was he too far off his line?) from outside the box 1-1.
Even before the event he was too far off his line for me!
Get USA back in quick!
LOL!
Somehow that quip reminds me of my favourite Big Ron-ism. I’ll bore you with it.
John Barnes was back in his heyday and having his usual ‘where-has-my-Liverpool-form-gone?’ nightmare for England. As another move breaks down, the commentator asks “Do you think Barnes is a playing bit too deep here, Ron?” An exasperated Big Ron replies: “Too right he’s too deep! The only time he’s been in the right position all night has been during the national anthem.” Then, with comic timing, he adds: “And even then he could have taken half a step forward!” Classic … well, you had to be there, I suppose.
Great, got to love the big fat racist! My other fave of his was about Dalian Atkinson, who after persistant injury Big Ron stated…
“I threw the ball at him in training and he said ouch before it hit him!”
Big Rons house in Barnt Green was up for sale not long ago – it was everything you would expect. Gold taps, carpet in the bathroom, slaves quarters/cotton fields in the grounds (joke!) – it would need a fortune spent on it to bring it out of the 70’s! A true victim of his generation!
I heard him telling the tale about checking into the team hotel before a cup match. There was him and Dalien and the receptionist asked “Is he your son?”
Someone told me that was Karen Brady that asked big Ron that question at a dinner!
If thats true “You’re fired!! (b*tch)”
Also heard that she smashed her computer up with a hammer on her last day at Blues. Obviously doesn’t know how to clear her internet browser history! (unlike all married men!)
That’s really tickled me, I hope it’s true. I’ve got an image of them both looking at each other with really confused faces, not quite knowing what to say.
Me backing the opposition worked for us last time – so Blackburn 3 – 1 Wolves.
A horribly dull 0-0, which would delight me
3-2 Blackburn. I can’t see us getting back to back wins and if we keep a clean sheet I’ll bear my arse in Burtons.
Blackburn have pace to burn up front, so if Ward plays left back we will have a problem. They also have a very tall centrehalf, and with George unable to get his musclebound frame off the ground at centre half, hope he gets moved to LB, and Berra comes in, although it doesn`t inspire me with confidence. Can`t see our centre halves coping, so we will let in at least 2, can we score 2, well with Doyle going to have a hard time against a muscular centre half, I doubt, so 2-0 to Blackburn unhappily. Hope i`m very wrong.
2-0 to Blackburn.
2-1 wolves as usual.
Haven’t predicted a score for a while because I kept being positive and we kept losing so I’m not going to predict one now, but I’m feeling confident about tomorrow. Another brilliant display from Ward and a few inspired substitutions from McBestManagerWe’veHadInALongTime and we should be Ok.
However, if we lose it’s not the end of the world, they’re a good team at home, easy games against Blues and A****n coming up. I’m happy to get nothing off Blackburn and 4 off the local scum.
Well, you got your nothing, and will get as much the rest of the season.
Can’t see where another point will come from if MM stays.
2-2. I went for this result last weekend and got it wrong. Long may it continue!
Big shout out for England today at Adelaide… good to see Ponting having his whingeing nose rubbed in it. It couldn’t happen to a nicer , less magnanamous sportsman in the world. If only we could manage an away win at Blackburn, be one of those champagne days in sport 🙂
1-2 Wolves. Come on!
He’s got Ward in, as usual, this time as a hard tackling, pacey, vision filled mid fielder.
So, the others will have to run their sox off just to cover for him, coz he’s now got even more room than usual to get lost in.
New prediction, 1 – 5.
We hopefully shouldn’t get caught short of numbers at the back though. With Jones out, I make it seven out of ten outfield players in today’s starting line-up whose first-choice or best position would arguably be in the back-four: Zubar, Mouyokolo, Berra, Elokobi, Ward, Mancienne, Foley.
An who forgot to go with their man for the first goal??? Yes Clive Stephen F**king WARD!
Third goal too …
I’ve been complaining about Ward since the start of the season…..sounds like he had another horror today!
Beat you there, I’ve been on about him for 10 years, even before we signed him!!!
After that team selection and the performance, McCarthy needs to walk today. Can someone please tell me what Ward has over McCarthy?
Pathetic shower of shit.
Fuck off McCarthy and take the whole fucking “defense” with you.
They are not fit to pull on a Wolves shirt.
Absolute disgrace.
Shambles.
Doncaster fans must be laffing in their tea cups.
We are now bottom, and really in a higher position than we deserve to be.
Morgan should wield the big stick tonight, before they get off the bus.
Lescott and Keane in January, anyone?
FOMM
Keane wouldn’t get in our team. Lescott would, I hope we go for him.
Who is good enough to keep him out?
I’m talking about Robbie Keane, not Roy Keane……….though that’s not a bad idea even if he is past it!!!!!
At least Robbie Keane is a proven Prem goal scorer.
The only player we have at present worth a light is Jarvis, and I bet he’ll be off come January, if that fat bastard Moxey has anything to do with it.
FOMM
If we are playing one up front, Doyle?
Well, that was just embarrassingly bad. Shambolic. We started brightly; hit the woodwork a couple of times; and then the defence went AWOL – three times.
It will be a tough haul to get ourselves out of the bottom three from here. We are conceding every sodding game, and we are still struggling for end-product at the other end (although we did create a few chances today).
Is that right? Ward in central midfield?
Compare and contrast that to amother man of the match award for Mark Davies today.
2nd half started with Milijas and Ward as the central pairing in midfield – what a f**king joke we’ve become!