So impressed was I with Swindon Town at Molineux that I enquired about them getting promoted automatically with a bookmaker, after one of the most virtuous and glorious defeats I can remember witnessing.
Not only did they pepper us with 23 shots – nine on target – in a performance that should have earned them a hatful of goals, but they rewrote many of our perceptions about League One football, which isn’t half as agricultural as we all thought.
Ever since donning Dick Turpin masks to somehow win 3-2 on September 14, I’ve kept my eye out for the return fixture as a barometer to measure our progression, not to mention a bloody difficult game of football.
Since then, I’m glad I didn’t stick that bet on the Robins as they’ve laboured somewhat to eighth position, winning just twice in their last 10 games.
And since then, Kenny Jackett has supplemented his squad admirably to consign those scrappy early season experiences to the dustbin, whilst maintaining the results.
Back then, Carl Ikeme was invariably saving our bacon with a string of fine saves per game unlike today, where our high tempo, possession football takes precedence, bearing a striking resemblance to…
…well…Swindon Town on a September afternoon!
Swindon Town
While games can’t be judged on paper, a look at the two teams provides clues in how the fortunes of both sides have changed since our late-summer encounter.
Tellingly, on-loan Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason is out with an ankle injury, which is great news for all Wolves fans (in the most respectful sense possible), being as he was quite brilliant at Molineux.
Mason, along with keeper Foderingham, Hall, McEviley, Ajose and Ranger, were all missing from Swindon’s weekend defeat to MK Dons, but played in our 3-2 win.
Wolves
As we can all gleefully testify, our team has changed a fair bit too, with Doherty, Davis, Evans, Griffiths and Doyle making way for Stearman, Price, Henry, Jacobs and Dicko.
It is a team that quite literally picks itself and if it does succumb at the County Ground, then it won’t be for a performance like the one we put in against the same opponents last year.
The gaffer
The odds
Wolves come in as favourites for the win at 10/11, with Swindon available at a more favourable 7/2. The draw is 13/5.
If you’d taken Thomas’ tip of another 3-0 on Saturday, you’d have had an even happier Saturday than most. A fourth consecutive 3-0 is available at 14/1.
All odds here.
Predictions
The Prediction League points are being totted up, but with games coming thick and fast in March, midweek updates aren’t always possible.
But rest assured, it’s not been forgotten about!
Like our first impressions of Walsall, a role reversal would now be expected against Mark Cooper’s side as we search for a club record nine consecutive wins.
From my vantage point at Walsall, I just have a hunch that this one might yet be our toughest test yet, stupid as it sounds.
Call me a pessimist after such startling form, but I sensed understandable nerves against the Saddlers for the opening half an hour, along with some jitters at the end of the game when preserving our clean sheet streak – most of it self-inflicted.
With a huge club record at stake, I fear we’ll be battling ourselves as much as the opposition, who will still pose a threat from their other midfield operators Luongo and Pritchard, who also dazzled in the Molineux sunshine.
I’ll take a point and I’ll also take the same team as usual, which surely won’t be changed for this game, irrespective of potential tired limbs in the camp (particularly Sako who was also on international duty this time last week).
Come on you Wolves!
Thanks for applying your free-flowing prose to the preview mate. Always very much appreciated.
I think we’ll win this one and I think we’ll beat Shrewsbury too. This is already a once in a lifetime winning run. I’m savouring every moment.
I’ll go for a narrower 2-1 margin though.
Swindon 0 – 2 Wolves for me please
9 wins on the bounce to equal the club record. 1 – 1
that’d be 8 wins and a draw mate
I never was good at sums 🙂
I think the record is broken with a 2-0 victory. Dicko at the double again!
From what I saw of Swindon on the Football League show, we won’t have any worries.
Maybe we’ll concede, but still to really have a high scoring win.
I’ll stick to
Wolves 3 Swindon 0
Dangerous fixture this one…a point would be a result ..will we shut up shop or go for it……
Dicko to score and jacobs ..1-2 to wolves..half time 0-0..
I think Swindon are a bit rocky at the moment,but we`re rolling.
them 0 us 2.
COME ON YOU WOLVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Does anyone know if you can get a ticket on the night tomorrow ? Four nil wolves by the way
How could you not predict another 3 nil victory?
Swindon 0 – 3 Wolves
I’m into Tuesday already here!
This ,as you say Ben, is going to be more difficult than the last game. .. tired legs, nerves and fear of not reaching a deserved record wins milestone, possibly a changed side/formation. and oh yes Swindon Town who IMO undeservedly lost at the mol in Sept.
Putting all this into the mix I’m going for a Swindon 0 v 0 Wolves.
1-0 to the Wolves , this might be a toughy.
UTW
That’s not fair twixfix , you probably already know the score !
Is it before 5 o clock on Monday anywhere in the world ? So I can get my ticket
It’s hard to imagine I know but it’s tues 8:40 am here in NZ. For me kick off is on Wed morn at 08:45. Weird isn’t it!
Credits to Johnny Mercer & Harold Arlen
“Accentuate the positive,
Eliminate the negative,
Latch on to the affirmative,
Don’t mess with Mister In Between”
Swindon 0 Wolves 2
Can’t see ’em stopping the goal train: Swindon 1 – 3 Wolves
Swindon played and lost at the weekend, so they will be as tired as us, except we are on a roll, and they are still eating a sandwich.
No worries tomorrow, this one a guaranteed away win.
Just for a change,
Them 1 Wolves 5
Still loffin’ at the shit’s result from Sat.
Nothing lasts forever, and I think we’ll concede tomorrow night. But the prospect of a record setting run will stir the boys on to a ninth consequtive victory, which will be by 4 goals to 1.
I’m usually a sucker for normalising the numbers and increasingly expecting a reverse the longer a good run goes on. Well if its luck that we have won the last 8, 21 goals to 1 then we are due a tsunami of shite pretty soon!
The wind may blow a little but I don’t think were gonna tilt this week. Wiltshire Ham 1 Wolverham 2 (have another sandwich swinders)
The lad Pritchard still plays for them though and he was the architect of their performance against us last september. Still a very good player
Just can’t see them let a record get away … come on Wolves.
Swindon 1 – 2 Wolves
Swindon 1 Wolves 2
UTW/FOWB
Swindon 0-2 Wolves
After predicting the 3-0 on Saturday, I’m going to revert to my 2-1 win to us!!!!
Think our run of clean sheets will end…but all the same – 3-1 victory!
Swindon 0:2 Wolves
Swindon 1-2 wolves
Nine out of nine? Why not? Swindon 0-2 Wolves
You can pay on the gate tomorrow lads £19 away ticket office at Swindon.
London wolves loyal it’s pay on the day for swindon match – and at the moment we have sold 2,000 tickets.
To expect a win just show how far we have come since playing Swindon in September I was at that game and Swindon were robbed like Walsall on Saturday Swindon will be facing a totally different Wolves team. They’ve gone of the boil a bit but there are no easy games and like every other team in the league will up there game when Wolves are in town.
I’m sticking to my formula but sticky is how I see this game not for any other reason than breaking this record and steering this run gets harder every game.
A tougher game, maybe, but one I still back us to win. We’re looking too hot for anything in League One at the moment. Sako and Dicko seem to be buzzing off each other. 2-0 to the Wolves. Bring it on.
I’m sticking with my Wolves-4 Opposition, in this case Swindon- 0.
Another emphatic win anyway….
Purple prose Ben.
Swindon 0 Wolves 3
Anything else would be silly.
Great preview Ben. Much appreciated.
It seems they have a similar large and we’ll maintained playing surface to the Golden Palace, so we should feel comfortable on the ball.
Records are there to be broken, and there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn’t tomorrow.
Clocks moved forward in VA this weekend, so only 4 hours behind so getting in early tomorrow to get back and listen in
Swindon 2-3 Wolves. The march to the title has a little hiccup but prevails.
I’m going for a 3-1 win for the lads – unfortunate about the goal against but we cant be greedy – OR CAN WE?
I think we we’ll win 2-0. About time Jacobs got a goal eh?? and Macca too.
For me this is a hugely important game.
Win, with Shrewsbury at home on Saturday (while Orient play Brentford), and we’ll have a big lead at the top.
Like Ben, I’m twitchy about this one, they ran rings round us at home but somehow we won.
Things have changed a lot since though and i think we will shade it, 1-2.
I don’t see why we should feel any nerves thanks to the winning streak. Streaks all end sometime, but what’s important to take is the performances and the players should be buoyant in confidence knowing that they can take on all comers.
I’ll go for a 0-2 win to Wolves!
Three is a magic number!
Swindon 0-3 Wolves
UTW
Swindon Town 0 1 wolves
Wolves 2 Swindon 1
Another win today for the wolves i think. The sooner we clinch promotion the better, we win tonight, we win again on saturday, brentford and leyton play eachother so someones gonna drop points, and we win our 2 games in hand then we could potentialy be 12pts clear of leyton and 6pts clear of brentford by the end of the month… Its in our own hands now, i think the lads will be buzzing after trouncing brentford port fail and smallsall 3-0 3-0 3-0… So im gonna go for another 3-0 tonight… Henry, Dicko and Clarke off the bench to score past his former club…
Let’s smash the records & finish this strongly.
Swindon 0 – 2 Wolves
After Saturday I am going for a few pints in Swindon and watch another wolves win 3-1 wolves
Clean sheet could be due for the wash
but what the heck 2-0 to WWFC.
Incidentally think T is below C in the PL this season because he never keeps a clean sheet…just saying !
It’s only a game against Swindon.
There have been many great Wolves sides over the 137 years since we first set off on ‘The Trail of Tears’ that is the journey all fans have to make.
(I sometimes think some of us bloggers might have been there from the outset).
Many iconic names have come and gone over that period.
For a brief, golden, time we were reckoned to be the best team in the World.
And over all those years, we have NEVER won nine matches in succession.
Not much to play for then.
Will this present Band of Brothers to go down in history as the men who finally achieved that milestone?
Something that the famous faces which adorn the walls of the Molineux Museum could never match.
I would love to think that there will be a shadowy presence in the away end tonight as the long gone legends gather to watch history being made.
But after all…
…It’s only a game against Swindon.
Oh! I nearly forgot.
3-1 to the men in old gold.
The run has to end soon, and can’t pick up positions in PL table if we all predict wins all the time…
Swindon 1 – Wolves 1
I just don’t see us losing games at the moment, I think we’ll concede tonight but we’re far to strong going forward not to get a few goals ourselves. Swindon 1-3 Wolves
By the end of March we could hold the record for consecutive wins in English football.
Man U, Bristol City, Preston and Arsenal all have a record 14 wins on the bounce.
7 more wins in a row and we will be out there on our own, and might even make the papers!!
But if the team start thinking like that then we’ll lose tonight. We take it a game at a time, fully focused, and we don’t get carried away…
9 games in a month? I’m sure the players will be fine, it’s Thomas and Ben I feel sorry for. Where will they find the time to continue to provide the excellent service they so kindly do?
As for the game tonight, 2-1 to us.
UTW
I don’t think it is such a tall order in gaining that record.
Take into account that all the other teams in this division are backed up with games just like we are and they have smaller squads. We have the luxury of being able to make a few minor changes to keep fitness levels up and risk of injuries down, without upsetting the balance of the team.
I see Swindon and Rotherham as our main 2 real tests for the rest of this season… need to control these 2 games from midfield and all records aswell as the main goal of promotion are in the bag.
In addition I want to see the team looking like ZZ Top on open top bus!
It’s in all in the teams hands from hair on onwards.
Up the beards!
Was meant to be back for the Shrewsbury game, but will need to wait a bit longer. Still, would be great to see the record broken tonight – that’s what they are there for..
Swindon 1 – 2 Wolves
COYW
Wolves to win 2-0 and set a new record.
Following the DOOGooder’s line, what’s up for grabs tonight is a chance to be part of the team that gets recalled every time over the next fifty or sixty yearsor so that the then current team goes on anything like a run. The result – whatever it is – probably won’t affect the promotion issue one way or another but records last for a long time. Good luck lads – I’m going for Swindon 2 Wolves 3;
I started growing my tribute beard at the weekend. It’s slightly ginger in places but as long as we’re winning I don’t care.
Swindon 1 – Wolves 2
UTW
Good for you Newt. As to the colour don’t worry, it will all blend in to an old gold.
Think we’ll concede tonight but hopefully too strong for them
Swindon1-2 Wolves
Amazing to see that we got a write up on the game in Monday’s Daily Telegraph…
Wonders will never cease!
Also, in today’s paper, a small mention of the racist abuse that Ikeme and Elokobi received at Walsall.
I have never understood the mentality of people who do that sort of thing.
In particular when their own team contains a black player.
What’s all that about?!
Anyway, if work permits, I am intending to take the present Mrs DOOGooder to tonight’s game and woe betide any Swindon schmuck who has a go at Ikeme.
They may well end up with a size 5 boot inserted where the sun don’t shine!
Echo your sentiments.
However, have you taken to wearing your wife’s shoes?
Oh well it takes all sorts! Lol !
The shoes aren’t too bad, it’s the underwear that I have trouble with!
Hope we carry on and make it 9 wins on the bounce I’ll go for 1-0 win wolves
Swindon 1 Wolves 2
Cheers Bristol and John … I ve just rang the ground , there are about 350 tickets for away fans available from the away ticket office situated at the away end on the night and the ticket office is open till ten mins after kick off UTW. &. FOWB
I’m going for a 1-2 win, hope I ain’t given them the kiss of death…
How long can this run go on?
Bit longer hopefully. Can’t see is conceding goals at the moment. Keep with same starting 11 and let the midfield take control. Dicko & Sako are on fire. Come on.
Swindon 0 Wolves 2
The problem may be that records, and runs, are there to be broken [ Brentford for example ] .
However , they are equally there to be made !!
Tricky to keep being so positive after the last few years but, in keeping with most of my recent contributions I’m keeping quiet about predicting the result . Suffice to say that another sequence of results / scorelines – four on the trot – is that a new record ?
Whatever , UTW
Swindon 1 – 2 Wolves
I fear that, at this point, against a capable team up for revenge, Ben’s sentence about battling ourselves as much as the opposition may turn out to be very perceptive. I’m hoping this is one where my prediction is self-defeating in the PL – 1-1 draw.
Cannot see anything other than a win for Wolves
Swindon 0 Wolves 2 .
Wolves 1-0 come on!!
Surely the law of averages says we can’t keep winning and not conceding can we?
Swindon 1-1 wolves
All this winning all the time is getting boring…….where are the days when we were biting our nails and pulling our hair out gone? Now we are on the verge of setting a new club record? WTF has happened to us? No moaning about players, manager? What have we become?
Oh Yeh, that’s right – we are now THE team, all before us fear us, tremble at our very name, cower at the very thought of Sako and his free kicks………………
………unchanged team again and no mention of them being ‘tired’ or ‘needing a rest’…….
Swindon 1 – 2 Wolves.
🙂
Just in time to suggest Swindon 1 Wolves 2
0-3 up at half time, what a team!
Well there’s my prediction no good then – just one point for me today!!
Could we be on for a 5-1 Clive from Houston prediction to come true?
Almost got the 5 – 1 right, but bring on Shrewsbury, surely we can count to five once this season??!!
Well done the lads, the manager and all you lot who were lucky enough to be there watching history being made.
Swindon must be the form team, they have actually scored a goal against the Wolves!
For flips sake. Looks like I’ve got the prediction right again!
So proud of the lads at the moment. The old gold (n’ black) shining bright once again. Still though LO and Brentford are hanging on. What an exciting finale to the season this promises to be, an exciting one and hopefully with a happy conclusion for The Wolves! Makes you wonder why we couldn’t make a straightforward, common sense managerial appointment (like Kenny Jacket’s was) after we sacked MM. But instead we got Connor, Solbakken and then the most ludicrous of the lot – Saunders! Hey ho. Anyway, onwards and upwards. Roll on Stevenage away – that’s the next match I can make as it’s just up the road from my patch! Does anyone know why I can’t get tickets online for that match?
And the wolf returns……… It is suddenly feeling rather nice to be in love with my beloved Wolves again. The pride of the Midlands songs are fading away in Smethwick. The League 1 Ay Ya banner has been put away and the scent of Baggie blood is in the nostrils. Revenge my friends ? Well, it’s a way off yet but with every passing game the real BCD becomes more of reality. Well done to KJ, his coaching staff and the team for creating their own slice of history tonight. I was underwhelmed when KJ was appointed but he has certainly surprised me with the way he has conducted himself and the style of play on display at the moment. It is actually a joy to attend matches again and see something not seen for a long while at the Mol. 6 more wins from 12 for promotion ???
Leon clarkes goal was class
Was on the live blog last night and my smile never left my face. What disappointed me was the so called “fans” who, when Swindon scored, came out in droves and making comments how poor we were playing etc. Who are these numpties.
We are playing some class football. Okay, so we did not have such a good second half, but we scored a fourth and remain top. I relish every game lately.
UTW/FOWB