I was surprised Bolton didn’t give Owen Coyle more time to turn things around.
With the squad of players they have, it should only be a matter of time before they begin climbing the table, regardless of whose sitting in the dugout.
Mark Davis, Kevin Davies, Eagles, Petrov, Spearing, Mills, Sordell – these are all players who have either played in the Premier League or at the very least proved they can be successful in the Championship.
So why then have they started so poorly in the first place?
Perhaps the blend of the side isn’t quite right. They seem to be shipping plenty of goals; 18 already conceded this season. Wolves have only let in 11.
Bristol City scored 2 of those 18 on Saturday, but a stellar comeback saw Bolton take all the points with a 3-2 win. That victory will no doubt have galvanised them coming into this game.
Dougie Freedman is in talks to become their new manager. He’s shown great promise in a short spell with Palace but I think he’s a strange choice for Bolton. He would be a long-term project, when what they really need is immediate improvement.
With their financial problems, an immediate return to the Premier League is crucial. I thought Mick McCarthy was an ideal match.
Wolves
Losing at Huddersfield was a real downer after a superb win at Blackburn two weeks prior. We’ve now got a couple of home fixtures to regain some momentum.
Karl Henry returns tonight and he should definitely go straight back into the side. With the creative players they have in midfield, his presence will be crucial to our cause. I don’t think there will be any other changes to Saturday’s team.
If we can keep things tight at the back, I think we’ll win this one because the statistics tell us we will get a goal. But whenever we’ve come up against any half-decent attacking players, we’ve tended to struggle. Lets hope none of their players punish us in the same way Wilfried Zaha did in our last home game.
Opposition view
Thanks to Bolton fan Mark Yesilevskiy, from the Lion of Vienna Suite for providing the following:
We went 2-0 down very early on against Bristol City and if this had been Coyle’s Bolton, there would have been no way back. Yet this new Bolton Wanderers team showed a fight that we had not seen in a long, long time. They found their urgency and, for lack of a better word, bossed the match for the final 65 minutes of the match. The attack featured a new-found ability to finish and through balls into the box were a joy to behold. It was certainly a tough first test for Jimmy Phillips and Bolton Wanderers but there’s no question that Wolves will be even tougher.
Predictions
Not difficult to update the Prediction League table after the loss to Huddersfield.
Only one person said we’d lose and that was Hersham Wolf. He scoops the maximum 2 points on offer for getting the score spot on too. Well done.
I’m hoping for a minimum 4 point return from tonight and the Charlton game on Saturday. With that in mind, I think I’ll go for a draw against Bolton, as I think we’re far more likely to win at the weekend.
Both teams will probably score.
2-2.
Up The Wolves.
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Lots of pressure being the first comment. Very concerned that Bolton might be on the “up” and they have plenty of talent. Feeling pessimistic, but hoping I am wrong…
Wolves 0 – Bolton 2
The team is beginning to pick itself which maybe shows how injuries have affected us. I’m a little worried about our lack of goals. Still fancy us to win 2 – 1.
2-1 to the Wolves, Henry should make the difference in the middle of the park, hopefully Doyle will have the confidence to use his shooting boots.
Come on me babies
im going to disagree and say a wolves win, big karl back in the team and no doubt a bollockin after the last game i cant see anything but a wolves against a bolton team who havent dazzled at all so far. 2-1 the wolves
In a way it’s a shame that MM didn’t get the Bolton gig.
It would have been good to see him back at the Mol and I like to think the fans would have given him a good reception ‘for the good times’, because there were quite a few before it all went tits up.
Having said that I couldn’t really believe he was in the frame in the first place.
Why replace a manager who’s just got you relegated with a manager who was relegated with a far worse record?
Wolves to bounce back with a much improved performance, warming up for my visit to the shrine on Saturday.
3-1.
Going to go for 2-1 aswell it could go totally the other way though – we need to be prepared to work harder than we did on Saturday though. Hopefully that will have been the wake up call that we needed.
going for a wolves win 1 nil as the bolton fixture is never easy , i thought we would lose on saturday as henry was missing . he is crucial to us not leaking goals . back on track tonight .
Just wanted to say i’m really enjoying seeing all these match reports/predictions and more, keep it up guys. Going with a 3-1 win tonight, UTW!
ps. I’m an admin of a Facebook page so defo gonna share the page, everyone needs to get on this!
Thanks Mr Aussie Wolf you old romantic! X
Well, we haven’t lost 2 on the trot all season so far so I’m feeling pumped about tonight’s game, even if it is against a returning to form Bolton. We tend to win after a loss, so I’m going 1-0 to us. And if that’s not optimistic enough (win and a clean sheet) I’m going to say that Johnson will rise from the Mol fog tonight to head a corner from a Sako cross. Mark my words. I had a vision, final destination styly.
2-1 wolves. Fingers crossed for another win, I’d like to see us stay in the top 6 all season if possible
2-0 to wolves. Feeling confident with KH back in the centre that we can close things up and keep a clean sheet.
Doyler needs to up his game and get his scoring boots on. Being outperformed by the left winger must have just become a standard gameplan for him at the moment.
We can bounce back and the only game we lost at home was one we ought to have gotten something out of were it not for Zaha…2-1 to the Wolves! Shoes off! \o/
We win 2-1. Please
Will Doyler and Ebanks-Blake ever form a good strike partnership – not on this years performances so far. Most likely outcome for me is an improvement in defence and a lone Sako goal. So it’s a 1-0 for me.
For those going it might be difficult to see as fog / very poor visibility is forecast. Let’s hope that is not the case. Don’t usually predict the score and hardly ever predict a Wolves win these days. Must be due a draw 1-1.
Just how much do we miss Henry?
Expect much better midfield control tonight with him back.
We really need to win. Agree that 4 points in next two games will do.
Here’s to Wolves 2 Bolton 1
Bollocks to the 4 points, what’s wrong in expecting all 6?
We have to be positive and get behind the lads from the off tonight.
We can and should win both these home games, if only coz the opposition have “ton” at the end of their names, as in “shipping a ton of goals”
Ha Ha.
Rearrange the following into a well known phrase or saying….bOwF
Talking about a ton of goals. I feel it is time we slapped BOLton. I foresee a ton of goals for us tonight. Doyler will score, Sako will score, Pennant will score and SEB will score. 4 -0 to the Wolves. WOFB!!!
WOFB ?????? WHAT DOES MEAN MAN ???
It’s an anagram of fowb.
Clean sheet and a 2-0 win to Wolves. Pennant to grab a goal maybe?
I’m going to go for 6 point from the next 3 games and, if I may, get my next 3 predictions in as I’m in America from the 27th-4th which rudely interrupts my reading of and contributions to Wolves Blog.
Wolves 2-1 Bolton
Wolves 2-0 Charlton
Burnley 2-1 Wolves
Must be something about being in the States.
Clive regularly rudely interrupts ALL our reading of and contributions to Wolves blog!
MARVELLOUS BEHAVIOUR !!!
I think a much better display tonight is in order so im going 2-1 to wolves
I’m going for a Doyle double and a 2-2 draw. KD has to start scoring soon!
If we play like 2nd half Saturday then 2-1 win
Tricky game to call .Notlob will be up after their win on Sat’ .
However , l can’t see Stale allowing another poor defensive
display . Also we’ve got our new coach on board……an ideal
opportunity for all to once again prove themselves .
Wolves 2 Bolton 0 .
Hard to tell, both teams are between the best in this division IMO.
A draw? Realistic, but not good enough for Wolves after the last defeat.
1-0 win.
I HOPE we get a 2 – 1 win, so that’s what I’ll say!
1-0 Wolves. Henry is back and Pennant will of settled in more.
4-4-1-1 Edwards out wide and Sako in hole( starting to repeat myself) SEB up front. Drop Doyle and bring him on later to mix it up a bit. Seems more dangerous off the bench when form is low.2-0 to the wanderers!! ( our ones. Obviously) utw
Wouldnt be unhappy with that team mate. Sounds like Edwards deserves his shirt after playing so well off the bench on Sat.
Definitely a top championship player. We need to find a space for him.
So now Bolton has Dougie…he won’t be at the helm when we go but wonder if it may give ’em a boost?
So that means MD, KA and now DF are all wanting to spoil our party tonight !!!
I think this is going to be a tough match and I hope the restored midfield can fire on all cylinders from the word go. It’s going to be close with WW just edging it 2-1 but I wouldn’t be unhappy with a draw. Despite their mediocre start to the season they’re jam packed with quality. I’m always nervous about mid-week matches.
As ever UTW !!!!
Wolves 0-1 Bolton. And I hope my string of hopelessly wrong predictions continues.
Sorry guys, can’t see us winning this one.
Wolves 1-2 Bolton
3-1 wolves. our wingers time to shine with the extra freedom afforded by having henry in the middle of the park.
I think it might be a struggle tonight and Bolton players will want to impress the new manager. 1 – 1
Little worried that all Bolton’s players will up their game to impress their new boss, who of course was in charge of the team who beat us in our last game at home. Nasty coincidence that.
But i’ll go for a win, 2-1 Wolves.
Wolves 2 – Bolton 3
Time to punish Mark Davies for diving in our area last season.
Wolves 1 Notlob 0
Bolton are one of my most disliked teams, so I hope we pump ’em.
However, I’m going for a 1-1 draw.
And mine, every time I think about BW I automatically remember SA and McGinly. It still irritates now even after this length of time.
Yeah that twat shoulda been sent off! Who can get over that headbutt. Sure bully never will.
Am going for a 1-1 draw tho hope we win 2-0 !
SITTING HERE IN HOLLAND WITH A BIG BAG OF SMOKEABLE PROZAK ANTICIPATING A GOOD WIN 3-1 TO ME BABBIES !
I was going to go for 1-1 but it seems that is favourable. So I’m going to gamble and say 2-1 to us
I’m a bit wary of the Freedman factor, players will want to impress. But I still think we’ll do it. Wolves 3-1 Bolton
My judgement is probably blurred so much is the dislike I have for those other wanderers. To the Wolves 3-0.
Here’s hoping we can bounce back. 1-0 to the Wolves.
I reckon 1-0 to Wolves. Clean sheet now Henry’s back.
Buggar, Dam Mark Davies.
Awaiting reports but did the subs make sense seems we took our foot of it to defend a lead and we aint good at that.
Oh well, another 2 points wasted. A bit of a rearguard 2nd half performance with the inevitable loss of shape, style and eventually conceding too much territory too often to such an extent that it was only a matter of time before they scored one or maybe two goals. The midfield do not look fit enough and this will lead to injuries and then without cover disaster beckons.
Where was the prodigal son on his return to the mid-field after a weeks R @ R ??……………….
and worse that blasted MD pops up AGAIN to score against us. That is so annoying and disappointing of WW that they let him rub our noses in it once more. As an ex-player who was often on the wrong end of unwarranted crowd abuse I’ll bet he looks forward to our matches and the delight he shows when getting one over us is blatant and plain to see. What goes around comes around. There’s plenty more like him in the CH.
As ever UTW !!!!
I’ve just read the match report which begins with ………MD booed by the home crowd throughout the entire match whenever he touched the ball…….MD scores in the 90th min to deny WW a win…….What goes around comes around !!!
He is obviously a more determined and focused individual than the terraces actually give him credit for, don’t forget he was E u-19’s captain and regular until he had his disastrous succession of career threatening injuries which he was fortunate enough to recover from. No wonder he enjoys scoring against the fans who booed and ridiculed his attempts to rehabilitate himself with his first club and what a long and lonely path it must have been.
Don’t forget who sold him on when he was considered surplus to requirements.
As ever UTW !!!!
One Mick McCarthy eh Cwmbran?! We could have built a team around Mark Davies, but Mick instead preferred to sell him and sign Nigel Quashie. Couldn’t make it up. And all that after one of the most impressive loan spells at Leicester. He didn’t even want to leave and wanted to fight for a 1st team shirt. Apparently. Either that or he was a ‘bad un / pisshead etc etc’ (yawn).
In any case, our home grown talent looked better than anyone else on the pitch for a team who has taken the piss out of us for too many years.
Noted the dig about Henry. He played well, but we just can’t keep the ball, 2nd half at least.
Another Mick legacy night tonight I’m afraid…too many of his having no idea how to keep the ball. Simply not sustainable. Simply midtable unless we spend in Jan.
Bolton, Davis and John f@@kin mcginlay can all bite my bell end! They won’t stop us goin up this time ! Bring on charlton , no more stupid dropped points! They already could’ve cost us top spot instead of 2nd!
Well said Ben, always liked him when he played for us.but now they pay his wages good luck to him,it was’nt him that we lost 2 points it was us.. we need to strenghthen soon or its mid-table obscurity.
We looked knackered and thats also worrying its happening to many times for me.
Massive improvement needed for charlton come saturday we need to perform for 90 mins not 45…
I’ve always through there was more to this Mark Davies story… I may be wrong but other fans said he went and turned his back on us when we stuck through him through injury etc…
That’s what I heard anyways. I may be wrong.
Think we did try to keep Davies but he chose not to sign a new contract because he felt he wasnt getting a fair chance (constructive dismissal ?) – incredible prediction from KD whats to like ?
I seem to remember Davies being injured for two years, and as soon as he got fit, got greedy and disappeared to the Prem. Nice way to say thanks but that’s Footy these days kightly as just done the same.
In the first half tonight you could see some improvement, but it seems as soon as we get a lead its lets try and defend it we look much better when we chase goals. As for the subs Blake if not scoring is not doing much else, bringing Edwards should have given us more of the ball like at Huddersfield sadly did,nt. Ward was having a poor night so moving Foley over did help but S tearman is just not good enough. I think by the next transfer window a few more of the McCarthy team will be surplus
If we are trying to defend a lead why on earth would anyone bring on Richard Stearman?????
I have been watching Wolves since the late 1950’s and can honestly say that Stearman is the worst Wolves player I have EVER seen. What Mick and Stale see in him God only knows.