Certain games just feel seminal in the context of a season.
Saturday was such an occasion. After two disappointing results, confidence had been sapped, progress had been interrupted and chips had been firmly thrown down.
Trust Kenny Jackett then to raise the stakes even higher with a left-field team selection that ultimately proved inspired.
Such was the ease that Wolves cantered home to victory in the second half, the final whistle was greeted by nothing more than a muted cheer from the away end.
But the win was significant, arguably our most important of the season, ensuring a wobble didn’t evolve into a fall at the start of the home stretch. Hopefully now, we can power on through.
Colchester
Only bottom club Notts County (2) have fewer away wins than Colchester this season. The U’s have only managed three so far.
But their respective goals for and against columns suggest most of their games are settled by the odd goal.
A late fightback at the weekend saw them earn a 2-2 draw at home to Bristol City, which helped keep clear daylight between themselves and the relegation zone.
Forward Freddie Sears returned from injury on Saturday to inspire the late rally and along with top scorer Jabo Ibehre, he represents their most potent attacking outlet.
Wolves
So what do you do now then Kenny? Stick with the team that won so impressively at Bramall Lane or stick with the team that won nine on the bounce?
Team 9 will always get my vote, but it was pleasing to see the system work so effectively with different players in key positions.
Perhaps we’ll see another incarnation tomorrow with the likes of Jacobs, Henry and (dare I even suggest it?) McDonald rested in favour of Sako, Dicko and Price?
Our ability to rotate effectively could yet prove the decisive factor in the race for promotion. I’m not sure Orient or Brentford have the same strength in depth.
The odds
Wolves are red hot favourites for the win at 1/3. The draw is 17/4, with Colchester a distant 11/1.
Dave Edwards has a decent goals to games ratio and he’s 11/1 to get the opener tomorrow. James Henry, another free-scoring midfielder, is 8/1.
Predictions
Time pressure means I haven’t totted up the scores from the weekend. Rest assured it will be business as usual by Friday.
Has to be a Wolves win tomorrow.
Shrewsbury showed that no match is a foregone conclusion, irrespective of form or quality but everything suggests a home win is the logical outcome for this one.
I’ll go for an ambitious 3-0.
Up The Wolves.
I think we’ll get the job done tomorrow. 2-0 win. It is exactly the sort of result that will hopefully help tot up a points total that’ll take us back into the Championship.
Hopefully 3-0 by half time this is a banker in theory ..we can’t assume like we did against Shrewsbury ..so it’s a first half game for me..
4-0 Wolves ..Clarke on the bench..
Another Wolves 4- Opposition 0 prediction from me.
Yet to be right but only a question of time.
Be interesting to see what team Full Metal Jackett puts out tomorrow….
3 nil , 5 more wins should be plenty
After the result against Sheffield United, In which i admittedly though might be another potential banana skin ( All though all thoughts of which were kept to myself), I sense a second consecutive win is on the horizon, KJ has shown time and time again this season that he knows how to get the best out of the players he has at his disposal, And may I say perhaps even more so than MM did during his reign.
I expect us to put on a dominant performance against a side than on paper shouldn’t pose us much of a threat, That said as others have suggested we thought the same when Shrewsbury came to town the weekend before last. Even so I don’t see us losing this one and I’ll plump for Wolves 3-0 Colchester, Although if we can hit that sort of scoreline before half time we could be in for a cricket score fingers crossed !
With Houston Lobo’s baby’s head well and truly wetted with copious amounts of Boddingtons at the aptly named bar, House of Beers, it will be bizzo as usual tomorra.
Wufflers 5 Them 1.
Only nine games to get my prediction right at least once, so all you players whom are reading this blog, take note, ClivefromHouston expects every player to do his duty, and get me two points in the prediction league!
There is a rumour going round that ClivefromHouston has a ticket for the Carlisle game, last of the season, and will be heading transatlantic wards at the end of April, for his first Molineux visit since that wonderful day in 2009 when we beat QPR to clinch promotion.
Watch this space for details.
I’ve heard that rumour too. …Scary .. hats off to you that you will see another promotion!!!!
Going to the Carlisle match eh?
I expect you will be hiring a big hospitality box.
It wouldn’t really be worth coming all that way for anything less would it?
Let us all know which one it is and we’ll see you there.
The Boddys are on you!
All bodes well for a good result tonight, fresh impetus ,manager getting the best from his troops again (genius) fans up for it as always and Brentford facing a spanking at Rotherham.
So 4-0 for me and KJ will be fine
Wolves 2 Colchester 0
Great result on Saturday, and need to consolidate that with a win tonight.
Wolves 2 – Colchester 0
Wolves 2-0 Colchester.
It’s these easy looking games that always seem to catch us off guard.
Wolves 0-0 Colchester
I’ll go for a 3-0 for Wolves. I reckon Edwards will be in the starting line up instead of Price. Dicko and Sako back in too. And they will all score the goals.
Back to the tried and tested ‘first team’ for me . I expect it to be a little bit like the Shrewsbury game – lots of possession , lots of shots on goal but a frustrating night . However this week will have a different outcome …
Wolves 1 colchester 0
Should be a solid and confident 2-0 win. I reckon we will be ‘up’ on Good Friday after the Rotherham game.
Wolves 4 Colchester 1
UTW/FOWB
I think Colchester are in for a hiding.
5-0 to Wolves.
I think this must be the match for us to finally score freely. I’ll agree with Erick above and say
Wolves 5 Colchester 0. I feel sure Sako will be back, but whatever Mr Jackett decides
I’ll be there and look forward to watching our future Championship team put on a stunning display
Exciting times eh .. like you say Thomas nothing is a foregone conclusion .. we’ll have to apply ourselves just as diligently though.
Personally I’m expecting the same start team as at Bramall Lane, I think the U’s have got some big lads at the back and that might suit Clarke better. That would leave our explosive players Sako, Dicko to wreak havoc amongst tiring legs of Colchester in the 2nd half.
Wolves 3 v 1 Colchester.
Us 2 them 0 please
Come on me babbies
Wolves 3 – 0 Colchester. The march to the title continues.
Strange things happen in football but it’s difficult to go with anything except a decent win – I’ll plump for
Wolves 4 Colchester 1
As other posters have said, we need to consolidate our performance at Bramall Lane with another win to keep up the pressure on Brentford. 4-0 to Wolves should do it. And I don’t think it matters which team KJ puts out against Colchester; I sensed on Saturday a real grit and determination amongst the lads to get the job done, regardless of who is selected. They all played for each other to secure the win.
Fingers crossed that Rotherham play their part in nicking some points off our rivals tonight. COYW
I am confident that we will have learnt from the Shrewsbury game how to negotiate our way around a parked bus.
3-0 to the men in old gold.
Aye-Aye-Aye Aye
Ikeme is better than Yashin
Dicko is better than Eusebio
And Colchester’s in for a thrashin’!
The older ones amongst us might well have sung this, as I did, substituting the words Parkes and Dougan.
For the younger ones – it was a long time ago.
Just humour us Eh?.
Ee, Ay, Ad – I – O. We’re going to win the league!
Wolves 3 Colchester 0
Not wanting to argue or anything, but I remember the words being
“Our Ernie is better than Eusebio”
And I will buy a Boddingtons for all my fans to share.
I’m a fan Clive .. you might be sitting next to me and Mrs Twixfix .. she’ll have a glass of wine!!
Won the reverse fixture 3-0 earlier this season with, arguably, a weaker strike force.
Going for a big 4-0 win
Come on me babbies
Hoping that we don’t slip up with this one, on paper Brentford have a tougher match than us so lets hope that we can increase the gap a bit and come out on top.
Wolves 2 – 0 Colchester.
Come on you Wolves.
Wolves 4 Colchester 0 A long midweek trip with bad weather and probably not much self belief. Unless they play out of their skins I cant see anything other than a wolves win
I’m going for a 5 – 0 score line to the Wolves.
We are going to rfeally stuff someone, it is just a matter of time and that time could be nigh.
A wet night at Molineux and another great win.
Interesting team selection dilemma. We learnt on Saturday to trust KJ to get it right.
Can’t see us conceding, so another comfortable victory. Mind you, I said that before Shrewsbury & Crawley!
Wolves 4 Colchester 0
Think they might nick one but can’t see any further than a win for Wolves: Wolves 3 – 1 Colchester
Wolves 2 – 0 win!
Come on lads 1-0 wolves win would do me fine!
WANDERERS 6-0 colchester City, and yes i am the batman
Think Cochester will surprise us with a couple of quick fire goals. Lucky we have plenty in the tank. Back to the barracks they go. Wolves 3 – Colchester 2
To quote a well used saying in football there are no easy games. Like Shrewsbury this will be the highlight of there season and like Shrewsbury I expect them to play 19th century football to quote another football saying ( not as well used as the previous one granted) park a blue and white stripped bus in front of there goal.
But here I think is the difference the players were tied and lethargic having been on a 9 match winning streak this time we’ve got that out of our system, we’re playing Colchester off the back of a terrific result we look rejuvenated fresh legs have been brought in and fitted in seamlessly and confidence is flowing again.
So I expect they will be hard to break down for the first 30 may be 45 minutes but I think the energy and commitment of this team or should I say squad will see us through to a 2.0 win in the end.
COME…………YOU …………..WOLVES……………
I’m with Thomas – a 3-0 win to the mighty Wanderers.
I’m in attendance tonight, really looking forward to it.
Having read Kevin McDonalds comments earlier I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a well earned rest tonight. This squad is good enough and strong enough to do the job. A confident 3-0 for me.
I`m leaving Nottingham when I`ve posted my prediction, so 4-0 and a happy drive home down the A38 tonight.
2-0 to WWFC…..
Wolves 3 – 0 Colchester
Colchester will be up for this one, I just hope it doesn’t turn into another Shrewsbury game. . Wolves to win 1-0.
I think it s a night for Leon Clarke to settle in with a couple of goals in front of the home crowd . Wolves to win 3v0
As others have commented, it will be interesting to see the team selection this evening.
It is nice for King Kenny to have such a dilemma though.
Can’t see anything other than a win whoever plays.
Wolves 4, Colchester 0
Colchester will undoubtedly try to do a Shrewsbury tonight and mass the ranks in front of goal, but having overcome an in form Sheffield I think confidence is restored and Wolves will win easily. If all goes well in the first half hour I imagine the final result will be 5-0.
Wolves 3:0 Colchester
3 – 0 and back to easily winning.!!
A couple of changes tonight and a hopefully straight forward victory
Wolves 2-0 Colchester
I keep saying its about time we stuffed someone and this should be the one me thinks?.
So on that basis I’m going for a nice 5-0.UTW.
2-0 to the Wolves
UTW
Wolves 3 Colchester 0
UTW!
Wolves 4 Colchester 0
WOLVES: Ikeme, Ricketts, Batth, Stearman, Golbourne, McDonald, Evans, Henry, Edwards, Jacobs, Clarke. SUBS: McCarey, Ebanks-Landell, Elokobi, Price, Sako, Dicko, McAlinden.
I am going for Wolves 3-1 Colchester.
Wolves 3 Colchester 0
I think that win at SU will inspire this team to really go for it.
Wolves 4 Colchester Utd 0
Probably a bit more rotation, some conservation of energy and a ‘just enough’ 2-0 win. Sounds a bit arrogant, so hopefully not resulting in a bite on the bum! Let’s say the conservation of energy won’t be intentional or disrespectful…….just how it might turn out!!
Should be 3 points.
wolves 2-0 Colchester
I’m going 2 nil Wolves…
Brentford stuffed,
4 points of daylight,
The obese female is gargling and clearing her throat……………………….
And Orient drop more points too – so good day all round for the old gold n black!
hmmmm im gonna say 4-2 to us, and sako to get a hattrick!