We’ve already extracted so much out of the FA Cup this season.
Winning at the Hawthorns under difficult circumstances, showing the resilience to come back three times against Brentford and finally seeing off Brighton with the squad stretched to breaking point.
Nothing has been easy but the team, as they’ve done so often in the league, have come together and found a way forward.
It’ll need to be the same again tomorrow with even more players out and a thoroughly decent Coventry team making the short trip to Molineux with a trip to Wembley up for grabs.
I’m not sure what to expect but it’s been a season of largely pleasant surprises, so I’m optimistic of another good outcome.
Coventry
I always keep half an eye on the Championship but have dialled into Coventry’s form in recent weeks and sadly for us they’re in the groove.
Despite losing to Albion a few weeks back, they’ve been upwardly mobile in the table and saw off Watford last weekend to move within a point of the play-offs with a healthy goal difference to lean on if the margins remain tight.
They lost the play-off final to Luton on penalties last year and sold a couple of key players in the summer, so it’s a credit to Mark Robins that they’re still right there pushing for promotion again, as well as maintaining this superb cup run.
Oxford, Sheffield Wednesday and Maidstone is a scandalously favourable sequence to a quarter-final and they probably couldn’t believe their luck again considering the other names still in the competition.
In Haji Wright – who I was surprised to learn cost them a club record £7.6m – and on loan Everton striker Ellis Simms, they carry a real threat going forward. Those two alone have managed 26 goals between them and plenty of others chip in too.
A lot of their play goes through Kasey Palmer, who came through at Chelsea and is doing good things for them in a deeper lying attacking role.
Given everything they’ve gone through as a club over the last decade or so and the nonsense with their stadium, I don’t begrudge them their success. I just hope it’s not at our expense tomorrow.
Wolves
What does Gary have in mind? I haven’t heard anything from the press conference yet but am assuming Neto and Bellegarde are both ruled out. Cunha is ‘back on the grass’ but I’d be surprised if that meant he was playing tomorrow.
The above is what we’re left with and as we saw in the second half against Fulham, there’s plenty of good football in that team.
If Dawson is fit I’d put him in and that’s no slight against Santi Bueno, who did well last weekend. But I think we want Dawson’s leadership and presence to help us through such a big game.
If Gary wanted to be more adventurous, he could drop one of the centre-halves, push Ait-Nouri forward and bring either Hugo Bueno or Doherty in at full-back. But I think he’s more likely to go with the more familiar shape and put his faith in the tried and tested.
Predictions
No Prediction League points are up for grabs in the cup, but feel free to make your best guess in the comment section.
I’m expecting fireworks tomorrow. Lots at stake and a hot atmosphere with Coventry packing out the double away end. The ideal scenario would be a robust defensive performance that limits them to next to nothing with us controlling possession and ultimately finding a way through. Is that wishful thinking?
I fear it being similar to Sheffield Utd and if it is like that, I’m not sure their attackers will be as charitable and it could be a long old afternoon.
But however it does unfold, I’m certainly not going to back against this Wolves team so will go for a tight 2-1 to the old gold. Take us to Wembley lads.
Up The Wolves!
Excellent write up Thomas. Thank you.
It’s going to be tight.
There’s no doubt both teams will be 100% up for this. The prize is huge.
There’s no need to rest anyone with a 2 week break.
But who will be our hero?
I fancy us to sneak it and I would agree 2-1 is a good bet.
UTW
Dismiss Coventry at your peril. The best side in the Championship going forward.
Level after 90 minutes
It’s going to be a tight and tough affair tomorrow ..
The SOLD OUT signs have been hoisted long ago and it’s getting my anxiety levels rising .. oh for it to be hormones ..
My biggest concern will be if the game goes beyond 90 minutes… with the possibility of penalties after ET. … and the question is .. who’ll be left on the pitch by then .. in our case .. some very young and inexperienced lads/apprentices.
I just hope and pray we get the job done within the 90 mins ..
I can’t see the big guns that scored for us at WBA on the pitch so any goals will need to be crafted and taken efficiently.. as will the defending..
A very tight game .. let hope we get our Wembley dream to look forward to ..
Wolves 1-0 Coventry
Well said Thomas.
Coventry are a good Championship side in very good form.
A banana skin just waiting to be trodden on.
But given our resilience under Gary O’Neil, and if we start with your suggested line up (which I’m in total agreement with), and the possibility of ten minutes from Cunha at the end, I think we can leapfrog the plantain epidermis and land smack dab in Wembley Stadium.
Come on you Wolves!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On the front foot from the off GON Fraser and Doyle this is your time
Without question… the most important potential scorer is Ait Nouri if he is allowed forward what a ball player he is and will shine against this lot..
I have memories of playing Coventry, the dangerous West End terrace Willy Carr and the Doog and Richards we seem to of done the business then, I hope we can maintain the same status quo even when we have players out..
Wembly here we come..
3-1
Could be a very tight affair. Thinking it could go all the way to penalties and will be banking on Sa to be the hero. UTW
This has got WIN written in letters bigger than Mander house all over it. Plus everyone I’ve spoken to has a “Save the date” issued for the Wembley semi final.
What could possibly go wrong!
Early alarm call Already set
Shirt hat and Wolves dressing gown plus a mimosa will
Get me ready for 5.15am kick off
It’s Coventry lads
OODCL
Very nervous already but I’m hoping that means it will be like Wolves v Sheffield United at Cardiff in the playoff final; a thoroughly enjoyable spectacle. For us seniors Coventry are the old enemy from 1967. (The away match that gave them the Div 2 Championship and left us as runners up was my first away match. Don Everall coaches.)
So a fast start and a couple of Wolves goals please and pump up the volume. I’m booked on a later train back to London in case of extra time and penalties (hoping that means I’ll just have to hang around rather than ET etc.). I won’t make the semifinal, if we get there, as much-needed surgery is scheduled for 19 April (sod’s law).
I’m positive GON will treat Coventry with respect and will have prepared the team well. Wolves win 3-0.
Don everall coaches. That brought back memories. Hope the op goes well.
Good luck for the surgery mate.
Don’t worry about the semi final, we’ll give the boys a cheer from you.
Definitely a potential banana skin but I trust that O’Neil is very aware of this and of the threat that an in-form championship side can present. He’ll have done his homework no doubt. Having said that I went to the Ipswich match and witnessed a number of players seemingly taking it for granted that we were going to win (particularly at 2-0) resulting in some poor performances. I’m a big fan of Matt Doherty but his statement that ‘without disrespecting anybody, we’re pretty confident’ has me a bit worried. The only danger I feel is that Wolves players underestimate the opposition, even subconsciously. I’d hate to hear the pundits stating after the game that Coventry simply wanted it more. We should win this by any measure but it might be close.
Big game!
The result will depend on the following:
1. Which Wolves team turns up
2. The effect of our injuries
3. Luck , good or bad.
4. The ref
5. VAR
6. Talent of each team.
7. Etc, etc, etc.
I am sure there are a few more variables!
On paper, we should win but nothing is ever guaranteed. The home crowd should make the difference but we are The Wolves, and we never make things easy!
Sorry, just nerves before a game we should win!
We better win or I will sulking all day!
Ok, we should win! Let us leave it at that!
I really enjoy G O N s press conference s
The blokes a fucking gem
We’ve had no var calamities of late
Just saying
With Graham Scott on VAR .. we don’t want any .. he’s bad enough with a whistle to his mouth ..
Greetings,
We’re at home with Gary’s army and wonderful Wembley awaits. Not bothered how we do it, but Gazzbo will want this feather for his cap, which is beginning to resemble a Sioux Chieftains head dress.
Thanks for the background on the Sky Blues, Thomas, a useful outfit with Ellis Simms banging them in recently.
Our defence has been firm of late so should keep them quiet, Sa world class against Fulham.
Would make a great interlude in an unexpectedly reasonable season. Keep the faith,
1 lv & COYW
Coventry are skirting with the play offs. If you then look at the standard of the 3 promoted clubs from last season. Not one of them is looking like they will get 30 points in the Premier league this season. Wolves are on course for 50 odd points. We should have enough to beat Coventry. Blimey. We beat resurgent Fulham with a makeshift forward line. Having said all that I am worried the ghost of Jimmy Hills chin could be a factor. Jose Sa may be in erratic mode and believe the spectre of a large chin standing in front of him at a corner could be his long lost great uncle Mendes. This may reduce Sa to tears and result in an unfortunate goal which goes in off Jimmy Hills ghostly chin. Luckily for Wolves we get 3 and Next Door Neighbour’s cat performs a sceance in Jose Sa’s penalty area thus sending the chin back through the portal to Coventry. So am effective early afternoon at the palace in silencing that bloomin Coventry song which we will be afflicted with for hours on end tomorrow. “All stick together. We will never lose” Yeah well you will tomorrow so stick your song and fuckin Jimmy Hill up your posterior. Sideways. WWFC 3 Sky Blues 1.
I shall be excited and nervous in equal measures at kick off time tomorrow.
Write off the sky blues at our peril.
They will be really up for this and are a strong outfit, bubbling under, so will be a dangerous adversary.
I don’t want to predict the outcome of this, so I’ll just say…
COME ON YOU WOLVES!!!!
Really nervous about tomorrow. Having come this far, just want it to continue.a game we should win if all players were fit but given our injuries and past results against Ipswich, Sheffield, Huddersfield ….
Also var is available for this game so anything could happen.
Still waiting for a var howler to be given our way!
Time is running out too for all the var decisions to even themselves out over the season so how about one tomorrow, one in the semi final and one in the final!
Am I asking too much?
Coventry are going well but so were Fulham!
Chelsea had apparently turned a corner too before we played them and man city were unbeaten when they arrived at our pad so ,,, a comfortable 2-0 for the boys
Thanks to var in advance
Utmw
Can’t foresee too many problems. Just a nice day out in the sun.
CCFC are only team in the English football that I could stomach losing to….just.
And if we do, I would want them to go on my on and win it, however unlikely.
Sadly for them, even as potential giant killers, by dint of playing Wolves, they will get the bare minimum of media coverage up to the final whistle, at least.
Poor George, he was just one match away then from getting the tie of which he dreamt.