Friday is guaranteed to be an historic evening of football.
This will be the first ever meeting between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crawley Town, despite both clubs being in existence since the late 19th century.
Much of this owes to the fact that Crawley have predominantly plied their trade in the amateur leagues for the lion share of their 117 year history.
This is the highest they’ve ever climbed the ladder and with Wolves stumbling down a few rungs, our paths now finally meet.
Crawley
To underestimate Crawley would be foolish, particularly when you take into account their performance last season, which saw them finish 10th in League One, just 6 points shy of the play-offs.
They currently occupy the same position in the table, with a win (3-2 home to Coventry), a draw (3-3 at Tranmere) and a defeat (2-1 home to Rotherham) to their name.
The most notable player on their teamsheet will be former Blues and Walsall full back Mat Sadler who will no doubt relish the occasion.
Manager Richie Barker spoke this week about the challenges of Financial Fair Play after they were recently hit with a transfer embargo that lasted a month. He now hopes to bring in a few loan signings to bolster their threadbare squad.
Crawley have already conceded 11 goals in their four league and cup games to date, so will be keen not to suffer the same fate suffered by Gillingham a fortnight ago.
Wolves
If you can be flying after just two victories, Wolves are flying. Success has given everyone a lift and keeping the momentum going for as long as possible is vitally important. It’s got to be the same team hasn’t it?
There’s a balance to that side that we haven’t had for a long time and I can’t see any reason Kenny Jackett would change it. Even so, it’s nice to think we’ve got Kevin McDonald straining at the leash for a chance and other players like Bjorn Sigurdarson waiting in the wings.
If the transfer window had already closed, I think most of us would feel content to go with what we’ve got until January. But the prospect of losing Doyle and Sako remains and I feel confident both will leave before the month is out. Until they do though, we should have too much for the teams in this division, particularly at home.
The odds
As you might expect, Wolves are red hot favourites for this one at 8/11. You can get 15/4 on Crawley securing an away win. The draw is 13/5.
Kevin Doyle is yet to find the net this season and he’s 5/1 to get the opening goal on Friday. Bakary Sako, looking to make it three in three, is 6/1.
If you dare to dream that Wolves can repeat the 4-0 scoreline they inflicted on Gillingham, odds of 28/1 are available.
It’s all here.
Predictions
An incredible 91 of you thought we’d beat Bristol City last weekend. That must be a Wolves Blog record for the highest number of correct predictions. Well done you optimistic sods.
Of that staggering total, 35 also got the 2-1 scoreline correct for a maximum (another record). I’m not writing them all out (sorry), but well done to everyone.
I was one of the few not to predict a win last weekend so shame on me for a lack of confidence.
No such hesitancy this time. I think we’ll win this one and win it well to go temporarily top of League One.
3-0.
Up The Wolves.
Good call Thomas.
I was thinking 3-0 myself.
After watching the lads on Saturday I think we have the basis of a very good side with Evans and Davis looking like two little terriers in midfield – winning the ball and using it intelligently.
That, and the way we passed the ball about in the first half leads me to think that Crawley will go the same way as City did, but hopefully rather easier.
3-0 to us it is then.
We’re full of confidence and rightly so after our impressive performance down in Brizzle last weekend, Not to sound disrespectful towards Crawley but if we want to get out of this division at the first time of asking we have to beat these sort of sides especially at Molineux.
I do expect us to win the game, I’m going to plump for Wolves 5 – 0 Crawley. If we play anything like the first half against Brizzle though and we can maintain the same sort of intensity there’s no reason why we can’t rattle off what could be over the course of 46 games one of our biggest wins of the season.
im going 3-1 wolves
Fuck it – 4-0 to the Wolves!! I’m feeling happy today!
I’m with you on this one Thomas, 3 – 0 to Wolves.
wolves to win 2-0, Griffiths double..
I’m not going to get too giddy, but will go for a resounding 2-0 win.
Same again at Molineux, Wolves 4-0 Crawley.
I was basking in the predictor 2 points late in the game on Saturday after predicting 1-1 and was overjoyed at picking up nul points. I need to be more positive.
Will be disappointed this week if I don’t get at least 1 point.
So similar to Whitestone Wolf. I too sat on 2 points and predicted a 1-1, and glad I was wrong. This week I am going with a 4-0 to Wolves with Sako, Griffiths and Doyle all featuring on the scoresheet. This is fun predicting wins 🙂
hang on love ill take the white lightening bottle in a second im just popping a messarge on the wolvundrian blogfest …..wolves 5-mr Crowley 1–I never realised I had so many keys on here £?+&%..
Glad to see you shaping up in net rehab goldy my regards to the white lightening Wolves 3 -1.
hangeth on colin my little furry friend ill close oooooone eye so I cam type….rest assured its not like my bottle of whisket that is 10 years old… sleep now…this cardboard aint as cumfy as my bed
Thomas, be positive, we might not be temporarily top if we win. If Leyton Orient and Peterborough were to both loose on Saturday, we could be there for the rest of the season.
I’m gonna have me some of that 28/1.
Wolves 4 Crawley 0.
1-1 for me,too many fans getting carried away by the simplicity of despatching Gillingham who quite frankly were one of the worst teams to visit molineux in a long time
Gillingham should have been one of the worst teams to visit Wolves in a long time.
They are a Division 3 side.
Without being arrogant, even with the youngsters in, we should be looking to see off most of the opposition in this division.
Particularly at home.
we are wolves !!
The worst team at Molineux for the last 2 seasons has been The Wolves!!!
or moxey and morgan..
Crawley have scored 7, conceded 7 in 3 games.
Wolves 3-1 Crawley
3-1 to wolves. Hope griffiths bares his fangs.
dont care by how many we win as long as we win ,must keep this run going,sooner we can get out of this league the better
2-0 Wolves. Comfortable win going away on Friday.
Nice start to the season, feels good to be winning again. I think this will be a scrappy away draw tho. 1-1
4 – 1 Wolves win. I will be watching sky in the hope the prediction comes in as now living full time in Spain. Never ones to thrill the masses on TV though are we.
gives me a warm feeling inside to think were not trendy ..a bit like millwall. there aint no noisier fans in the midlands-or the premier league come to think of it..whereabouts in spain you ended up ?
Wolves are scoring so frequently and Crawley are letting plenty in so I’m going 3-1
3-1 to the wolves
Come on me babies
Wolves 1 crawley 0
I’m going for a 4-1 Wolves victory. Think we’ll have too much firepower.
Wolves 3-1
Sako hatrick!
Wolves 2 Crawley Town 0
Football is football, I’m going for a 2-1 win, much as I’d like another 4-0 the easygames always seem to bite us on the bum
Wolves 3 v 0 Crawley – A resounding win!!!
Even though we are on the telly!!!!
I predicted this match to end 6-0 elsewhere so that’s what I’ll stand by. I’d feel like a hypocrite if I didn’t stick to my guns.
Admittedly, totally carried away:
Wolves 4 -1 Crawley
2-1 Wolves. I just can’t see all this 6-0 business.
coward…you know want to 🙂
I was going with a 2-2 draw but I’m quite happy to go along with the boundless optimism shown above. Goo on 3-0 Wolves it is.
Annihilation, 5-0. To us, of course.
My last two predictions were pretty spot on.
4-0 Gillingham
2-0 City……
This week I think we will win 5-0……
Griffiths hat trick, Sako and Doyle or perhaps Evans to score….
2-0 wolves. will McDonald replace Doyle when he goes.
Great to see all of us riding the wave and long may it continue. However Stearman will probably play so that’s 1 goal against us and |’m expecting them to get another so it’s 4-2 for me.
Crawley eh ? Concede goals but also net a few. With this in mind I expect Wolves to win 3-2.
Alone this weekend – Katherine is off warbling somewhere in South America whilst I have sent Kylie on safari to bring me back a lesser spotted Tasmanian devil or two, to add to my Unicorn and Dodo collections.
Looking forward to a quiet weekend and a rest from them little blue pills.
Peace & Love to all
🙂
Very hard to see us losing this one. After predicting defeats in the last two games I’m starting to believe. Still think we’ll concede though: Wolves 3 – 1 Crawley
Hopefully We can kick on from last week. Crawley will come with a 10 man defence so we’ll need patience as well as craft and guile to break them down. On that basis I am going for Wolves to win 2-0 with Doyler on the scoresheet.
3-0 win to the wanderers. Griffiths hat trick!
Expect lots of goals. 3-3
2-0 Doyle double,
A 5-0 victory to the wolves.
3-1 wolves. Momentum is a valuable thing
I can see Crawley netting a goal but still a resounding 3-1 win for Wolves. UTW
Wolves 2 Crawley 2
Used my skill and judgement (about as much skill as Steve Kindon) for the prediction before seeing all the above forecasts – so too late to change……………
Steve Kindon…
That brings a few memories back.
One of the fastest things ever recorded in a straight line.
But, a bit like me trying to waltz, he found stopping and turning a bit of a problem.
should you really be dancing in high heels doogy woogy..I wonder how the side in the 70s would fare in the prem.
Our team from ’71 to ’75 would beat anyone in the land today, and most of today’s Eurotrash as well!
And our 50’s team would win the world cup, they were that good……………so Doogooder tells me!!!
Any 70’s team, even the best, would get easily beaten by any contemporary Premier or Championship side. Today’s football is more sophisticated, clinical and quick. Watch some clips of 70’s games and you’ll see there’s an awful lot of route one, agricultural stuff going on.
Even skilled players from those days plonked straight into a modern team would struggle, untl they’d been coached and had got to grips with modern tactics.
yeah but great hair kev! rolled down socks shirts hanging out and ploughed pitches…now I get what you say but could a premier league side cut it in the 70s? I reckon the hair and beards would have thrown them ! And doogsters high heels on the terraces…that’s got to hurt!
None of the poncy prima donnas of today would have lasted 5 minutes back then.
One decent tackle and down they would go.
You only have to fart on someone (oops, forgot you are foul mouth sensitive, KP, I meant pass wind from your arse ) and down they go, with an injury to some part of the body not even invented in them days!
Yeah and Lennox Miller would outrun Usain Bolt.
Nonsense, Clive. Just because today’s players feign being fouled does not mean they are physically frail – it’s just a means of gaining an unfair advantage. Today’s “hard men” are more physically imposing, stronger and mentally tougher than any thug from a 70’s Leeds side.
Take this Wolves-Liverpool game from 1973 – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlHDJ8VToiw – just watch the huge upfield wellies most players resort to. It would cut no ice in today’s game. There are a few instances of more thoughtful, controlled play, true and as oldgoldy1877 points the ploughed field that passed for a pitch in those days didn’t help. Nevertheless today’s game is far in advance of that era.
I suppose you’ll appreciate the Larry Lloyd “tackle” on Derek Dougan most of all.
Still congratulations, Clive, on a post containing only 3 objectionable words – only 4.68% of the total number of words you used – how erudite. Keep working on it. We’ll transform you into a professional raconteur yet.
I just deleted the long diatribe I wrote in response to your above comments, Kevin, and thought, Bollocks, you aint worth arguing with.
Funny you say that Clive.
Mr Porter is too smug and certain for me.
But, as you say, not really worth responding too…
Come on you Wolves.
Like to see Jose Mourinho, jumping up and down, after a Mike Bailey crunching tackle, on 30 million Willan!
5-0 tonite!
one huge divot and theyd fall over it sue the groundsman and be out for the season..i bet the leeds side would have chewed em up and spat em out !
Skill wouldn’t be a problem.
They might have to work on their fitness a bit though.
I don’t think Waggy would be allowed a crafty faggy in the boggy before a match any more.
Anyway, it’s not the high heels that cause the problem.
It’s the skin tight, leopard skin and sequinned battle shorts.
They cut the blood supply to the extremities!
not a great picture and especially when im eating doogy ! you would fit in luverly in brighton tho
I have nothing derisory to say about Crawley Town, but the jokes must start flowing once you lot know their kit manager is Marco Quasimodo.
Wolves 5 Them 1
I have a hunch that someone will start cracking jokes clive(right – turn)
3-1 wolves. Pleased with my first correct result and a great wolves win. Here’s the run I predicted, Top by christmas.
Watching Wolves is a bit like watching England, they nearly always cock it up in the end. But hey, surely we cant fail to lose this one…..
Wolves 2 Crawley 0.
UTW!!
Wolves 5 Crawley 1
and what a brilliant obit on Waggy in The Times today!
Wouldn’t know since Murdoch hides it behind a paywall.
Not if you find it on the train and it was a brilliant obituary especially the bit about Waggy taking on managership of the Monkees. We were all day-dream believers once…
yeah but then I saw her face! 🙂
I’m guessing 4-2 wolves win for this one, great report by the way. It would seem from those results even though they’ve let 11 in they certainly know how to score.
No disrespect but if we want promotion this shouldn’t be a test, this should be a stepping stone but anything can happen in football, good luck to the new wolves team, I like the cut of their jib!
Come on me babbies!
Wolves 4-1 Crawley, I reckon.
It’s a waste to have Sigurdarson on the bench, he should be doing his Viking rampaging as a striker, but it just shows what strength we have ( while we still have Sako and Doyle.) We do need a new proper winger – or two if Sako goes.
We’re certainly going to beat little Crawley though -at least 3 nil, so 3-0.
Mightv be worth a look at Boukhari
I agree. Having finally got Boukhari fit why not see how he goes. As far as I remember he showed promise the few times he started.
If we are paying his wages we may as well get something for them.
I was one of the ambitious ones going for a draw last weekend, 100% sure we’ll win this one.
Wolves 3-0 Crawley
I guess there’s only one reason this is on tv but sadly for them I can only see a comfortable 3-1 wolves win.
wolves 6 crawley 0
Feel bad about thinking this but I think Crawley will be a pain in the proverbial and get a draw. It is a good sign that this is illogical!
Wolves 1 Crawley 1
Wolves to win 2-0
3-0 to the Wolves, hoping we can keep up the decent form, COYW!
An exciting 5-2 win for Wolves!
Wolves 3 Crawley 1 and a move up the table
I can see this one being closer than people think, crawley can score goals and with it being televised will want to put on a show. 3-2 Wolves home win.
hmmmm wolves 5-1 town
managed to get off the island yet ? any other wolves fans over there?
Wolves 3 Gatwick 1
Wolves 3 Crawley 0
UTW
With the confidence being high in the team afer 2 wins and the fans behind them at Molyneux I would expect a winning result from this game.
Wolves 3 – Crawley 1
Wolves 5 Crawley Town 0. We look very strong defensively and we have better players. I`ll watch on Sky and enjoy the goal fest.
I’ll go for a 3-1 to us as well!
We`re gonna be too good for `em.
4_0 to Wolves,no bother.
COME ON YOU WOLVES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK momentum and confidence building we’re at home and facing a team with some issues. I think we will win, but not sure about the clean sheet.
2-1 to the Wolves. onwards and upwards
I’am going for a 2-0 win wolves
Kevin Doyle smash and grab in the 70th minute to be the only goal of the game.
1-0 to the Gold & Black please Thomas
UTW
Wolves 3 – 1 Crawley
Think we will hammer them but they could get a late consolation. With the tv spotlight on them and current form I think they will produce a performance. Come on!!
Thanks for the preview Thomas. First time Wolves meet Crawley in a long history… wow! that needs something special, surely?
If E&S are a source we can trust ( although that is doubtful), comments made on E&S by KJ surrounding Doyle and Sako give the impression that there’s nothing imminent in terms of them leaving Wolves. What makes you so confident, after the successful and enjoyable start to the season they are both experiencing that they will move on. Again, if there’s any truth in the comments:
1/ Wolves do not need to sell them (financially)
2/ Wolves do not want to sell them
3/ There’s nothing imminent and all is quiet on their respective transfer
4/ Neither have given any indication of wanting to move on
(and us fans definitely don’t want it them to leave and that SHOULD count for a lot)
If we are to believe all of the above, we’d be forgiven for believing we can keep them at least until January. Wouldn’t you think?
The real question is… how believable are the points made? or is it tactical piece of press to kick start interest from prospect clubs?
Back to the task in hand. Predictions…
Wolves 3-1 Crawley
Griffiths, Doyle, Batth.
UTW
Well, this would my logic in response to your points mate.
1/ Wolves do not need to sell them (financially)
That’s never strictly true with Wolves. They always want to balance the books. We didn’t need to sell Fletcher/Jarvis/Kightly apparently but we did anyway.
2/ Wolves do not want to sell them
Kenny Jackett doesn’t want to sell them, but higher up the food chain where other agendas come into it, I’m sure there are people who would like to get rid of them for financial reasons.
3/ There’s nothing imminent and all is quiet on their respective transfer
Perhaps there’s nothing now, but it will be a tornado next week when the clock is ticking down. Clubs who’ve previously not even shown an interest will suddenly become interested when the actions hots up. 2-3 million is spare change for any Premier League side and they can decide on a whim to make an offer.
4/ Neither have given any indication of wanting to move on
That’s not strictly true is it? Sure, neither are throwing their toys out the pram or slapping in transfer requests, but they’ve both indicated they want out. Sako openly said at the start of the season he was promised a move if Wolves didn’t go up from the Championship last season and he wanted to play in the Prem. He tried to push through the move to Fulham but we priced them out of the move and they looked elsewhere. Doyle has been quieter (not surprising when nobody else will pay him 40K a week) but I’m pretty sure KJ has stated on numerous occasions that he wants to play at a higher level again.
I’m not saying for certain we’ll lose them, but I reckon it’s more likely than not they won’t be here when the window closes. I hope sincerely they are though.
Cheers
Agree with your points Thomas, good arguments.
I suppose I like to believe the positive stuff and completely ignore what I don’t like to hear. I do hope that JM and SM have turned a corner and are placing faith in KJ and that they act for the sake of the club and not the bank balance. If we manage to get to the 2nd September with either or both of Sako and Doyle still on our books, it would be a really positive step in re-building fan confidence in the board.
I can understand selling Fletcher, Jarvis and Kightly (even though we didn’t need to)…the prices we got for them vs we’d get for Sako and Doyle. The fact is, we didn’t even get close to replacing them and with Sako and Doyle, the same applies. For £5m we’re asking for them, we wouldn’t get anywhere near replacing their value to us as a team…. even if the board allowed us to spend £5m on players whilst in League 1.
They both might have given initial indications of playing at a higher level, and of course, we all understand that, but recently I wonder if they’ve mellowed on the idea of the playing for Wolves in League 1.
Anyway, what will be, will be. I won’t be surprised if they go and agree with you that 10 days in a transfer window is a long time and a lot can happen.
Fingers crossed.
I’d just say that it would be daft to sell if we’ve got ambition to move out of this league at the first time of asking.
If we go up then won’t we be looking round to secure players of the quality of Doyle & Sako?
I agree Thomas.
Sako will go to Forest I think.
Not sure about Doyle but someone will put in a bid for him before the transfer deadline.
My heart would like to see them both stay; my head says they will go…
Great website Thomas. Head and shoulders over other fan sites. I’m wary of predicting the Crawley result. We should win by a good 3 goals. If we win 4-0 or 5-0 then we really are turning the corner, no disrespect to Crawley. Doyle and Sako are probably too expensive for the transfer market but I’m happy with that. If they continue their form, by January they will be more saleable and we should have a good few extra points on the board. I don’t think KJ is being coy; if there’s no enquiries for them it’s because everyone knows how much they earn. Will be delighted if they are still here in September but not very surprised.
Thanks mate, very kind of you to say.
Accentuate the positive! Wolves 3 Crawley 1
Albion are soooo shit, that a player, anelka, who has played all over the world, has spent a couple of weeks in sandwell has been forced to retire. He obviously looked around and thought if this is the best he can do, fuck it, He’d rather retire from the game he loves.
On hearing news i had similar thoughts. The yo-yo could soon be on its way down again methinks.
Exactly where is this place anyway even on 192 just came up ‘no results’.
I’m guna have 2 go with the consensus and say 3-0 to wolves
I’ve stuck some money on it so I might as well go with it – Wolves 5-0 Crawley.
4 nil to Wolves that’s my prediction.
Good start by Wolves, really refreshing to have a manager who knows what he wants and knows what he is talking about.
3-1 Wolves for me and I like Doyle to find the net!
There’s no reason why we can’t win by a good few goals tomorrow night,we should be a bit to strong for them me thinks,
I’m going for a 4-0 .
It was good to see in the E&S that KJ Said we don’t have to sell,that would be great, only for one thing the moxey factor,as soon as someone comes sniffing they WILL be gone no matter what KJ say’s.UTW.
Wolves 3 Crawley 1
Wolves 4 – 2 Crawley
Wolves 2-0 Crawley for me please
A nice steady 2-0 win will do me.
Worried that Crawley may park the bus, and we are on TV. An early goal for us and we could win comfortably, but if we are held up/near misses/penalty not given… the frustration and tension will mount. Will “deserve” a bigger win, but predict Wolves 1 – Crawley 0.
Confidence is key.
Wolves 4-2 Crawley
UTW
2-0 victory for the Wanderers of Wolverhampton!
Thommo, I’m linking your blog to Molineux Mix, I hope you don’t mind!
If you do though, let me know.
3 points will do. Hopefully Wolves 4-0 Crawley
Crawley Town?? Unfamiliar territory. If Evans had still been in charge, it would definitely be one of those ‘cup final’ games – like their visit to Old Trafford not so long ago. But we have a bit of momentum, so Wolves to win, 2-0.
Another enjoyable 90 minutes of football at Molineux and another victory to make for a great bank holiday weekend. 3 – 1 to Wolves.
Wolves 3-1 Crawley, I don’t know much about them and I do worry about us being on telly (I hope we don’t freeze) but I am going for a win. With the quality of play that I’ve seen during the periods in games where we’ve been on top this season, I think that we have too much for most teams in this division. We have been very unlucky not to have scored more goals in the last two games, long may it continue as our kids gain more confidence.
Somebody tell me the last time we looked good on TV…
Wolves 2 Crawley 2
Last time I had a feeling to leave my office early during the week and travel the 3+ hours to Molineux was last season against Hull. As we won 1-0 it was a good decision.
I have just come off the phone to the ticket office, as I have that urge again. To expand even further I have a MASSIVE feeling, therefore I will go for a MASSIVE scoreline:
Wolves 6 Crawley 1
UTW/FOWB
Wolves 3 – 1 Crawley
Going forward we have a high tempo and power and I think that will see us alright against a team who concede. Especially at the Mol if we can get the crowd behind us
3-0 wolves, lets hope for a good crowd
What an opportunity we have tonight to keep the momentum going, and get some of the stay away fans back into the fold. Hope we put on a display like the first half at Bristol, in front of Live TV cameras,
Think KJ should keep same starting 11, maybe introduce McDonald a bit earlier for his home debut.
Hope for BIG WIN – going before Wolves 3 Crawley 0
TIOLAIKND
im gonna be stuck in the lake district with no access. my only worry is we are on the tv. I have clear recollection of sitting with my lad and watching us loose to blues and my lad who was only 5 at the time say why are wolves rubbish on the tv dad. I had no answer. still im going to remain positive and go 2-1 wolves.
Can’t see us not winning this one.
2-0 Wolves
2-1 the lads
COME ON ME BABBIES
YES!!!!!!!
3 more points for the lads, first 2 prediction points for Sleach this season, and i even backed it at the bookies, £5 at 7/1
GET IN!!!!!!
Part of me is waiting for that deflating draw (or God forbid…) but there’s no reason we shouldn’t score a few today. 3-1 Wolves.
I don’t wanna jinx anything but…over on the sh*te part of town, is Anelka gone for the year or what? Just hearing about all that today. Wasnt he supposed to replace Lukaku? Gotta say they’re looking weak. Return of the derby in the Cship next season? I want to believe…
We must win this. But not by staggering numbers. too much nerves. Prediction: Wolves win 1-0
3 – 1
And I can’t be arsed to try and type anything on this phone lol!
As this will take us top, I see a nervous 2-1
Very nervous at the end…if or should I say when Doyle and Sako go we will have a fight on our hands. McDonald looked good off the bench…his experience is going to be vital…great showing from our kids, but at times you could see that’s what they are…kids, learning. Still a win is a win…points in te bag, now sit back and enjoy the weekend!
gotta go for another solid win i think it will be 3-1 this time and the run to continue. i am dubious however as we have been camera shy for years but think jacketts boys are doing enough especially with the few mature heads that are in there. ive also got a sneaky feeling that doyle n sako are staying i reckon he has said to um give me just a year n we’ll be out of here!