A huge challenge awaits Wolverhampton Wanderers this afternoon as they face the opportunity to move clear of the Premiership relegation zone. In their way will be Leeds United who, themselves are looking to climb out of the bottom three.
Wolves fans will clearly remember the evening exactly one year ago today when Leeds last came to town in the Premier League. They were two goals down at half time and had suffered a number of injuries. In the second half Raul Jimenez was unjustly sent off, and United capitalised scoring three goals to win the game!! A repetition cannot be allowed to happen today!!
Coach Julen Lopetegui has declared that Pablo Serabia and Matheus Cunha have recovered from injuries, but Hee Chan Hwang has sustained another unidentified injury and will not be available, neither will Hugo Bueno. No word on Boubaka Traore, who of course scored the winner last time United came to town in this season's Carabao Cup. Whilst Diego Costa's injury was seemingly not as bad as at first thought, it's not clear whether he is fit to return to duty. It will be interesting to see which line-up JL starts with, and whether he will be tempted to start with a back three considering he has changed to that line-up after half time in the last few games. Matheus Nunes has been largely ineffective of late, and sat out the first half at Newcastle so it will remain to be seen whether he is restored to the starting Xl.
For their part Leeds will be without their influential American midfielder Tyler Adams, who some have described as being their best player this season. However they have plenty more regaining full fitness and showing a potential threat like Bamford, Gnonto and Rodrigo. New manager Javi Gracia will be keen to get his first away win after managing a 2 -2 draw at home to Brighton last week. The game at Elland Road was a close run one on the first day of the season, with Daniel Podence scoring an early lead for Wolves before Ridrigo's goal levelled it. Rayan Ait-Nouri was unlucky to put through his own net in the second half to give United the points when a draw would have been more representative of the game.
Looking at today's games, and the challenges faced by the clubs lying below them in the League, this is a marvellous opporunity for Wolves to state their case and move out of harm's way with three points:
Managerless Crystal Palace are on the same points as Wolves and must travel to leaders Arsenal tomorrow.
Bourneouth are away at Villa
Leicester are away at Brentford
Southampton are at home to Spurs
Everton are away at Chelsea.
West Ham's game at Man City is postponed because of City's FA Cup game with Burnley.
Clearly though, this is a game Wolves cannot afford to lose
Todays' game will kick off at 3pm and will not be televised. Our referee will be the relative newcomer Michael Salisbury with the more experienced David Coote on VAR duty
Subject to a good stream this board will endeavour to provide regular updates on the progress of the game. Members and visitors to the board are encouraged to post their own observations and join in the conversation.
Both teams have stared on the front foot in the pouring rain. Gnonto givenfar too much room on the left wing and puts a great ball in for Harrison to convert easily
Wolves 0 Utd 1
Pod put through by Semedo but eventually the flag goes up he’s clearly offside. Great ball from Max to free up Jonny on the left. Ayling tugs his shirt on the edge of the area & gets a yellow card. Free kick crossed by Neto to Ruben but his shot is blocked
Crazy how the ball won’t go in for Wolvesafter a great ball in by Max. Meslier blocks Semedo’s shot well. Wolves dominating at the moment but we need a goal
Max shows real ball skills making his way into their area but is surrounded & loses it. Leeds break down our right again & get a corner off Dawson. McKennie connects on the edge of the area& Dawson blocks for another corner. Dawson goes in on Harrison accidentally landing on his ankle & gets a yellow card
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:03:18:15:40:16 by Cheshire wolf.
Free kick ten yds outside our area put high & wide. Bamford goes down looking to get Dawson sent off but a free kick only given, which Bamford puts high over the bar
Firepower cleans out Lemina and gets a yellow card. Scuffle in the middle after McKennie tries more time wasting & gets a yellow card. Half time whistle goes as Wolves are attacking. Wolves have dominated once again but are losing to a well taken Leeds goal. Wolves should probably have had a penalty for a foul on Semedo but once again nothing given. It will be interesting to see if JLo does his usual substitutions early in the second half.
Wolves 0 Leeds 1
Good to see, at least, we are playing okay but my god, we’re behind again. And to see we possibly have had another big decision go against is bloody galling.
Free kick to Utd put out for a corner by Jonny which goes right across for unmarked Ayling to head in from low down. He was lost by Joao Gomes
Wolves 0 Utd 2
Dreadful defending by Jonny & Max allow Kristensson to score with his first touch of the ball.
Wolves 0 Utd 3 - unbelievable!!
Hang on Jonny has just scored from distance after Meslier came out and cleared the ball with his head
Wolves 1 Utd 3
Ruben replaced by Joao M - probably to avoid a yellow card for him - after another excellent performance. Cunha brings out a good save for another corner. All Wolves at the moment
Still need another goal to get a point but we only have ten men. Good work by Adama but wasted by Cunha. Adama puts another cross over on to Raul’s head but he can’t get it over Meslier.
Some ridiculous refereeing decisions again today, denying us a penalty first half and now this nonsense at the end, after Traore had his shirt tugged leading up to their 4th goal. Other than that an exciting game to watch, but once again Wolves had most of the possession but cannot convert it into goals, so we remain one of the nine teams at risk of relegation, and considering most of the teams below us have a game in hand over us we will be in a real fight to survive!
Wolves 2 Leeds 4
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2023:03:18:17:36:19 by Cheshire wolf.
What the hell has happened to this club since nuno left?
We are a shambles and sleepwalking back to the championship!
Really poor result and don't get me started on the defending.
Our lot need to wakeup quick or it's the trap door!
Dreadful result. We are currently in a perilous position and if one or two of the other teams put together a couple of good results we will find ourselves in real trouble again.
On the penalty decision. Whilst I’ve seen them given, it was not an absolute clear cut penalty against Semedo for me. Personally I’m not sure. Maybe I need watch it a few more times? Not like the terrible and very obvious error which cost us v Toon last week.
I do think Traore was pulled back for their 4th but if he hadn’t have stopped he could have intercepted ….. bloody play to the whistle!!
Excellent Jonny goal on the ultimate mixed bag of a day for him. Definite red card.
Forest is now massive …… but there again, so was today. Lines fluffed. It’s the Wolves way, aye it?
I'm currently at a Vienna train station waiting for a connection to Munich so haven't witnessed the latest shambles. JL isnt the messiah, tactics haven't improved as they rarely do under any manager. Meritocracy in management is viewed on results derived from budgets not some magic formation.If one manager was tactically superior to another, you wouldn't have over 95% of all managers fired at some point. The idea that JL has transformed us tactically is laughable, that said there should still be enough quality wise in terms of players to avoid the drop. This has nothing to do with any manager or " work on the training ground" ( bar basic fitness)
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