The Soccer Blog: Geordies next in Wolves survival battle

Friday, 1 April 2011

Geordies next in Wolves survival battle

By: DJ | April 1st, 2011
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9734031 Wolves will make the long trip to Newcastle on Saturday for yet another vital game in the closest survival battle in Premier League history. Wolves go into the final two months still in a relegation position but only one point off 13th and there are going to be plenty of changes to league positions over the coming weeks. And a win on Saturday would take them to within one point of their hosts and leave the geordies looking nervously over their shoulders.

And Newcastle have not been in flying form in recent weeks. Their away win at Birmingham in February was their only success since the departure of Andy Carroll in the January transfer window and the last 9 games they have got that one win, 5 draws and three defeats. Leon Best has done a half decent job as a striker since Carroll left but he is injured now and so its the likes of Ameobi and Lovenkrands that are likely to be up front. And the talented Tiote is out through suspension to weaken the midfield. Jose Enrique has a hamstring problem and will have a late fitness test. So there can hardly be a huge confidence from the big Toon following that they can get three points this weekend.

Wolves look certain to field the team that won at Villa two weeks ago with the exception of Ebanks Blake coming in for the injured Doyle. All eyes will be on SEB to try to fill the void and there is no doubting that he is as good and probably a better finisher than Doyle but can he produce the all round link up and hold up play that Doyle does so well. In truth he needs to focus on playing the game his way and not try to be a Doyle clone. It will be interesting to see if O’Hara plays a withdrawn role as he has in away games so far, or is given licence to support SEB by getting forward as he does in home games.

The biggest positive for Wolves this weekend is that they will probably have the strongest bench they have had all season. As well as defender Craddock and keeper Hahnemann, Wolves will have Kightly, Hunt, Guedioura, Mancienne and Jones to choose from as midfield back up while Fletcher will be ready to take on the front role from SEB and Stephen Ward as usual is a potential sub for anyone in a Wolves shirt.

Whatever Wolves do tomorrow they are unlikely to lose much ground on their survival competitors and might of course make a big gain. West Ham face Man Utd, Birmingham have a tricky home game against Bolton, Albion are at home to Liverpool, Wigan at home to Spurs, and relegation bankers Blackburn go to Arsenal. Then on Sunday Blackpool visit Fulham. Difficult to see many wins from that lot for Wolves’ rivals.

All the way back to the end of November Wolves form has been good enough to stay up. They don’t need to improve to stay up they just need to maintain current form. A defeat on Saturday will not be the end of the world with two home games to follow, but a win would be a massive step towards another season in the top flight.

Category: Team News

Tags: Team News
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Friday, 1 April 2011

Geordies next in Wolves survival battle

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