Sitting bottom of the table with six matches left to play, Wolves have the luxury of a game in hand over the five teams directly above them. Down in the drop zone, matters are so tight that just three points separate the bottom five and a win for Mick McCarthy’s troops in their extra upcoming fixture would see them leap out the relegation slots.
With their remaining schedule being, arguably, the most favourable of all the teams battling for survival, it’s all to play for, then, as Big Mick’s side look to bounce back from two comprehensive league defeats and rack up the points in their bid for safety.
The Prospects
Wolves start their double gameweek by playing host to Fulham and, having taken twenty-four of their thirty-two points at home, their Molineux form will be critical more than ever in the run-in. Wins over the likes of Man United, Chelsea and Man City have illustrated McCarthy’s side are capable of turning over the biggest and best in front of their own supporters. The Cottagers away form will give Big Mick plenty hope; Fulham have a mere three points from their last seven away games, scoring just five times and failing to chalk up a clean sheet.
The second game of their double sees Wolves travel to the Britannia to face a Stoke side undoubtedly buoyed by their recent progress to the FA Cup Final. This will be Tony Pulis’ side’s first game in front of their own fans since booking their place at Wembley against Man City and they will be determined to put on a show. Stoke’s home form in 2011 should give McCarthy something to worry about, though; their six games have brought four wins and two draws, saw them average over two goals per game and keep three clean sheets. By no means will this be easy.
The Likely Lads
In the three home games prior to the 3-0 home loss to Everton, Wolves had scored nine goals, which made the defeat -despite the Toffees’ great recent form- all the more surprising. With the Wolves defence looking dubious of late, it seems best to stick to the talents of their midfield creators for points returns.
A look at the five games before the Everton defeat shows plenty of promise for both Matt Jarvis and Jamie O’Hara. Jarvis bagged two goals, two assists and three Bonus Points and as the taker of the vast majority of Wolves’ corners, has set-piece duties as a handy extra. O’Hara is loved by the Bonus Point Judges, and grabbed eight Bonus Points over those five games, as well as scoring twice. His free-kick duties only strengthen the on-loan Spurs man’s case.
Up front, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has shown a consistency previously lacking in his top-flight career and with three goals in his last five games looks the likeliest of Wolves front men to get amongst the goals, in the absence of Kevin Doyle.
Cheeky Punts
His selection is by no means a guarantee, but there’s no questioning the ability of Nenad Milijas. The Serbian playmaker has grabbed three assists in his last two home starts and -given they were against Man United and Spurs- illustrates the potential he has to return decent Fantasy Points hauls, should big Mick decide to field him.
Steven Fletcher will almost definitely partner Ebanks-Blake in a 4-4-2 formation and could be looked upon as the ultimate differential, though a punt here would be only for the boldest of Fantasy Managers at this point in the season.
