Date: Friday 4th March 2016
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Venue: Riverside Stadium
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Wolves hope to break a 65 year hoodoo on Friday night with a win away at Middlesbrough.
If they do manage to break the incredible run without victory, an away following of just over 200 will be there to celebrate, due to a boycott of ticket prices and with another match yet again being in front of the sky cameras.
For one of Wolves’ longest away trips of the season, Middlesbrough have decided to charge £32 per ticket. That ticket price, combined with travel on a Friday night and the fact the game is on Sky understandably makes for an unappealing trip for the majority of away fans.
The brave collection of fans who will be making the trip to Teeside will be hoping of a repeat of Saturday’s result, where a resurgent and motivated Wolves side picked apart a strong Derby County. George Saville was the unlikely hero on the day bagging two goals, including the 86th minute winner, to send the home crowd into frenzy.
The performance was incredibly needed to calm the apathy surrounding the current season and bought Kenny Jackett some much needed time.
Connor Coady had perhaps his best game in a Wolves shirt in the win over Derby and was unlucky not to walk away with the man of the match trophy himself. Jackett recently highlighted the importance of using the reminder of this season to develop these types of young players and finish on a positive note.
Rajiv Van La Parra was missing for the 18 on Saturday and Jackett admitted he purposely didn’t include him following the backlash of his comments about on Instagram. This should really signal the end of VLP’s time at the club as barring a month spell of form in January, the player has looked uninterested and not up for the fight for most of his time here.
New signing Jeremy Helan fit right into the side on Saturday and is expected to keep his place against Middlesbrough. Helan has over 100 appearances in the Championship and adds some much needed experience to the side.
The reverse fixture this season saw Middlesbrough run out 3-1 winners while Boro also knocked us out of the League Cup at the third round stage.
This fixture though sees all the pressure on the home side as a win would take them top of the division by two points. If Wolves can repeat the attitude and spirit they showed on Saturday, then it may signal the end of a winless draught in Teeside.
Fancast Predictions
Graham Middlesbrough 3-1 Wolves
Ry Middlesbrough 0-0 Wolves
David Middlesbrough 3-1 Wolves
Craig Middlesbrough 0-0 Wolves
Danger Men
Middlesbrough
Championship hotshot Jordan Rhodes is still searching for his first home goal for his new club and will keen to score here to cement Boro’s promotion challenge.
Wolves
Even the most die-hard of supporters wouldn’t have picked out a Wolves victory over Derby with the previously outcast George Saville picking up two goals and the man of the match trophy. For much of his time at the club, Saville has looked off the pace, weak and out of place but more performances like Saturday would go a long way into cementing his place in the side.
Match odds
Middlesbrough 8/13
Draw 11/4
Wolves 11/2
First goalscorer
Jordan Rhodes 7/2
Christian Stuani 9/2
Dave Nugent 9/2
Joe Mason 10/1
Bjorn Siguardarson 11/1
Rajiv Van La Parra 12/1
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