Date: 14/4/15
Venue: Riverside Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm
A harsh reality check on Saturday saw Wolves drop out of the playoffs following a loss away at Birmingham, and the side will need to pick themselves up quick ahead of an important trip to playoff rivals Middlesbrough.
Wolves must pick up good results in the next two games against Middlesbrough and Ipswich to put us in good stead for the final two relatively easier looking games against relegation threatened Wigan and Millwall.
The loss against Birmingham put a dent in the hopes for top six finish, yet despite this the side only sit outside those places currently on goal difference.
Although it wasn’t just the result that left a bad taste in the mouth as the performance on the pitch was perhaps the most disappointing since the turn of the year.
Kenny Jackett admitted his side got the basics wrong against the Blues and lacked any sort of cutting edge needed to finish off a game.
Despite taking the lead through Benik Afobe, Wolves looked lethargic for long spells of the game, and this was summed up by the usually reliable Scott Golbourne comedic attempts to control the ball ending up in Demarai Gray going through one-on-one and slotting the winner past the helpless Carl Ikeme.
What is becoming a concern is that in pressure situations and important matches, Wolves look vulnerable and are unable to put in a decent performance.
In last week’s match against Leeds, Wolves squandered a comfortable two goal lead when they were in the knowledge that a win took them into the top six. Luckily a late Dave Edwards goal saved us from blushes that day but that has not always been the case.
In vital away games against Ipswich, Norwich, Bournemouth, Derby and Brentford, Wolves have not only lost but have put in abject performances.
Perhaps this is down to the young age of the squad that lack the experience of some of the teams around them.
However if we truly want a place in the top six it is crucial that Wolves perform against a Middlesbrough side who are sitting comfortably in the playoffs but who still have keen aspirations of a top two finish.
Middlesbrough themselves have lost games to promotion candidates Watford and Bournemouth in recent weeks and will be eager to keep up the pace with them if they have any hope of an automatic promotion spot. Following this game, they travel to face Norwich and will want momentum going into what could be a promotion deciding clash between the two.
Danger Men
Middlesbrough
Some Wolves fans were disappointed Jackett wasn’t able to sign Patrick Bamford on loan from Chelsea at the beginning of the season and it is easy to see why. Currently the club’s top goal scorer with 18 goals, Bamford is a young striker with plenty of promise. Expect Bamford to be playing top flight football next season regardless of what league Boro reside in.
Albert Adomah is a tricky winger who is not shy of having a shot from any range and Golbourne will have to put Saturday’s error behind him quickly in order to deal with him. Having started out playing non-league football with Harrow Borough, Adomah will be itching to add Premier League football to his CV and will want to be on top form in a crucial game for Boro.
Wolves
Benik Afobe became the first player in England to reach 30 goals in all competitions with his strike against Birmingham and it will come as a big surprise if he doesn’t add to that tally as the season comes to a close. Afobe will be a few fans pick for player of the season despite only arriving in January and it is hard to argue with the results. In his 17 appearances in gold and black he netted 13 goals, quite a return for someone who cost such a small fee from Arsenal.
Match Odds
Middlesbrough 19/20
Draw 5/2
Wolves 14/5
First goal scorer
Patrick Bamford 9/2
Jelle Vossen 11/2
Kike 11/2
Benik Afobe 11/2
Nouha Dicko 6/1
Bakary Sako 7/1
images via www.independent.co.uk and gazettelive.co.uk
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