Date: 16th December 2015
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Venue: Molineux
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Wolves are back in front of the sky cameras on Thursday night, as Leeds United come to Molineux, with both sides hoping to turn their recent fortunes around.
Friday’s apathetic draw with Nottingham Forest on Friday made it four draws in a run of five games for Wolves, and the inability to see off teams, especially at home, is a real cause for concern.
So far this season Wolves have played all the bottom five teams and have only picked up 7 points out of a possible 18 against these sides. With the players Kenny Jackett has at his disposal there’s no excuse to be dropping points against these teams.
Thursday’s opponents Leeds United sit in 18th place in the league and if Jackett has any aspirations for a top six finish this will be seen as a must win.
However Jackett will most likely stick with one up front in a home game, a decision that throughout the course of the season has baffled fans and media alike. Even without the injured Nouha Dicko, Wolves process a talented attacking threat with Benik Afobe, Adam Le Fondre and even Grant Holt proving they have something to offer.
In the Forest game, Wolves frustratingly continued to lump balls up to lone target Le Fondre, despite his continued struggle to effectively win aerial battles with the two Forest centre backs.
If you are going to play that way it would surely make more sense to include someone like Grant Holt, a player who is ideal to flick balls on and it was surprising to not see him come on once Forest had scored a late equaliser.
The Forest game also saw Jordan Graham pick up another assist and yet another man of the match award. The 20-year-old has quickly become Wolves main attacking threat and looks to be thoroughly enjoying his football.
On the opposite wing, it may be time for Nathan Byrne to come back into the side following the drop in form of James Henry. Since signing from Swindon, Byrne hasn’t really had a run of games to really show what he is made of a perhaps deserves it now. Hopefully Byrne can take an example for Graham and play with a similar lack of fear.
Leeds fans can relax knowing there unlike their home ground there will be no pie tax at Molineux. Fans will be travelling from Yorkshire hoping to see a drastic improvement of scoring just twice in their previous four games.
Danger Men
Wolves
On his return to Molineux following injury, Ethan Ebanks Landell landed the opening goal in Friday’s 1-1 draw, but also was at fault for the equaliser. Ebanks Landell admitted after the game conceding that way was tough to take, but will bounce back with a positive performance against Leeds. It’s easy to forget that him and Batth are both still a young centre back pairing despite both being a regular part of the side for some time.
Leeds
Alex Mowatt is a highly regarded Championship player and may be snapped up if Leeds continue to struggle. Their former player of the year scored a sensational equaliser at Molineux last season before David Edwards went onto get the winner in another televised Wolves v Leeds clash.
Fancast Predictions
Rob Wolves 1-0 Leeds
Luke Wolves 5-1 Leeds
David Wolves 0-0 Leeds
Craig Wolves 3-1 Leeds
Match odds
Wolves Evs
Draw 12/5
Leeds 3/1
First goalscorer
Benik Afobe 9/2
Adam Le Fondre 11/2
David Edwards 15/2
Chris Wood 13/2
Mirko Antenucci 13/2
Jordan Botaka 8/1
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