Date: 2/5/15
Venue: Molineux
Kick-off: 12:15pm
Wolves entertain a relegated Millwall on the final day of the regular championship season, with their playoff hopes hanging by a slim thread.
Obtaining a playoff place may still be mathematically possible but without sounding too pessimistic, it is very unlikely that Wolves will be in the top six come 2:00pm on Saturday.
For a playoff space to be achieved Wolves will need to beat Millwall and hope Derby lose at home to Reading, while also bettering the result of Brentford at home to the now also relegated Wigan.
Wolves could also technically catch Ipswich, but would need to beat Millwall and hope the Tractor Boys lose to Blackburn, with a big goal swing going in our favour.
Our opponents Millwall have little to play for themselves apart it from some pride on the final day. It was confirmed they would be relegated to League One following Rotherham’s 2-1 win over Reading on Tuesday night.
Following their relegation, Millwall announced their club record goal scorer Neil Harris as manager and their players will want to prove themselves worthy of a starting place in League One to the new full time boss.
Even if this game turns out to be somewhat meaningless, the home fans should, and most likely will, back the team to the hill, to conclude what has been a quite extraordinary season for Wolves.
In a recent press conference, Kenny Jackett himself spoke out about ending a solid season on a high, and aiming to improve even further next season.
Aside from a poor November, Wolves have impressed throughout playing some attractive free flowing football with a relatively small and young squad.
Players who Jackett brought in last season, such as Scott Golbourne, James Henry and Nouha Dicko have proven to have the quality to make the step up to the Championship.
While the emergence of Dominic Iorfa and Kourtney Hause from the academy setup and the bargain signing of Benik Afobe has been a particular highlight.
Saturday’s game will also most likely mark Bakary Sako’s final game in the old gold with him due to leave on a free transfer at the end of the season. Despite many claims about his ability to consistently put in a good performance for the side, it is hard to argue with his contribution the team, with him ranking amongst the top goals and assists figures in all of the three years of his time here.
Jackett has openly admitted that the club will be offering Sako a new deal but with several Premier League club sniffing around him, including nearby neighbours Aston Villa and West Brom, it is unlikely he will turn down more money and the opportunity to play in a higher division.
The Millwall match will also mark Kevin Doyle’s final game for the club after he signed a pre contract agreement with MLS side Colorado Rapids.
Despite not featuring much for the club in the past two seasons, Doyle has been a great servant for the club since signing from Reading in 2009 and deserves a good send off from the Molineux faithful. Expect him to feature in at least some part of Saturday’s game.
Danger Men
Wolves
Bakary Sako will most likely play his final game for club against Millwall and will no doubt be keen to cap his final game with a goal. The Malian winger has proven he is not afraid of shooting from distance and perhaps his most useful asset is his ability to go one on one with a defender, beating them for both pace and power.
Millwall
Striker Lee Gregory’s hat trick last Saturday was only enough to earn the Lions a point against Derby and he will be itching to return to the score sheet at Molineux.
A former non-league player, Gregory, has been in the back pages for much of the week after coming out saying he hoped Rotherham ‘bottle it’ in their last two games. A comment Rotherham manager Steve Evans took much issue with and replied with ‘Enjoy League One’ once Rotherham’s safety was confirmed on Tuesday night.
Fancast Predictions
Richard Wolves 3-0 Millwall
Alex Wolves 2-1 Millwall
David Wolves 2-0 Millwall
Craig Wolves 3-0 Millwall
Match Odds
Wolves 1/3
Draw 4/1
Millwall 8/1
First goalscorer
Benik Afobe 7/2
Nouha Dicko 4/1
Bakary Sako 5/1
Lee Gregory 10/1
Ricardo Fuller 10/1
Aiden O’Brien 14/1
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