Wolves out to end one more unwanted record
As Nuno Espirito Santo has repeatedly stated, ‘his’ Wolves have no interest in the club’s past failings.
A terrible home record in recent seasons? Let’s have the best one in the league instead.
No wins at Norwich for 10 years? No problem. No November wins in the Championship since 2008, a run of 19 games? How about winning four out four.
Records have been smashed and hoodoos broken in this most dominant of one-horse races (so far) with Wolves leading the pack since October.
“Without being cocky, we’ve just been the best,” Matt Doherty said this week. And you cannot argue with that.
But for all their thrilling free-flowing football and insatiable thirst for victories, if Wolves win a football match tomorrow we’ll know they really mean business.
Their atrocious record at Middlesbrough is one of football’s great quirks. Sixty-seven years and 25 matches have passed since Wolves last triumphed at the Riverside, or the old Ayresome Park.
In those 67 years, Wolves have beaten (and indeed been) the best sides in the world, they’ve won league titles, FA Cups, League Cups, reached a European final and enjoyed five promotions to the top flight.
But they’ve not won at Middlesbrough.
Since Roy Swinbourne’s double salvo secured a 2-1 victory in April 1951, their record reads like the name of a Welsh village deep in the valleys...LDDLLLDLLLDDDDLLDLLDLLLLL.
Not that the likes of Ivan Cavaleiro, Ruben Neves or indeed Nuno will give a damn.
Indeed, Wolves’ dire run at Boro should have absolutely no bearing on the 90 minutes that will unfold tomorrow.
What a victory will do though is give their supporters another indicator, if they need one, that Wolves 2.0 are a very different beast to almost anything that’s gone before them.
More pertinent than the 25-game winless run is Middlesbrough’s recent record.
Under Tony Pulis they are finally looking like a decent bet to nick a play-off spot, with 10 points from 12 bringing with them 10 goals and some much-needed momentum at a crucial time.
Wolves were yesterday waiting for their international contingent to return ahead of the quick turnaround before Friday’s game.
Alfred N’Diaye had the most taxing break of the eight first-team players who went away, playing 162 minutes for Senegal in two friendlies against Uzbekistan and Bosnia, while Romain Saiss and Benik Afobe also made African excursions, but only played once.
Barry Douglas, Matt Doherty, Ruben Neves, Ruben Vinagre and Morgan Gibbs-White also featured for their countries.
Ankle injury victim Diogo Jota isn’t expected to be available, while the game comes too soon for Phil Ofosu-Ayeh, who has made three appearances for the under-23s.
Bright Enobakhare is still sidelined with a quad injury, but is nearing a first-team comeback.
