Preview: Wolves v Cardiff
Wolves host Cardiff City at Molineux looking to return to winning ways.
Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers previews the clash.
Preamble
On November 25, Wolves faced successive games against Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City hoping to win both.
Two unexpected defeats followed as a winless run extended to six matches.
This week they’ve been faced with consecutive matches against the same two teams. With another defeat against Huddersfield now behind them, can Nuno Espirito Santo’s side avoid an unwanted ‘double double’?
In the race for seventh, they could certainly do with three points. A trip to Chelsea follows next weekend – and Wolves would also like to generate some momentum ahead of that huge FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United in a couple of weeks.
The 2-1 defeat at Cardiff in late November prompted a formation tweak that would revitalise Wolves’ campaign. For the next match, Morgan Gibbs-White and Diogo Jota featured prominently in a 3-5-2 system which has worked wonders.
"We learned from that," captain Conor Coady said of the defeat against the Bluebirds.
"It was a disappointment but we knew how tough it was going to be going there, we really did.
"We were on a bad run. We listened to the manager, we came out of it, we adapted a few things, the formation and how we wanted to play.
"We’ll look at that game but it’s different now, we’ve adapted a few things.
"We can’t wait for Saturday, it’s a huge game on the back of a disappointing night the other night."
Wolves' primary rivals for seventh place, Watford, were hammered 5-0 at Liverpool on Wednesday, enabling Wolves to rise a place without kicking a ball.
The Hornets now face Brendan Rodgers' Leicester at home before facing the two Manchester clubs away before the end of March.
Three points tomorrow would therefore be very handy indeed for Nuno's men.
Perhaps don't expect a great first-half, though. Wolves (9) and Cardiff (7) are the lowest first-half goalscorers this season along with Huddersfield (9).
The opposition
Team news
Wolves have no injury worries so Nuno has a fully-fit squad to choose from.
If Nuno elects to make changes from the Huddersfield defeat, Romain Saiss and Ivan Cavaleiro could benefit.
The head coach said on Friday he's working closely with those players who are out of the team, including Adama Traore who was an unused substitute at the John Smith's Stadium.
Ryan Bennett is on nine yellow cards. One more would see him handed a two-match ban.
For Cardiff, Spanish midfielder Victor Camarasa is fit again after a calf problem.
Joe Ralls has also recovered from a pelvic injury, while Oumar Niasse is eligible after missing the defeat against his parent club Everton in midweek.
Callum Paterson and Harry Arter were both benched against the Toffees and could return.
Likely line ups
Wolves (3-5-2): Ruddy; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Neves, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Otto; Jimenez, Jota. Subs: Patricio, Saiss, Vinagre, Gibbs-White, Costa, Cavaleiro, Traore.
Cardiff (4-3-3): Etheridge; Manga, Morrison, Bamba, Bennett; Gunnarsson, Arter, Camarasa; Reid, Paterson, Niasse.
Key players
Wolves – Diogo Jota
One of Cardiff’s weaknesses is a lack of pace at the back and Diogo Jota, who’s been in good form of late, will look to exploit that by getting in behind.
Cardiff – Bobby Reid
Pacey and tricky forward who has blown hot and cold as he adapts to life in the Premier League following a £10m move from Bristol City, where he netted 21 goals last season. Reid has found goals harder to come by this term, but his match-winning double salvo in a 2-0 win over Bournemouth last month showcased his ability.
The bosses
Nuno Espirito Santo: "It's going to be very tough, they're a tough team, every aggressive, they have speed in front, very dangerous on set pieces."
Neil Warnock: "Nuno has done a great job – he’s my missus' favourite manager. He’s a lovely man as well. Wolves have always been solid at the back and had good midfield players. (Diogo) Jota and Jonny (Castro Otto) have fitted in really well, it’s not been a surprise to me that they’ve had good results against the top teams.”
Form
Wolves LDWDW
Feb 26: Huddersfield Town 1 (Mounie 90+1) Wolves 0
Feb 23: Bournemouth (King pen 14) Wolves 1 (Jimenez pen 83)
Feb 17: Bristol City 0 Wolves 1 (Cavaleiro 28) *FA Cup
Feb 11: Wolves 1 (Boly 90+5) Newcastle United 1 (Hayden 56)
Feb 5: Wolves 3 (Doherty 2, 45+6, Cavaleiro 62) Shrewsbury Town 2 (Bolton 11, Laurent 39) *FA Cup
Cardiff
Feb 26: Cardiff 0 Everton 3 (Sigurdsson 41, 66, Calvert-Lewin 90+3)
Feb 22: Cardiff 1 (Bamba 82) Watford 5 (Deulofeu 18, 61, 63, Deeney 73, 90+1)
Feb 9: Southampton 1 (Stephens 90+1) Cardiff 2 (Bamba 69, Zohore 90+3)
Feb 2: Cardiff 2 (Reid pen 5, 46) Bournemouth 0
Jan 29: Arsenal 2 (Aubameyang pen 66, Lacazette 83) Cardiff 1 (Mendez-Laing 90+3)
Past five meetings
Nov 30, 2018 (PL): Cardiff 2 (Gunnarsson 65, Hoilett 77) Wolves 1 (Doherty 18)
Apr 6, 2018 (Ch): Cardiff 0 Wolves 1 (Neves 67)
Aug 19, 2017 (Ch): Wolves 1 (Bonatini 67) Cardiff 2 (Ralls 54, Mendez-Laing 77)
Apr 1, 2017 (Ch): Wolves 3 (Batth 9, 41, Costa 82) Cardiff 1 (Zohore 12)
Dec 13, 2016 (Ch): Cardiff 2 (Connolly 68, Pilkington 86) Wolves 1 (Doherty 2)
Referee
Andre Marriner (West Midlands
Marriner took charge of the reverse fixture in Wales, handing out bookings to Ruben Neves, Romain Saiss and Callum Paterson.
In total he's shown 68 yellow cards and sent three players off in 25 matches this season.
Match odds
Wolves 1/2, draw 29/10, Cardiff 6/1
