Wolverhampton V Cardiff at Molineux Stadium - Match Preview




Stephen eyes re-Ward

Stephen Ward is expected to regain his starting spot for struggling Wolves' home clash against Championship leaders Cardiff on Sunday.

The left-back, hampered by a virus, dropped to the bench for Tuesday's disappointing 2-1 defeat at Barnsley, which plunged Wanderers into the second tier's drop zone for the first time since October 1999.

But Ward has now recovered and is likely to start at Molineux as out-of-form Wolves aim to end a woeful 11-match winless run.

Kevin Doyle was also dropped to the bench at Oakwell as manager Dean Saunders favoured Sylvan Ebanks-Blake in attack, a selection decision the Welshman must return to ahead of Cardiff's visit after the number nine failed to find the net.

Defender Roger Johnson is another competing for a recall against his former employers.

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay could shuffle his pack as he looks to bounce back from just their second defeat in 18 games.

The Bluebirds were beaten 2-0 by Brighton on Tuesday night which saw their lead at the top of the npower Championship cut to five points.

Winger Craig Conway is pushing for a start after impressing as a substitute in the defeat to Gus Poyet's men, just the second time Cardiff have lost on home soil this season.

And the Scot could replace Craig Noone or Tommy Smith in the starting line-up should Mackay decide to freshen things up against Dean Saunders' struggling side.

Ben Turner came through his return to action after injury unscathed while Fraizer Campbell played for 84 minutes as he continues to build his match fitness following his move from Sunderland.

Source: PA

Source: PA