Wolves v West Brom

Last updated : 06 May 2011 By BBC Sport

West Brom winger Jerome Thomas should return after a groin problem.

There are doubts over captain Chris Brunt, Steven Reid and Gonzalo Jara, while Paul Scharner is suspended after his sending off against Aston Villa.

Wolves

Doubtful: Doyle (fitness), Ebanks-Blake (hamstring), Kightly (groin)

Injured: Edwards & Zubar (both back)

West Brom

Suspended: Scharner (one match)

Doubtful: Brunt (hamstring), Jara (knee), Reid (calf), Thomas (groin), Zuiverloon (shoulder)

Injured: Dorrans (ankle)

MATCH PREVIEW

It is only nine miles from West Bromwich to Wolverhampton, but Sunday's visitors have come a long way since the reverse fixture in February.

The game won't decide anything - unless we win it. I don't doubt for one moment that if we win it we will stay up

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy

That game was Roy Hodgson's first in charge of Albion, and Carlos Vela's stoppage-time equaliser earned his new side a point in the inaugural Premier League meeting between these hated rivals.

It left West Brom a point above the relegation zone, and three clear of Wolves. Fast forward 10 weeks and there are now eight points between the two sides, with West Brom safe from the drop after losing only once in nine games under Hodgson.

Wolves, on the other hand, are in big trouble, having registered only their second point out of a possible 15 at 10-man Birmingham last weekend. Manager Mick McCarthy is adamant his side will survive, with a trip to his former club Sunderland and a home match against Blackburn still to come.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Wolves are winless in their last five matches against West Brom since a 1-0 Championship victory at The Hawthorns in March 2007.

• West Brom have won 52 and Wolves 51 of the 143 previous league contests between the clubs.

Wolves

• Wolves are winless in five matches, claiming only two points from a possible 15.

• They have won only one of their last 13 Premier League West Midlands derbies at Molineux - 1-0 against Birmingham City in December.

• Mick McCarthy's side have picked up 25 of their 34 points this season at home.

• Jody Craddock is poised to make his 200th league start for Wolves.

West Brom

• Albion have only been beaten once in 10 matches, the last nine of which have come under head coach Roy Hodgson.

• The Baggies have gone 33 Premier League games without a clean sheet, an ongoing record for the division.

• They have gained an unequalled 26 points from losing positions this season.

• Peter Odemwingie can become the first Premier League player this season to score in five consecutive matches. He needs one goal to set a career-best tally of 15 in a single season, having scored 14 goals for Lille in 2006-07.

• Nicky Shorey is set to make his 400th club career appearance.

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Wolves

Fletcher: 9 goals (7 league); Doyle: 8 goals (5 league)

West Brom

Odemwingie: 14 goals (14 league); Mulumbu: 6 goals (6 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mike Dean

Assistant referees: John Flynn & Peter Kirkup

Fourth official: Anthony Taylor

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Wolves (D1-1 v Birmingham, a): Hennessey; Mancienne, Stearman (Hammill 46), Craddock, Elokobi, Foley, O'Hara, Henry, Jarvis (Hunt 67), Fletcher, Ward (Vokes 82). Subs not used: Hahnemann, Berra, Milijas, Guedioura.

West Brom (W2-1 v Aston Villa, h): Carson; Jara (Tamas 51), Meite, Olsson, Shorey, Vela (Fortune 75), Scharner, Mulumbu, Morrison, Cox, Odemwingie (Tchoyi 90). Subs not used: Myhill, Ibanez, Miller, Hurst.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport