Prepare for a battle.

Last updated : 04 October 2002 By Dave Burgess

Scenario:

Wolves have won only 2 of their last 7 games and lie ‘uncomfortably’ in mid-table.


Sheffield United are in 6th place and have earned 7 points from their 5 away league games to date.

What about the opposition?


Well the games tend to be battles of attrition with the Blades. Neil Warnock’s teams’ style of play is not always the most attractive but it is effective.


Big bruising battlers like Wayne Alison, Robert Page and Steve Yates open the door for the craft players like Peter Ndlouv and Michael Tonge, reckoned to be a fantastic prospect, to slip into the gaps to do the damage.


Quite worryingly the goal distribution charts illustrates that United score quite a few goals in the opening 10 minutes of a game. Couple this with Wolves inability to defend in that period and we could be 1-0 down tomorrow before you’ve taken your seat!


Victories on the road at Burnley and more worryingly at Norwich shows that they aren’t pushovers away from Bramhall Lane.


They also have signed Michael Boulding on loan from Villa and he scored on his debut against Wycombe in the Worthington Cup this week and I remember him causing us loads of problems when he played for Grimsby in March this year.

With tension in our own camp then United aren’t the sort of opposition to let you get your own way – we are going to have to battle for anything we get from the game.


Soon to follow:

Distinct possibility that the Portsmouth game the following week will be postponed due to international call-ups.


If so then the next fixture will be at Stoke in two weeks.


Score Prediction:


Well starting eleven changes are once again on the cards. Deano has been very disappointing this season and the local press is touting his name as one to drop at least to the bench with Miller replacing him.


The result at Rotherham didn’t suggest that Edworthy has much of an impact in stemming the flow of goals conceded but there seem few defensive alternatives.


Viruses for Ince and Rae could also have an impact so the line-up will be a real guessing game before the match even starts.


We really can’t afford to lose this but I don’t think we have the battling qualities or concentration to get the three points.


Therefore, I’m going for a draw and more frustration for the team, club and fans alike.


Come on the Wolves!


E-mail me with any comments/feedback to: dave@wolves-mad.co.uk