Onwards to Deepdale: Preston v Wolves Preview

By: Matt | September 20th, 2008

When I was a youngster, league tables were never published until six games had passed. As a result, I’ve never really bothered looking at the table until at least half a dosen games have gone by. However, with six games gone in The Championship season and Wolves top of the pile, I’m still finding it difficult to take the league table seriously. It’s probably for a few reasons. Firstly we’ve all seen unfancified teams lead the league at this stage of the season only to fall away badly before the first frost of winter sets in. Secondly, I’m living in a state of denial that Wolves are top of the league and playing great football. Starting to believe the hype will surely only end in disappointment. “Why aren’t you enjoying it?” all my friends are asking me. Well it’s simple, it’s a coping strategy for when my world falls apart in the coming months.

Anyway, upwards and onwards to Deepdale! The biggest enemy to Wolves chances of promotion this season will be injuries, if we lost either Kightly or Jarvis (or shudder the thought, both) along with SEB and another forward, things could slowly start to come undone. The first indication of this happening was evident in the Palace game on Tuesday night. With Iwelumo and Jarvis out injured and Jones having to leave the game early, Wolves struggled to maintain their recent blisterring form. However, the great news is that McCarthy has declared that Jarvis, Iwelumo and Jones could all be fit for today’s game. If that’s the case everything looks rosey in the garden once more.

Preston are also a team in form, only 2 points behind Wolves and unbeaten for the season with three wins and two draws. Deepdale is normally a place where we struggle for a win, the last one I can remember was our promotion season, the “George Ndah game”, when in scenes reminiscent of Ryan Giggs wonder goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal, Ndah took the ball from inside the Wolves half and weaved his way into the Preston penalty area before shooting past the keeper. Preston could still be without The Championship’s player of the month for August, the bald headed Richard Chaplow, who also missed their midweek win over Nottingham Forest. Defender Callum Davidson is also struggling with an ankle injury.

If McCarthy’s optimisim in our injured trio being fit to play is well placed, expect Wolves to line up in a very confident looking 4-4-2 of:

———-Hennessey———-
Foley–Collins–Stearman–Ward (S)
Kightly–Jones–Henry–Jarvis
——-SEB——Iwelumo——

However, reading between the lines I wouldn’t be surprised if Dave Edwards replaced David Jones in midfield. Today is a tough one to call but if both Iwelumo and Jarvis do play I expect Wolves to take all 3 points, without them a draw is the best bet. In a rare showing of optimism I’m going for a ding dong battle resulting in Preston 2 Wolves 3, with Iwelumo and SEB (2) on the score sheet for Wolves.

For those unable to go to the game, live commentary is available on BBC Radio Five Live Extra (DAB and online) and it is also the featured game on ITV’s ChampionshipGoals tomorrow.

My predictions for the other Championship games this weekend are:

Birmingham 2 Blackpool 0
Bristol City 2 Doncaster 0
Coventry 1 QPR 1
Crystal Palace 1 Plymouth 0
Derby 1 Cardiff 2
Norwich 1 Sheff Utd 1
Nottm Forest 1 Charlton 2
Sheff Wed 2 Ipswich 1
Southampton 1 Barnsley 0
Swansea 2 Burnley 1
Watford 1 Reading 2

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