Rotherham Preview and Prediction

By: Matt | August 26th, 2008

Wolves play Rotherham tonight in the third round of the Carling Cup, and are hoping to keep the momentum of an unbeaten start to the season going. In fact, as McCarthy points out here, Wolves haven’t lost since their first preseason game, a 1-0 defeat against Wrexham.

I have mixed feelings about this game for a number of reasons. Firstly, does the Carling Cup get me excited? Not really. Does it get you excited? Hmmm. Not sure? Maybe a run to the final would be exciting but that aside, this competition can quickly become a meaningless distraction that takes players away through injury and leaves others tired for the weekend bread and butter. Although, it has and could be useful for giving players coming back from injury and fringe players a game. Secondly, due to their financial predicament, I’d quite like Rotherham to do well, they need the money more than us and a cup run could help them out enormously.

However, this aside, I really do think it’s important to keep the momentum and belief going. Despite expected changes tonight, a defeat would plant a small seed of doubt that could result in a minor fall in confidence, and so much of this game is about confidence. So I’m hoping Wolves put a reasonably strong side out, that keeps a good nucleus of the successful team that has started the season so well, this can help keep the momentum and belief going for the visit of Nottingham Forest to Molinuex on Saturday. It could also give Stearman and Ward some much needed practice of playing together. The big question is whether McCarthy keeps Collins at left back or lets Gray come in and assesses how he does there. However, as preparation for the Forest game, he could well leave Collins at left back and give Gray a start on the left side of midfield.

Wolves will of course, be without man mountain George Elokobi, who could be out for some time, his scan is due today so expect a better idea of when he will be back later. SEB and Jarvis are “carrying slight knocks” and unlikely to be risked, so I would expect a similar line up to the team that took the field in the last round against Accrington. Not that, I want to blow my own trumpet, but my predicted starting line-ups have been spot on thus far, and I’m hoping to keep my Wolves-esq run going tonight. I expect Wolves to line up:

———— ——-Hennessey———————

Foley——–Ward (D)—-Stearman———-Gray

Jones (Daniel)——Henry——-Edwards——-Ward(S)

———–Keogh——Vokes————-

Despite a much changed side and a Rotherham side desperate to do well at Sheffield’s Don Valley stadium and keep their much needed cup run going, I expect Wolves to edge the game. I’m going for
Rotherham 1 Wolves 3. With Vokes, Edwards and Stearman on target for Wolves.