Wolverhampton Wanderers Vs Blackpool FC – Match Preview

By: Toby | December 28th, 2008

So off we set on our travels to Bloomfield Road, Blackpool for the last fixture of 2008, and what a 2008 it has been eh? Last time we played (currently manager less) Blackpool in November we managed a 2-0 at home, and I’d like very much for that to be the case again, as both Reading and Birmingham play today, if they get a result the pressure will be turned, slightly onto our result. Wolves came out of last game on a bit of a downer, having not played brilliantly, yet still securing a draw against Sheffield who were playing some of their best football of the season. A good few of our players looked out of sorts on Boxing Day, too full of turkey perhaps? So we’ll be looking to address that I’m sure tomorrow, McCarthy will want a performance tomorrow, so I’ve highlighted a few players who he might be expecting an effort from and who I think will be integral to our fortunes up in sunny Blackpool.

First of all, and probably first on a few people’s lists would be Sylvan Ebanks Blake. I love the man, I think between him and Iwelumo we’ve got the best partnership outside (Possibly including) the premiership, the big man little man tactic has worked an absolute charm so far this season, but for some reason there is a general consensus that Blake isn’t pulling his weight. I don’t think this is the case, I don’t think he’s playing badly at all, he’s just not scoring every game, and there is a difference. And to say he’s not scored in a while would be inaccurate also, as you only have to look back three games to see the brace he bagged against Derby. No, I don’t think we’re looking for a performance from Blake tomorrow, moreover, we’re looking for him to get a goal, because once he’s got one, he’ll be back on the trail for more.

A man integral to Blake getting those goals will be Jarvis. Jarvis will be stepping in for the suspended Kightly, and while Kightly has publically admitted his recent displays haven’t been up to scratch (It’s all a bit FM2009 isn’t it?) he’s still managed to assist nearly every goal in the last five games. So Jarvis is really going to have to step up to the plate come Monday, get the crosses into Iwelumo and Blake and create chances and goals. I think Kightly will benefit from the break, to sit back and collect himself, ready to come back and show the kind of play which enabled him and Jarvis to literally tear defences apart in the early stages of the season.

The final player I’d like to pick out will be Mancienne, he looks a shoe in to regain his place due to Stephen Ward suffering with a virus, struggling to be match fit for the trip to Pool. Mancienne has been a revelation since arriving at Wolves, turning a leaky cauldron of a defence into a strong hold seemingly overnight, he’s a player he really does play beyond his years, to the extent that you really do forget that he’s only a couple of weeks off his twenty first. He’ll be the player nullifying any Blackpool threat tomorrow, and building play from the back, he’s an integral part to the team. I’m sure I’m not the only Wolves fan who’ll be watching Chelsea’s transfer dealings to check they’re not offloading any defensive cover, or the loan he’s currently on (extended to the end of January) might be all we get to see of the defensive wunderkind in old gold.

So to predictions, I’d like to think this is the game where we bounce back to old winning ways, but deep down I know Blackpool will be digging deep and have the old footballing cliché of being manager less and therefore unbeatable. However it’s not the usual situation where a team gets rid of its manager because they’re bottom and then win 4-0 the next week, Blackpool were very happy with their manager, only he got a better offer. So they might be smarting somewhat, and we could take advantage of that. I just don’t know, I’m going to say 1-0. We’ll score early and then we’ll have to suffer 75 or so minutes of worrying and fretting. Elsewhere, I must say Birmingham have a tough game against Swansea, who were very accomplished both times with played them this season, and who at the moment seem to do nothing but draw, the same again today would be fantastic. Reading take on Southampton, and as we know, if it weren’t for the rub of the green that day, we’d have struggled against them, so you never know.

And in an edit, both drew, meaning we’re 6 points clear going into this game, with a possiblity of a 9 point gap going into 2009.

It all makes for an exciting couple of days in the Championship doesn’t it really?

Fingers crossed for tomorrow, Ebanks Blake for the goal of course!
Tarra-a-bit!