Wolves v Palace Preview – A Tale of Tight Groins

By: Matt | September 16th, 2008

Crystal Palace have a reputation of being our bogey side, and although this view is not unfounded, I think we’ve done reasonably well against them in recent times, performing well at Selhurst Park but struggling at Molineux. Last season’s 3-0 defeat at home wasn’t actually a bad performance, I thought we played quite well early on but were hit with a sucker punch, and that is the pattern the game followed.

Unfortunately for Wolves, this season’s injury list seems to be growing but fortunately for us tonight, so does Palace’s. They apparently have a striker crisis, although they seemed to do ok against Swansea on Saturday. It looks as though Big Chis Iwelumo (tight groin) may have to sit out another game tonight, although McCarthy has said he may make it. There are a lot of tight groins at Wolves these days, as Matt Jarvis also has one, what on earth are they getting up to? He is rated 50/50 for tonight’s game. Iwelumo’s replacement on Saturday, Andy Keogh is also only rated as 50/50, suffering from an ankle injury incurred when winning the penalty against Charlton. New signing Matt Hill is definitely out, having strained his knee medial ligament, and set to be missing for a month.

If Keogh is passed fit, expect him to replace Iwelumo again (if Big Chris doesn’t make it of course). If not, Welsh wonderboyo Sam Vokes will play upfront with SEB. Matt Jarvis could be replaced by either Keogh (if fit) or Mickey Gray. Mick’s other option would be to play Stephen Ward on the wing and give a debut to George Friend at full back. Confused yet? I am. Let’s make this easier. I think Keogh and Jarvis will make it but we won’t see Iwelumo.

In that case, Wolves line up:

—————–Hennessey——————–

Foley——Stearman———-Collins——-Ward

Kightly———Henry———-Jones———Jarvis

————–SEB———-Keogh—————

If Jarvis, Iwelumo and Keogh don’t make it:

—————–Hennessey——————–

Foley——Stearman———-Collins——-Ward

Kightly———Henry———-Jones———Gray

————–SEB———-Vokes—————

—————–Hennessey——————–

Foley——Stearman———-Collins——-Friend

Kightly———Henry———-Jones———Ward

————–SEB———-Vokes—————

Our start to the season has almost been too good to be true. We’ve started seasons well before and also gone on long winning runs during seasons past, the difference this time around is that our performances deserve the results we’re getting. I’m convinced we’re the real deal this time around. Luck isn’t involved.

I expect tonight’s game to be tough, maybe our first dour home game of the season, with Warnock attempting park the Palace bus on our hallowed turf. I think, when fully fit, we have the firepower to blow that bus out of the water, tonight though may be just one of those games when it doesn’t happen for us. I just can’t shake my memories of last season’s dour Tuesday night struggles at Molineux. We’ll either win it 1-0 or draw 1-1. I’m embarrassed by my lack of faith!
I predict Wolves 1 Palace 1

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My predictions for the other midweek Championship games are:

Tuesday, 16 September 2008

Barnsley 1 Cardiff 2
Bristol City 1 Birmingham 1
Burnley 2 Blackpool 2
Doncaster 1 Charlton 1
Preston 2 Nottm Forest 1
Reading 3 Sheff Wed 1
Sheff Utd 2 Coventry 0
Swansea 1 Derby 2
Watford 2 Plymouth 0

Wednesday, 17 September 2008

Norwich 2 QPR 1
Southampton 1 Ipswich 1