Wolves Vs Birmingham Match Preview + 100th Wolves Offside Post!

By: Toby | November 27th, 2008

So, after all of that, what’s happening this weekend again?

Oh yes, the small matter of the best shot of a local derby that we’re going to get this season short of some higher benevolence occurring in the F.A Cup draw, and in some respect the biggest game so far this season. I say “some respect” because if we lose this we’ll still be top, win and we’ll be even further ahead, literally a win win situation. Blues fans are getting a bit worried about this one, puffing their chests out whenever Wolves are mentioned muttering about Phillips and saying something about not conceding many goals as they sip their pint. They’ve got every reason to be a little narky, Wolves have come out of nowhere this season and have taken the league by storm, winning 15 games and scoring a staggering 44 goals in the process. Fair enough, we’ve also let in a staggering 25 goals this season too, two worse than second from bottom team Doncaster Rovers. Yet, we keep on plugging away, every week Birmingham and Reading are talked up, we’re hardly mentioned and for the last seven games we’ve walked away with all three points. In the meanwhile Birmingham have managed four wins, two losses and a draw over the same period, managing twelve goals in seven games, and conceding nine. In the same period Wolves have managed sixteen goals for the good, conceding six times.

See now, this is where I think past conceptions of form are beginning to take over from actual Championship form. I’m sure you’re going to read a fair few articles over the weekend highlighting Wolves’ leaky defence against the Blue’s watertight offering, yet, looking at the recent games you’d be hard pressed to call Wolves the team most likely to concede….most likely to score certainly…but that’s been the case all season. Iwelumo’s and Blake’s efforts on Tuesday saw their goal haul as a collective (ie not in games together, just a total) rise to 26 in all competitions. Birmingham on the other hand seem to keep their most deadly striking option on the bench most of the time, as Kevin Phillips currently plodding along at 35 and still notching up career goals, currently on nine for the season, he’ll be a real threat on Saturday.

Some team news to digest, Wolves will be looking to have all of our players who were injured on Tuesday back, I don’t know if that means Kightly will be wearing one of those amazing face protection masks that make you look like a bizarre super hero. Hopefully we’ll see Mancienne return to the team, he did bring an air of assurance and took away that fear that every time the ball came into the box something terrible would happen, he’s got such a good defensive head on him, you can seemingly always rely on his decision making. I think if Mancienne is back to the top of his game he’ll keep Phillips in his pocket all afternoon, quick legs better than slow. Blues have their own injury worries with Carsley a particular name which stands out sweating over his own fitness before Saturday.

Ooooooh it could be my staple pre match prediction but this one I feel really, really will be a tight one, it’s like two immovable objects coming together, going toe to toe, neither willing to give an inch. On this occasion rather than plump for a win, with the Wolves crowd providing the 12th man when it counts. Let’s hope for a blistering start like the one on Tuesday, but I could see Birmingham being a team which will take some breaking down. First scorer? Henry…It’s getting boring picking between Blake and Iwelumo.

Fingers crossed, and remember to get up early if you’re watching it from far far away, it’s a 12.30 kick off!

Come on you Wolves!

100 Wolves Offside Posts and Counting, (between Daryl, Matt and Me…mine being the smallest part I fear)

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