Sunday EPL Betting Preview – Wolves v WBA
Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Bromwich Albion – Latest Odds HERE.
Molineux
Sunday 12th February 2012.
While the issue of racism will provide the unseemly backdrop for the Manchester United – Liverpool clash, the sub-text of Sunday’s Black Country derby between Wolverhampton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion is the respective futures of the two clubs’ managers.
With Wolves just one point outside the bottom three and West Brom only five points better off, calls for both Mick McCarthy and Roy Hodgson to be replaced have been growing steadily in recent weeks and defeat this weekend for either of the two former international coaches would leave them skating on very thin ice.
So poor had Wolves been up until last weekend’s vital win at QPR that club owner Steve Morgan took the unusual step of entering the changing room in the wake of the home defeat at the hands of Liverpool and berating the players.
The subsequent victory at Loftus Road suggested that Morgan’s words had hit home and probably granted McCarthy a stay of execution, bringing to an end as it did a winless run of nine games.
Unfortunately for the men in old gold, they will head into Sunday’s derby without the services of on-loan Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong who has sadly ruptured his knee ligaments and returned to his parent club to start a recovery programme that could last as long as nine months.
Wolves will miss the 20-year-old’s combative presence and will also face the Baggies without another of their enforcers in the form of Karl Henry who is suspended.
Michael Kightly, meanwhile, is a doubt due to a back injury and Ronald Zubar is not expected to recover from his knee problem in time to feature.
One man who could get the nod to start is Kevin Doyle and McCarthy will be desperately keen to see his fellow-Irishman rediscover his goalscoring touch having turned down a proposed deadline day move to Everton.
The former Reading man has scored just three times for Wolves this season, his latest coming in the vital win over QPR.
As for the visitors, they have managed to win only one of their last seven league games, with home defeats against Norwich and Swansea in particular leaving The Hawthorns faithful decidedly nonplussed.
Roy Hodgson remains adamant that he will eventually lead the Baggies back up the table and his chances of doing that have been enhanced by the news this week that Shane Long could return to action this weekend.
The Irish international has been sidelined since late last month by back and stomach problems and Hodgson will be keen to reunite him with another potential match-winner, Peter Odemwingie.
Unfortunately for the strike duo, one of their main suppliers of quality service, Chris Brunt, has been ruled out for anything up to two months with a knee injury and will be sorely missed.
West Brom took the honours when the sides met at The Hawthorns back in October and Hodgson’s side have also enjoyed playing at Molineux in recent years, losing only three times in their last eight visits to their nearest and not so dearest.
This showdown promises to be more gritty than pretty, but if you like your football fast and furious and played out amidst a cauldron of an atmosphere, you won’t want to miss it.
With so much at stake and neither side showing any kind of form, a low-scoring draw looks a decent bet.
Prediction: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 West Bromwich Albion
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