Stoke look to increase goal threat against Wolves
Six points separate Stoke and Wolves before today's game - with Stoke odds on favourites to widen that gap.
Stoke start the day in an impressive ninth place in the league and but for late defensive frailties would be even worse off. Almost half of Stoke's goals are conceded in the final 15 minutes - suggesting a bet on Wolves goal minutes may be an idea! Stoke are again an impressive home side but really should score more goals from their pressure (6 home goals from 5 games) perhaps the introduction of Tuncay can increase the goal threat.
The first goal tends to settle Wolves matches, when Wolves scores first then they don't lose - and if Wolves concede first then they don't win. So next goal wins then! Mick McCarthy can't be happy at his team conceding 10 goals in five away games and may add some more robust players today to combat Stoke's physical set-piece approach and to tighten up generally.
Stoke City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers; Kick Off 3:00pm 31 Oct 2009
Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).
Dave Blackburn : TBC
Chris Cox : 1 - 3
Graham Enwright : 1 - 1
Sue Gardener : 1 - 1
Chris Goodwin : 1 - 0
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 2 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 2 - 1
Peter Lee : 2 - 0
Don McMahon : 2 - 2
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 1 - 0
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : 2 - 1
Dave Nash : 2 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : 2 - 1
Tony Ratton : 2 - 0
Peter Rendle : 2 - 0
Dan Taylor : 3 - 0
Nick Tomkins : TBC
Bill Urban (sqf) : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 0
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 2 - 0
Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting a 2-0 Stoke win.
Home: 13; Draw: 3; Away: 1; TBC: 5.
* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!
