Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United: Can the basement boys savage the leaders?
Wolves slumped to the foot of the table in midweek thanks to an awful back pass by Ronald Zubar that was calmly dispatched by Chelsea’s onloan striker Daniel Sturridge at Bolton. As if things couldn’t get any worse for the men from Molineux, the leaders Manchester United are up next.
Mick McCarthy couldn’t believe Wayne Hennesey’s heroics at the Reebok had been undone by one moment of madness from his defender but that’s been the story of Wolves’ season. They’ve been playing really well but have been unable to see team’s off.
There’s no good time to play Manchester United but especially not when Wayne Rooney seems to have dug out his scoring boots again. The leaders are five points clear of their nearest challengers Arsenal and show no sign of losing their proud unbeaten record. At home they are awesome, but away from Old Trafford they still look a bit suspect.
Wolves haven’t won in the league since beating Chelsea 1-0 at home. Can they claim their second win bonus of the year by beating the champions elect? The majority of the Panel doesn’t think so. They have only beaten the leaders once in the past 13 meetings and that was back in 2004 thanks to Kenny Miller. However, this season has produced so many twists and turns that you can’t rule Wolves out completely, but if McCarthy’s men can do the business it will undoubtedly be the biggest shock of the season to date.
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Manchester United; Kick Off 5.30pm February 5 2011
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Don McMahon |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Aston Villa |
Lynette Ranson |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Birmingham |
Steve Coulter |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Blackburn |
Terry Kennedy |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Blackpool |
Phil Trow |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Bolton |
Dave Blackburn |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Fulham |
Russell Goldman |
0 |
V |
3 |
|
Liverpool |
Mark Williams |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
Man Utd |
Peter Lee |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Newcastle |
Michael Stout |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Stoke City |
Philip Eccleston |
1 |
V |
4 |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Tottenham |
Dave Nash |
TBC |
V |
TBC |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
0 |
V |
3 |
|
West Ham |
Nigel Telfer |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Wigan |
Alan Moore |
1 |
V |
4 |
|
Wolves |
Chris Cox |
0 |
V |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
1 |
V |
3 |
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
2 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
0 |
V |
2 |
|
Writer |
Paul Grech |
TBC |
V |
TBC |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
1 |
V |
2 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
1 |
V |
5 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
0 |
V |
3 |
|
West Ham fan |
Matthew Beeby |
0 |
V |
5 |
Panel Verdict
The leaders are tipped to take Wolves to the cleaners.
Home: 1; Draw: 2; Away: 23.
* 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!
