James Collins and Richard Walker will take charge of Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, as the Old Gold search for a first Premier League win of the season, and here’s all you need to know pre-match.
1 | Roll Call
Collins and Walker will be without three first-team players for the trip to Stamford Bridge. Emmanuel Agbadou’s red card at Fulham for a professional foul means he’ll miss just one match and will return after the international break. Rodrigo Gomes and Matt Doherty will also miss the trip to the capital. Gomes is out until the start of 2026, having successfully undergone groin surgery on Monday. Doherty is expected back much sooner after a minor knee problem, but the Chelsea game comes too soon.
Chelsea will have to do without the services of Romeo Lavia, who was withdrawn due to injury at Qarabag in midweek. Enso Maresca confirmed, however, that former Old Gold man Pedro Neto could return from injury, with the winger completing a physio session on Thursday and due to return to team training on Friday. Definitely absent is Cole Palmer, who is yet to return to training due to a groin problem, while Benoit Badiashile is expected back after the international break. Levi Colwill is set to miss the remainder of the season with a long-tern knee injury.
2 | The Stat Pack
Goals
- Jorgen Strand Larsen | 3
- Moises Caicedo | 4
Assists
- Emmanuel Agbadou | 2
- Joao Pedro | 3
Biggest win
- Wolves 2-0 Everton | September 2025
- West Ham 1-5 Chelsea | August 2025
Yellow cards
- Joao Gomes | 4
- Andrey Santos | 5
Clean sheets
- Sam Johnstone | 1
- Robert Sanchez | 6
3 | Journey to Saturday
Last weekend’s defeat at Fulham spelled the end of Vitor Pereira at Wolves. The 3-0 loss, which saw Agbadou sent off in the first half, left Wolves without a win during the opening ten Premier League games of the season. The green shoots of recovery after draws, which could have been wins, against Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion, sadly disappeared after the October international break. Defeat at Sunderland, a late twist against Burnley and comprehensive reverse at Craven Cottage meant it was time for a change in head coach. Saturday will give Collins and Walker an opportunity in the first-team dugout.
Chelsea have had less time to prepare for Saturday’s game, given they were in Azerbaijan on Wednesday. They drew 2-2 with Qarabag, with Alejandro Garnacho earning them the point, having been trailing at the break. In the Premier League, they won 1-0 at Tottenham last time out but have had problems at Stamford Bridge at times this season, with both Brighton and Sunderland winning there, but a last-minute victory over Liverpool at home provided arguably their moment of the season so far.
Dave Edwards talks life inside the dressing room during difficult times.
— Wolves (@Wolves) November 6, 2025
🎧 https://t.co/utrxEa2HHb pic.twitter.com/N1YorvajDz
4 | Boosting survival hopes at Chelsea
Back in 1979, Wolves travelled to Stamford Bridge in search of points to aid their battle against relegation from the top tier. Just like this weekend.
The Blues were embroiled in that same battle however, and an Old Gold 2-1 success did wonders for Wolves’ successful survival mission, while damaging Chelsea’s, with them eventually finishing bottom of the pile.
John Barnwell was rebuilding the team following Sammy Chung’s departure and John Richards scored one of his 194 Wolves goals that day, while Bolly Rafferty was also on target.
That survival gave the club a bump however, and the following year they were celebrating League Cup success at Wembley.
Chelsea | Borota, Aylott, Bannon, Harris, Langley, Nutton, Sitton, Stanley, Walker, R Wilkins, G Wilkins.
Wolves | Bradshaw, Berry, McAlle, Palmer, Parkin, Carr, Daley, Daniel, Hibbitt, Rafferty, Richards.
