Wolves are back at Molineux for their Championship meeting with Stoke City on Saturday lunchtime as Cesar Peixoto’s side aim to continue their unbeaten start to the 2026/27 season.
Roll call
After his eight changes in midweek helped fire Wolves to Carabao Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday, Peixoto will have a decision to make as to whether he should stick with his changed side or switch back to the line-up which won 3-1 away at Preston North End last weekend. One of the two new goalkeeper additions in Joao Virginia and John Ruddy are likely to be in the squad with Jose Sa expected to maintain the number one spot, while several places are still up for grabs following several impressive performances from across the Old Gold squad so far this season. Yerson Mosquera, Kieran Trippier and Rafiki Said remain on the sidelines through injury.
Only one member of Mark Robins’ Stoke City squad are unavailable for the visit to Molineux on Saturday lunchtime, with Aaron Cresswell remaining in rehabilitation following a knee injury. Junior Tchamadeu and Ato Ampahare returning to fitness having missed a chunk of pre-season and could be up for selection this weekend, while Bosun Lawal made his comeback against Hull in midweek after missing the Southampton defeat last weekend, while Lamine Cisse has returned to training following a knock and Svante Ingelsson is available again after serving a one-match ban.
The form guide
Wolves are unbeaten in all four of their competitive fixtures so far this season, having picked up three wins and draw in 2026/27. Two of those three wins have come against lower league opposition in the Carabao Cup, having overcome Port Vale and Sheffield Wednesday, while Peixoto’s side followed up their Championship opening day draw with Blackburn Rovers by securing all three points on the road at Deepdale against Preston last weekend. With the team aiming to make an immediate return to the Premier League, another win on Saturday ahead of a tricky visit to fellow relegated side West Ham United would be much welcomed.
Stoke are still looking for their first league win of the season, having suffered successive defeats from their two Championship matches so far. The Potters went ahead in both fixtures against Swansea City and Southampton, before their opponents fought back to claim 2-1 and 3-1 wins respectively. Stoke also gave up a one-goal lead in their midweek Carabao Cup defeat to recently promoted Hull City, as the Tigers went on to progress into the third round via penalties. Stoke’s only win so far this season came in the first round of the cup with a two-goal victory over League Two Oldham Athletic.
A debut goal for Saheed Olagunju 👏 pic.twitter.com/2flVO1E520
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 26, 2026
The past with Stoke
Wolves haven’t got the best of records against Stoke at Molineux in more recent times, with the Old Gold claiming just two home wins against the Potters since the turn of the Millennium. The most recent Molineux victory came on the opening day of the 2010/11 Premier League season, as Wolves scored twice inside two first half minutes to claim three points. The game is synonymous for David Jones’ clever free-kick, which saw the midfielder teed up by captain Karl Henry just outside the Stoke box before flicking the ball up and volleying a stunning effort in off the underside of the crossbar. Debutant Steven Fletcher made it two to Wolves shortly after, and although Stoke pulled a goal back through Abdoulaye Faye’s header, the hosts held on for all three points.
Wolves | Hahnemann, Van Damme (Elokobi 71), Craddock, Ward, Berra, Foley, Henry, Jones, Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake, Fletcher (Keogh 49) (Halford 88).
After the match, Jones said of his free-kick: “I’ve been working on it. It was just perfect really. From that type of distance it’s very hard to get the ball up and down. I knew how to do that and that I had to keep the ball flat. I’m just delighted that it came off. It was a special goal – ‘Le Tissier’ Jones! I probably haven’t scored a better one – on this stage as well, in the Premier League. It’s nice to score and I’ll enjoy it but from Monday there’s a new game to prepare for.”
