#1 Keep the momentum going
Bruno Lage’s side were more than a match for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, but somehow managed to find themselves two goals down following an almost disastrous three-minute spell in which Wolves allowed Romelu Lukaku to find the net twice. Coming off the back of three defeats to sides below them in the Premier League table, Wolves could have easily dropped their heads and fallen to a heavy defeat, but instead they found the spirit within them to keep trying.
After having several chances in the first-half which went begging, it might not have felt like it would be Wolves’ day, but the never-say-die attitude which has been a trait of the old gold side since they returned to the top-flight in 2018 returned with 20 minutes of the match remaining, as Francisco Trincao’s stunner gave Wolves a glimmer of hope. With the game into seven minutes of added time, up stepped captain Conor Coady to head his side level to maintain his 100 per cent goals to shots ratio this season – with his four goals coming from just four shots on target in the Premier League. Wolves looked back to their attacking best in the closing stages at Stamford Bridge, and they will hope to continue that momentum as they return to Molineux on Wednesday evening.
#2 Stepping up the attack
A switch of personnel, rather than a change in formation allowed Wolves to cut Chelsea open last time out. Although it might have looked as if Wolves changed to a back four in the closing stages on Saturday, it was because Chiquinho, coming on as a right wing-back with Jonny shifted into the centre of defence, spent most of his time on the pitch in an attacking area, overloading the Blues defence and giving more space for the forwards of Raul Jimenez, Hee Chan Hwang and Francisco Trincao to flourish.
All three had great chances to find the back of the net in those final 20 minutes, and with Manchester City heading to Molineux this evening, the trio will be hoping to get back on the pitch and show what they can do with just over a week of the season remaining. Mexican striker Jimenez especially will be relishing the opportunity to face City, having scored two goals and racked up three assists from his six Premier League appearances against the Citizens.
9️⃣ @Raul_Jimenez9 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/X7DDvJQ3u5
— Wolves (@Wolves) May 10, 2022
#3 Battling for league positions
After Liverpool’s victory over Aston Villa on Tuesday night, the Reds are now level on 86 points with Man City at the top of the Premier League table, but City remain at the summit thanks to their superior goal difference. The side they are facing tonight can have a big say in where the league title ends up going, with Wolves due to play both teams in their final three, heading to Anfield on the final day of the season.
Wolves will be aiming to get maximum points from their run-in, knowing European football is still within their grasps – as long as other results go their way. The old gold sit in eighth place in the league but are five points behind West Ham United in seventh, although Wolves do have a game in hand over the Hammers. Home form might be on Wolves’ side, having alternated between a win and a loss in all eight of their league games at Molineux in 2022, meaning a win is owed having lost to Brighton in their last outing at the golden palace.
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#4 Records in their sights
Both Wolves and Manchester City can earn records when they face off at Molineux tonight, as a win for Wolves will be a club record-equalling 16th victory in the Premier League, while a goal for the hosts will be just the second they would have scored at home against a team currently in the top half of the Premier League table.
However, it’s going to be a difficult evening for Wolves as they face a City side who are currently on a club record run of 16 Premier League away games unbeaten, having won 13 and drew three of those matches, while the visitors are vying to win successive league games at Molineux for the first time since April 1981 thanks to their 3-1 win at the stadium last season. City also have the division’s best away record this season, earning 42 points and only conceding eight times in their 17 matches, while it is 560 minutes since the side conceded in a Premier League match away from home.
