#1 No more away days
Wolves are looking to build on their positive performance away at Brentford last weekend, which was their fourth visit to the capital during a hectic October. A month on from being named interim boss, Davis now has chance to settle his side down at home over the next week as they enjoy the surroundings of Molineux in all three of their upcoming fixtures, before the Premier League takes a six-week hiatus for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. But it’s not an easy start to the run for the head coach, with Brighton arriving at Molineux fresh off one of their best results of the season, having knocked Chelsea for four at the Amex last weekend. However, Wolves have lost just one of their last seven Premier League games against the Seagulls.
But Wolves will be buoyed by their results at home this season, which have seen the side lose just twice, one of those was against title-chasing Manchester City. The old gold earned just their second point away from Molineux this term last weekend, but with no more away fixtures on the current schedule until the Boxing Day visit to Goodison Park, it gives the team a chance to show what they can do in front of their home support. Both of Wolves’ wins have come at Molineux, and Davis is well aware of how important the backing of those in the stands will have in pushing his side to their third three points.
#2 Still searching for that crucial second goal
Wolves have the unwelcome record of being the Premier League’s lowest scorers this season with just six goals from their 13 matches and are still on the hunt for scoring a second goal in a single match, having not found the back of the net more than once in any of their last 16 outings. Davis’ side also have the lowest shot conversion rate (3.8 per cent) and the biggest negative difference between goals and expected goals (-7.6, six goals from an xG of 13.6), which shows that the side are creating chances, but just not converting them.
That was exactly the issue the last time Wolves stepped out at Molineux. Against Leicester City, the hosts peppered Danny Ward’s goal with 21 efforts without finding the back of the net, while the Foxes had less than a quarter of those chances but managed to beat Jose Sa four times. When they headed to Brentford last Saturday, the main hope from supporters of a gold and black persuasion was to see more battle and fight from their players, and that is what they were given. But Davis knows that if Wolves are to get that elusive second goal they’re going to have to show all the commitment at either end of the pitch – while having some luck going their way.
Building up to Brighton.
— Wolves (@Wolves) November 4, 2022
🐺💪 pic.twitter.com/Uz6r7C3eid
#3 The rise of Bueno
A few weeks ago, there weren’t too many football supporters outside of Wolves who had ever heard the name Hugo Bueno, but his impressive spell in the old gold shirt has gone a long way to change that. Originally arriving into Wolves Academy as a 16-year-old, it was his current head coach who converted him from an attacking midfielder to a flying left wing-back, paving the way for his career to blossom into what it is today. It’s been a rollercoaster journey to this point for Bueno, but he could not have wished for a better October.
After a cameo appearance in the final minutes of the victory over Nottingham Forest at Molineux, Bueno was thrust into the spotlight after Rayan Ait-Nouri picked up an infection ahead of the visit to Crystal Palace. But the Spaniard, who had been a major factor in Wolves under-23s securing promotion to the top tier of youth football last season, took to the Premier League like a duck to water. Just 31 minutes into his first start, he whipped in a delicious cross for Adama Traore to head his side into the lead. He followed that up with two more notable showings against Leicester and Brentford, earning him the title of Wolves’ Castore Player of the Month, as well as a new four-year deal. But with Ait-Nouri back to full fitness, it leaves Davis with a choice to make over who of the two talented young stars will be given the position against Brighton.
#4 Starting places up for grabs
It’s not just at left-back where Davis has a decision to make this weekend, but thanks to Diego Costa’s late sending off on Saturday, it leaves the door open for one of the attacking options to show their hand and make the place in the team their own. Since appearing off the bench against West Ham United at the start of October, the striker had been a constant in Davis’ line-up, but now missing until after the World Cup break, there are three games for the likes of Hee Chan Hwang, Goncalo Guedes or Chem Campbell to make their claim.
Not having Costa available could also see Davis switch formation and add an additional man into midfield. The last few weeks have seen a combination of Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes, Joao Moutinho and Boubacar Traore occupy the positions in the centre of the pitch, but with Nunes having to be replaced by Moutinho before half-time at the Gtech Community Stadium, and due to take a fitness test ahead of the match on Saturday, it could offer either Joe Hodge or Connor Ronan – who is yet to make a Premier League appearance – a chance to earn one of those spots. Over in right-back, Jonny and Nelson Semedo have been swapping in and out during the last few matches, so it will be another choice for Davis and his coaches to make.
