#1 Lemina-shaped hole in the midfield
One decision high on Julen Lopetegui’s to-do list this week will have been to decide who replaces the suspended Mario Lemina in his midfield. The Gabon international was dismissed in the opening half hour of last week’s game at Southampton, for what appeared two disputable bookings. In spite of that dismissal, Wolves went on to win the game, but they’ll suffer again this weekend with the midfield serving a one-match ban. Such is the nature of the Wolves squad now, thankfully Lopetegui has options. The match-winning Joao Gomes, for example, could come in for his first start. Equally as realistic, the Spaniard may go with a midfield of Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho and Matheus Nunes and offer an extra attacking place to the likes of Adama Traore or Diego Costa, who made an impact off the bench at St Mary’s.
Lemina’s red card was the fourth picked up by Wolves this season – a Premier League high ahead of Chelsea with three – and that is a lead the head coach won’t want to extend. The previous three – Nathan Collins against Manchester City, Costa at Brentford and Nelson Semedo at home to Brighton & Hove Albion – came before his tenure, and he’ll hope Lemina’s is the last of the season. The midfielder’s replacement isn’t the head coach’s only decision, however, given the impact of the substitutes last weekend – Hugo Bueno, Adama, Costa and Gomes were all involved in goals, so could there be multiple changes to the line-up come 2pm on Saturday?
The mood is good.
— Wolves (@Wolves) February 15, 2023
📸😁 pic.twitter.com/JzS8wXFDH3
#2 Neto ready to boost the attack further
On the bench last Saturday was the welcome sight of Pedro Neto, and things have got even better for the Portuguese since then. After four months on the sidelines following his ankle injury suffered at West Ham United, the 22-year-old was back in the matchday squad and back in the celebrations, hurtling across the pitch to enjoy Gomes’ winner. Two days later, he stepped over the white line for James Collins’ under-21s and made an instant impact, scoring after just eight minutes after robbing possession high up the pitch and firing home left-footed. The winger was given 45 minutes to step up his recovery and will now hope an opportunity to return to the first-team fold opens up this weekend. He links up with a squad back in the goals and adds a further welcome boost to the attacking areas.
It’s felt a long time coming, but Wolves are no longer the lowest scorers in the division and are looking up on the goal front. The two strikes against Southampton saw the old gold leapfrog Everton, who blanked at Liverpool, and draw level with Forest, who failed to score against Fulham. While 17 still makes low reading from 22 games, the green shoots of recovery are evident. Also, the goals are being shared around – both Craig Dawson and Gomes added themselves to Wolves’ list of scorers in recent weeks, while their teammates made their own luck by forcing own goals out of Joel Matip and Jan Bednarek in the same games. Pablo Sarabia and Matheus Cunha will hope to follow suit with goals of their own soon, likewise Nunes and Moutinho in midfield.
#3 Enjoying life against the Cherries
Like Southampton last week, Wolves hold an impressive recent record against Bournemouth. In the five previous meetings in the Premier League, Wolves have remained unbeaten, winning three and drawing two. In that period the old gold have kept three clean sheets and conceded just two goals. Back in August, the two met on the south coast, but such has been the mix up since then, only six of those who started that night were in the 11 at Southampton last weekend for Wolves. Now under Lopetegui, the old gold have improved, winning three of their previous four, and victory over the Cherries would see the club register three consecutive Premier League wins for the first time since January 2022.
Back in August, Bournemouth were new back to the Premier League, and Wolves are unbeaten in their previous seven against promoted teams – three wins and four draws – dating back to a 2-0 reverse to Brentford in September 2021. The Cherries have kept two clean sheets in their previous 11 against Wolves and are winless in seven Premier League matches, which will give the hosts hope for another successful result. However, amidst those seven games are draws with Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United, so the task will be far from easy.
#4 Cherries turning their fortunes around
Wolves are coming up against the side who have conceded the most goals in the Premier League this season with 44. That stat is heavily influenced by a 9-0 defeat to Liverpool back in August, however. Following that loss, Mark Travers was replaced in goal by Neto, coincidently for the visit of Wolves, and his record since is more impressive. The Brazilian goalkeeper has conceded a goal every 80 minutes, rather than every 30 minutes which Travers suffered. Striker Dom Solanke returned from a knee injury in last week’s draw with Newcastle, likewise Jack Stephens, as the Cherries strengthen in time for the run-in. Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Fredericks hadn’t featured since the World Cup, but both came off the bench against the Magpies and may push for a start at Molineux.
Bournemouth are travelling to Molineux knowing a victory could lift them out of the drop zone and as high as 16th, and with Everton and Leeds United facing off, they’d be guaranteed to gain ground on one, if not both. Marcos Senesi scored his first goal for the club last time out, while Solanke’s chance to win it was cleared off the line in the last minute, meaning Gary O’Neill’s side head to the West Midlands with renewed belief.
