Premier League preview: Wigan vs Wolves

koclokindoblog, 11 Mei 2012, Wigan Athletic can win their seventh game in nine starts while Wolverhampton Wanderers will bid farewell to the Premier League on Sunday.

Wolves, rooted to the bottom of the table with just five wins and 25 points, have already been consigned to Championship after two seasons in the top flight.

Wigan, in 15th on 40 points, on the other hand, secured their Premier League status for another term with a late winner against Blackburn Rovers in their last outing.

In fact Roberto Martinez's side are one of the Premier League's form teams with 18 points from their last eight games - a feat only matched by Newcastle United.

Wigan skipper Gary Caldwell has urged his side to 'become a real force' in the Premier League next season as they prepare to farewell the DW Stadium faithful for another season.

"Finishing a point higher than last season and in 15th position in the league would be fantastic," Caldwell told the official Wigan website.

"Now as a football club we have to progress and we don't want to be in this position again next year.

"From day one in pre-season we have to come back and show that hunger and that commitment to be a better football team and if we do that we will finish much further up this league."

Wolves have taken just three from their last possible 24 points and are winless in their last 13 matches.

Following recent draws against Swansea and Everton, Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards declared his side are determined to clinch a maiden victory for manager Terry Connor, took over from the sacked Mick McCarthy in February.

"We keep saying it's for TC, and we haven't given him three points yet so it would be good to finish with two draws and a win to put a better mark on it for him," Edwards told the official Wolves website.

Wolves ran out 3-1 winners last time the sides met in November at Molineux with Jamie O'Hara, David Edwards and Stephen Ward striking for the home side.

 

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Premier League preview: Wolves vs Everton

koclokindoblog, 4 Mei 2012, Pride is the only thing on the line when bottom side Wolves host Everton in their penultimate Premier League outing on Sunday.

Wolves, already consigned to the Championship next season, came from three goals down to rescue a point away to Swansea City last weekend.

Matt Jarvis netted a brace at the Liberty Stadium but was brought off with groin soreness soon after levelling the score at 4-4 in the second half.

The England international is expected to be fit for Wolves' final home game of the season at Molineux and insists the team will continue to play for pride.

"My groin tightened up a little towards the end but I should be fine," Jarvis told Wolves' official website.

"It was a horrible start to the game for us going 3-0 down. But it just shows the fight and determination in the squad that we were able to get back involved.

"We are all very proud of playing for Wolves and want to show what it means to the club to get results."

Wolves are winless since Terry Connor was handed the managerial reins in February, taking just three points from a possible 33 following the sacking of Mick McCarthy.

Everton, in seventh place on 52 points, were held to a 1-1 draw at Stoke City on Tuesday but remain hopeful of finishing above Merseyside rivals Liverpool, who occupy eighth on the Premier League table.

Everton are undefeated in their last seven Premier League outings, scoring 19 goals in the process.

"To finish above Liverpool we have to be really determined and try to get the right results," Everton midfielder Tim Cahill told the club's website.

"We have to be on song because it's such a massive thing to finish above Liverpool and I think for the fans it would be a just reward for what we've been through this season."

Everton edged out Wolves 2-1 last time the sides met in November with Leighton Baines scoring the winner after Phil Jagielka cancelled out Stephen Hunt's opening goal.

 

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Premier League preview: Swansea vs Wolves

koclokindoblog, 27 April 2012, Already relegated Wolves have nothing but pride to gain as they travel to Swansea City in the English Premier League on Saturday.

Since the Molineux-based outfit sacked Mick McCarthy on February 13, they have failed to win with caretaker boss Terry Connor overseeing a run which saw them lose eight times in 10 matches.

And the poor form culminated in relegation from the top flight after title chasers Manchester City defeated them 2-0 on Sunday.

Connor insists Wolves will take the remainder of the season seriously though as they try to end the campaign on a high.

"We've got three more games to complete the season, and we need to approach them in right manner," said Connor after the club's relegation.

"The (English) Premier League is said to be best in the world so we'll be honest and competitive for three more games as the performances and results we get may have a bearing on how the league pans out, so we owe it the league and everybody to finish it off.

"We'll finish the season, we'll finish it competitively and then we'll sit down and decide where the club wishes to go and which path to take."

The likes of Steven Fletcher, Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt are sure to attract attention from other clubs but Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey has rejected suggestions they will be forced into selling their stars.

"We need to address the managerial position at the end of the season, and then, once that's resolved, address the playing situation," Moxey said.

"What is for certain is that some players will go and some will be signed but we want to try to keep our best players.

"We're under no financial pressure to sell, but we also understand the realities of football."

Connor is likely to use a few of the club's younger players over the next few weeks with 21-year-old midfielder David Davis set to start again.

Senior players Hunt and Jamie O'Hara (both groin), Sebastian Bassong and Jody Craddock (both hamstring) and Wayne Hennessey (knee) are all sidelined.

Swansea City's push for a top-half finish could be given a boost by the visit of Wolves as they look to improve on a run of form that has seen them win just one of their last six matches.

Manager Brendan Rodgers has taken the chance to experiment with the side given their safe position but a top-10 finish would be a great result for the club in their first ever English Premier League season. 

 

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Premier League preview: Wolverhampton vs Manchester City

koclokindoblog, 19 April 2012, Manchester City will accept nothing less than three points from their visit to Wolverhampton to keep their title hopes alive on Sunday.

Second-placed City trail local rivals Manchester United, who host Everton on Sunday, by five points ahead of a tantalising Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium on April 30.

Defender Joleon Lescott, who will make his 100th appearance for City at Molineux, insists his side are primed for a late title challenge following thumping wins against West Bromwich Albion (4-0) and Norwich City (6-1).

"Our mental state is fine," Lescott told Sky Sports News.

"We had a bit of a run of inconsistency in the last few weeks but in the last two games we have shown that we are a good team and our strength in depth is there.

"No disrespect to Everton and Wolves but we'd both like to think that we could win those games, so that means there is more emphasis on the derby.

"No matter what we're going to have to win that if we want to win the league and take control of our own destiny."

Wolves are nine points away from Premier League safety with just one win from their last 22 starts in all competitions and their hopes of survival took a further blow during the week when goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was ruled out for six months with a knee injury.

The Wales international ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in the closing stages of Wolves' scoreless draw against Sunderland last weekend, paving the way for Dutch shot stopper Dorus de Vries to make his Premier League debut against City.

Wolves have lost their last eight home league matches - the second worst streak in Premier League history - and will equal the record of 17 home games without a clean sheet if they concede against City.

 

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