Wolves are hosting Queens Park Rangers for their EFL Championship tie at Molineux Stadium on Saturday. The visitors are expected to undergo the full force of the league leaders in the battle for a top 10 finish. QPR are currently at the 15th spot while the Wanderers are cruising at the top with an 11-point lead over Derby County.
The expensively assembled Wolves have dominated the entire second division this campaign and are well poised to take their talents to the Premier League next season. They are already busy scouting for further additions in the summer in what can be deemed to be already a well-built squad. Nuno Espirito Santo’s men completely outclassed Sheffield United in the last fixture as they went on to win 3-0 at home.
With 68 points from after 30 game weeks, the team from Molineux Stadium who entered the New Year at the summit of the table will be buoyed by the fact that the last 12 teams to enter the New Year at the top, have all gone on to secure automatic promotion.
While they are enjoying a run at the top, the Hoops will try to draw inspiration from the fact that the hosts have not beaten them at the Molineux since April 2009 (league only). They have also won three of their last five league games – as many as they’d won in their previous 19 combined.
Ian Holloway will be without Ryan Manning through suspension. The midfielder starts a three-match ban after he was sent off towards the end of last weekend’s 1-0 win at Barnsley. Jamie Mackie, David Wheeler and Grant Hall are long-term absentees for Rangers. But Paul Smyth is pushing to return after a quad strain.
Wolves will be looking to produce another fine display of football this weekend against QPR and take the revenge after the 2-1 loss in their last fixture.
Here is how they might lineup tomorrow.
Formation: 3-4-3
Defence
John Ruddy can be expected in goal for the match. The defensive three is likely to consist of on-loan player Willy Boly, Ryan Bennett and Conor Coady.
Midfield
A midfield quartet of Matt Doherty, Barry Douglas, Alfred N’Diaye and Ruben Neves can be expected to fill up the middle of the park for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Attack
Ivan Cavaleiro is expected to start on the right. He will be supported by star performer Diogo Jota who also has entered the double digits for the season with 12 goals to his tally. Helder Costa is expected to be the third attacker on the right.
