Wolverhampton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town
Date: 25/11/2018
K/O: 16.00
Venue: Molineux
Referee: Kevin Friend
TV: Sky Main Event
Huddersfield Town travel to the West Midlands on Sunday afternoon to face a Wolves side who fave failed to win in their last four Premier League games.
The Championship is a distant memory for Wolves as they are now in the midst of Premier League action having won four, lost four and drawn four so far in the 2018/19 campaign. Sitting 11th in the table, it’s safe to say that Wolves have started this season strongly, and they will look to continue this run when they host Huddersfield at Molineux.
The Terriers have failed to reproduce their impressive start from last season and sit in the relegation zone after 12 games. However, following their abysmal start, the David Wagner’s side will be looking to be put it behind them, as their last two games against Fulham and West Ham have provided four points and a platform to move forward. Wagner will certainly be eyeing this fixture as a must win following their poor performances against the Premier League big dogs.
Wolves may have started well but seem to have hit a rough patch. Their last three points came over a month ago against Crystal Palace on the sixth of October following a trip to Selhurst Park. Since then they have failed to keep a single clean sheet and have conceded seven goals – only scoring three times.
Despite this tough spell, head coach Nuno Espirito said his team have”so much talent” following their draw at the Emirates. The draw against an impressive Arsenal side will have hurt Wolves fans after conceding a late equaliser. Santo will be eyeing this opportunity to get his side back on track before a tough test at home to an imperious Chelsea side, despite their 3-1 humbling at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.
Huddersfield have lost only once at Molineux in the last three decades, which occurred in 1988 following a 4-1 dismantling by a rampant Wolves side. Since then the Terriers have played nine times away to Wolves and that is their only defeat. The last time that Huddersfield faced Wolves they nicked a 1-0 victory which secured Wagner’s side a place in the Championship play-offs that ultimately led them to promotion.
Both sides face an attacking conundrum in terms of how to improve. Town have netted the least amount of goals so far and Wolves are not far behind, only scoring six more. Wolves have a plethora of great attacking players; Neves, Jiménez, Traoré, Costa and Cavaleiro all make up a scintillating offensive line up. However, it appears they need to be more clinical, which suggests Santo could be forced into a striker based January transfer if the goals don’t start coming soon.
Huddersfield are not only suffering from a lack of clinical finishing, but are failing to produce enough chances in order to score. Four of their six goals in the league have come from set pieces, which highlights their inability to score in open play. Their shocking attacking form is shown by the fact that seven Wolves players have better odds than any Town player to score first.
Team News
Wolves
Wolves have a double injury doubt for this weekends match. Wing-back Jonny Castro Otto has been ruled out for six weeks whilst Matt Doherty will face a late fitness test after both picked up injuries during the international break, though the Irishman is expected to start on Sunday.
Otto is an unfortunate playing for Wolves to be missing and fans will hope he returns with no complications. Doherty is having treatment for a facial injury which forced him to miss both international games but indications from Santo suggest he will be in the starting XI.
Huddersfield
Mathias Jorgensen is ineligible and will sit this one out as he will be serving a suspension due to the fifth yellows cards he obtained last time out. Jonas Lossl has a knock but should be fit enough to start in goal on Sunday.
Danny Williams has recovered from a knee injury and is in contention for a run out against Wolves. The American is yet to get a start this season and this weekend could provide an opportunity for him to gain some match fitness. Chris Lowe has suffered a shoulder injury and will need an operation, so the German will be out for a number of weeks. He will most likely be replaced in the heart of defence by Terence Kongolo.
Predicted Starting XI’s
Huddersfield Town (3-4-1-1): Lössl; Stankovic, Schindler, Kongolo, Hadergjonaj; Mooy, Hogg, Billing, Durm; Pritchard; Mounie
Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-4-3): Rui Patrício; R Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Moutinho, Rúben Neves, Rúben Vinagre; Hélder Costa, Raúl Jiménez, Cavaleiro
Score Prediction: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Huddersfield Town 0
Wolves have been superb so far at home and have shown an impressive desire to attack. Huddersfield’s away record is poor and it is difficult to see them scoring away to a resilient Wolves side. The presence of the home crowd in addition to their attacking threat makes it likely to see Wolves will emerge with three points in this encounter.
