Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome Ipswich Town to Molineux for a Premier League contest on Sunday afternoon between two teams struggling at the wrong end of the table.
The Old Gold are down in 19th place and are joined in the relegation zone by the Tractor Boys, who sit just once place above them courtesy of goal difference.
Match preview
© Imago
Wolves head coach Gary O'Neil was hoping that his side could build on their four-game winless run between October 26 and November 23 during which they accumulated eight points, beating Southampton (2-0) and Fulham (4-1) in the process.
However, the Old Gold have suffered three disappointing defeats in a row within the space of nine days, most recently losing 2-1 away against fellow strugglers West Ham United on Monday. Matt Doherty equalised in the 69th minute, but parity was short-lived as Jarrod Bowen netted what proved to be the match-winner just three minutes later.
Defeat at the London Stadium represented Wolves' 10th of the season after 15 Premier League games, and although they are four points adrift of safety, under-fire boss O'Neil has received the public support of chairman Jeff Shi.
Wolves' defensive frailties have been exposed throughout this season and no Premier League team conceded more goals than the Old Gold (38) thus far. On home soil, they have shipped 34 goals in 16 league games in 2024, and not since 2012 (47 in 23 games) have they conceded as many goals at Molineux in a calendar year.
Saturday's contest will be Wolves' first Premier League meeting against Ipswich and there is reason for O'Neil's men to be optimistic of success, as they are unbeaten in their last seven encounters with the Tractor Boys, keeping a clean sheet in each of their last five.
© Imago
Since claiming their first and only victory of the season to date away against Tottenham Hotspur (2-1) in the middle of November, Ipswich have failed to win each of their last four matches, most recently losing 2-1 at home to Bournemouth in dramatic fashion.
The Tractor Boys were seemingly on course to secure their first top-flight victory of the season at Portman Road, as they entered the final three minutes plus stoppage time a goal ahead thanks to Conor Chaplin. However, Enes Unal's 87th-minute equaliser was followed by a 95th-minute winner from another Cherries substitute in Dango Ouattara.
No Premier League team have dropped more points from winning positions than Ipswich (15) so far this season, and Kieran McKenna's dressing room was left "devastated" after coming away empty handed from a game they "deserved more from" following a spirited display.
Not even a win over Wolves on Saturday would see Ipswich climb out of the relegation zone, but it would certainly boost their survival hopes and morale ahead of a challenging run of festive fixtures against Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea and Fulham.
Ipswich travel to the West Midlands having won six of their last seven top-flight meetings with Wolves, but they have only come out on top in one of their last 16 away league visits to Molineux - a 2-0 Championship success in December 2012.
Team News
© Imago
Wolves are still having to cope without long-term absentees Yerson Mosquera, Enso Gonzalez, Sasa Kalajdzic and Boubacar Traore (all knee), while goalkeeper Jose Sa is will miss out again with a shoulder problem, so Sam Johnstone is set to continue between the sticks.
Pablo Sarabia also remains sidelined with a calf injury, while Joao Gomes will serve a one-match suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
The absence of Gomes could see Tommy Doyle recalled to start in midfield next to Andre and Mario Lemina, or one of Rodrigo Gomes, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde or Goncalo Guedes handed a start in attack with Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen.
As for Ipswich, Chiedozie Ogbene (Achilles), Axel Tuanzebe (hamstring), Janoi Donacien (ankle) and George Hirst (knee) all remain sidelined as they continue to recover from injury.
McKenna has revealed that Kalvin Phillips and Ben Johnson are still "managing" their injury concerns and will be assessed ahead of kickoff, while some unnamed players are dealing with "seasonal illnesses".
Jack Taylor was handed his first Premier League start last time out, but he could be replaced in centre-midfield by Jens Cajuste, while either Jack Clarke or Wes Burns may be recalled to start on the right flank, with Omari Hutchinson potentially moving into the number 10 role at the expense of Chaplin, even though he scored his first PL goal against Bournemouth.
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Johnstone; Semedo, S. Bueno, T. Gomes; Doherty, Lemina, Andre, Ait-Nouri; Bellegarde, Cunha; Strand Larsen
Ipswich Town possible starting lineup:
Muric; H. Clarke, O'Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Burns, Hutchinson, Szmodics; Delap
We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-2 Ipswich Town
Both Wolves and Ipswich will view Saturday's contest as a strong opportunity to pick up maximum points, with the onus being on the former to turn up in front of the Molineux crowd and ease the pressure on O'Neil's shoulders.
Neither side have looked strong from a defensive perspective this term, so goals at both ends could be on the cards, but we feel that the Tractor Boys will do enough to frustrate the hosts and pick up a point on their travels, a result that would not massively benefit either team.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
