MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 11:25:19| >> :60:3543:3543:
[monks data]
Wolves logo
Championship
Feb 21, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Rotherham logo

5-0

Afobe (21', 63'), Dicko (28'), Edwards (74'), Sako (80')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Preview: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Rotherham

Sports Mole looks ahead to Saturday's Championship clash between promotion hopefuls Wolves and relegation-threatened Rotherham at Molineux.

Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome Rotherham United to Molineux this weekend hoping to get their playoff challenge back on track.

A damaging period for the Midlands outfit continued with a 2-0 defeat to fellow top-six contenders Norwich City at Carrow Road last weekend, a result that made it just one win in their last five Championship outings.

That dip in form has seen Wolves slip five points adrift of the playoff places, and with the likes of Watford and Norwich City in good form, they can't allow that gap to grow much bigger.

Kenny Jackett has already seen his side recover from one poor run of form this season, however, and he will be hoping that victory on Saturday will be the catalyst for another recovery.

Their record at Molineux has not been great since the turn of the year, though, with only one win from four matches, and that coming against bottom-of-the-table Blackpool more than a month ago.

They have never lost at home to Rotherham in eight previous meetings, however, while the corresponding fixture in League One last season ended 6-4 to Wolves, helped largely by a Nouha Dicko hat-trick.

Dicko, who had scored twice for the Millers against Wolves in the reverse fixture last season, is expected to lead the Wolves line again this weekend despite being taken off at half time against Norwich as Jackett switched systems.

His replacement Dave Edwards could start in midfield, while Jackett is expected to keep faith with Bakary Sako despite the Mali international having gone 14 games without a goal for his club.

Matt Doherty is pushing for a recall having missed out through illness against Norwich, with Dominic Iorfa likely to make way, but Carl Ikeme remains sidelined due to injury.

Rotherham, meanwhile, have shown an upturn in form at the opportune moment to keep them at arm's length from the bottom three and will be confident that they can take a positive result away from Molineux.

The Millers have lost just one of their last five matches, including an impressive 3-3 draw with high-flyers Derby County on Tuesday night - a result that could have been even better but for Darren Bent's late equaliser.

Even so, they remain two places and four points clear of the relegation zone which, while not being a convincing gap with 15 matches still to play, at least gives them a bit of breathing space.

They have only won two away games all season, however, with both of those coming against teams in the bottom three. Indeed, they have taken only three points from away games against sides in the top half of the table so far.

Steve Evans will take heart from the fact that they have already beaten Wolves once this season, although their 1-0 victory at the New York Stadium back in August saw them ride their luck at times.

Jack Hunt is a doubt for the Millers having been forced off early against Derby in midweek, but otherwise Evans could keep changes to a minimum, with Matt Derbyshire leading the line having scored four goals in his last five games.

Wolves:

Recent form: WDDLWL

Possible starting lineup: Kuszczak; Doherty, Batth, Stearman, Hause; McDonald, Edwards, Van La Parra, Afobe, Sako; Dicko

Rotherham:

Recent form: LWDWLD

Possible starting lineup: Collin; Richardson, Broadfoot, Arnason, Fryers; Pringle, Green, Smallwood, Milsom; Ward, Derbyshire

Sports Mole says: 2-1


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David Edwards of Wolves celebrates with team-mates after scoring his team's first goal during the FA Cup third round replay match against Fulham on January 13, 2015
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