Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Premier League clash between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Luton Town, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Seeking to climb out of the relegation zone, Luton Town travel to Molineux to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in a bottom-half Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon.
The Hatters earned their first Premier League point, albeit in controversial circumstances, when they played out a 1-1 draw with Wolves in the reverse fixture at Kenilworth Road in September last year.
Match preview
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Earlier this year, Wolves were flying high under Gary O’Neil and were regarded by some as outsiders to challenge for the European positions, something that was unimaginable at the beginning of the campaign.
The Old Gold were within touching distance of the top six in mid-February, but a six-game winless league run has seen them slip to 12th in the table, seven points behind Newcastle United in seventh with only four games left to play.
A top-half finish is still a realistic goal for O’Neil’s side, who will be keen to return to winning way following back-to-back home defeats without reply against Arsenal and Bournemouth, losing 1-0 to the latter on Wednesday in a game the Cherries dominated throughout.
Wolves head into Saturday’s contest having lost only two of their last 15 Premier League games against promoted teams. One of those defeat was at Sheffield United (1-2) in November last year and they have not lost to two different promoted teams in the same top-flight seasons since 2011-12.
Against Luton, however, Wolves are unbeaten in their last eight league meetings (W4 D4) and came out on top the last time they welcome the Hatters to Molineux back in August 2006 when Jemal Johnson scored the only goal in a narrow 1-0 Championship win under former boss Mick McCarthy.
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Although both Everton and Nottingham Forest have been hit with points deductions this season, Luton remain below the dreaded dotted line in 18th place having won just two of their 15 Premier League matches since the turn of the year.
The Hatters have lost four of their last five in the top flight and enter Saturday’s match following back-to-back 5-1 defeats to Manchester City and Brentford, losing to the latter on home soil last weekend.
Luke Berry‘s stoppage-time strike proved inconsequential for the hosts, as goals from Yoane Wissa (2), Ethan Pinnock, Keane Lewis-Potter and Kevin Schade helped the Bees cruised to a dominant victory at Kenilworth Road, condemning Luton to their 21st league loss of the season.
Although their poor run of form leaves them in danger of an immediate return to the second tier, Rob Edwards‘s side can climb out of the relegation zone with a victory at Wolves, before 17th-placed Forest – who sit just one point above the Hatters – play host to Manchester City on Sunday.
However, success on Saturday could prove challenging for Luton, who have failed to win any of their last seven away matches, losing their last four and conceding 13 goals in the process, while only Sheffield United (six) have picked up fewer points on the road than the Hatters (10) all season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form:
Luton Town Premier League form:
Team News
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Wolves defender Santiago Bueno was forced off with a hamstring injury in midweek and he is set to join Craig Dawson (groin), Pedro Neto (hamstring), Noha Lemina (thigh) and Leon Chiwone (ankle) in the treatment room.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde has missed the last seven games in all competitions with a knee injury, but the midfielder has made progress in his recovery and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.
Matheus Cunha was only fit to make the substitutes’ bench in midweek, but the Brazilian will be in contention to start on Saturday and could join either or both of Pablo Sarabia and Hwang Hee-chan in attack.
As for Luton, Tom Lockyer (chest), Marvelous Nakamba, Jacob Brown (both knee), Elijah Adebayo, Amari’i Bell, Chiedozie Ogbene, Daniel Potts (all thigh) and Mads Andersen (calf) all remain in the treatment room, while Reece Burke will be assessed ahead of kickoff after he lasted just 45 minutes against Brentford due to illness.
Issa Kabore is also doubtful after he was forced off in the first half with an ankle problem; either Fred Onyedinma or Daiki Hashioka could be handed a start at right wing-back if Kabore is not deemed fit to start.
Carlton Morris scored one of his nine Premier League goals this season in the reverse fixture against Wolves, and he is expected to retain his place up front, with Jordan Clark, Tahith Chong and Andros Townsend all battling to join him in attack.
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Doherty, Kilman, Toti; Semedo, Lemina, Gomes, Ait-Nouri; Sarabia, Cunha; Hwang
Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Burke, Mengi, Osho; Onyedinma, Sambi Lokonga, Barkley, Doughty; Clark, Chong; Morris
We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Luton Town
Although neither side will be at full strength and enter this weekend’s contest on the back of a poor run of form, both clubs will fancy their chances of coming out to on top. A tight affair could be in store, but we believe Wolves will find a way to outscore their opponents and avoid a third successive home defeat.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.