Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
Leeds United
Leeds United
11th and 12th meet with Wolves and Leeds both searching for greater consistency
Wolves to win 2-1
Both Wolves and Leeds are among the teams vying for a top half finish to a season which has swung in both directions, often looking good before slumping to a period of mixed form.
With Wolves, their supporters will view the first 24 games of the campaign as a disappointment, winning just eight times and holding little hope of repeating last season’s feat of achieving European football.
The loss of Raul Jimenez (who still hopes to play again this season) to an awful head injury before Christmas has dampened their goal threat, but across the side there has been a drop in performance levels from last year. Can they push into the top half by building off two wins from five?
Leeds met their match against a spirited Arsenal side last weekend, going down 4-2 in a thrilling game which proved too open even for the Yorkshire club.
They have played a game fewer than their opponents and sit a place higher, though are unable to build a consistent patch of form.
Form Guide (all comps): LWDLW
Reasons to be cheerful:
Undefeated in last three league matches
The likes of Neto and Podence are beginning to step up
Reasons to be fearful:
Haven’t won back-to-back games since October
Four points worse off than last season
Wolves have won their last four meetings with Leeds, a run stretching back to their spell in the Championship together, but also their game from earlier this season.
The now injured Raul Jimenez scored the solitary goal in that game, but while there is a chance he will play again this season, Wolves have come to terms with the fact they must score greater numbers of goals without their Mexican talisman.
They recently notched two against Southampton and Arsenal before that, as well as earning an important point against high-flyers Leicester.
Here, manager Santo has no fresh injury concerns and could opt to select the same side to the one who beat the Saints, with recent arrival Willian Jose continuing up front.
They’ll need to create plenty of chances to beat this free-flowing Leeds side.
Star Man – Pedro Neto
Scored and assisted in the recent wins over Southampton and Arsenal – he’s proving his worth to Wolves right now.
Form Guide (all comps): WWLWL
Reasons to be cheerful:
Three wins from five has taken them to verge of top half
Despite defeat in last game, Leeds usually bounce back strongly
Reasons to be fearful:
Facing an injury crisis
Wolves are an improved side recently
Since crashing out of the FA Cup last month, Leeds have recovered well with three wins from their next five matches.
Recently, they overtook Arsenal to creep into the top half of the league, albeit temporarily as the Gunners claimed three points against Leeds last weekend.
Here, they face something of an injury crisis, with up to eight players missing including the likes of Phillips, Llorente and Koch who are all important starters in this side.
Even with fitness concerns, this Leeds side remain in great form in front of goal, with 10 goals coming from their last five games. Wolves will have trouble keeping up with them if that form continues here.
Consistency has been Leeds’ problem all season, with a strong win often followed by a poor defeat.
Star Man – Raphinha
Has four goals this season and five assists to match. Has played a big part in Leeds’ success going forward this season.
Hard fought game with no clear favourite
Both sides to score
Wolves’ fully fit squad could make the difference
If both sides had all their players available to them, Leeds would arguably hold the advantage.
As it stands, Wolves could have the edge with their players finding some form in recent weeks, climbing a couple of spots in the table in the process.
Leeds have lost back-to-back games several times this season, and this could be another occasion here.
Wolves to win 2-1
