Friday, April 8, 2011

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09.04. (Sat) 13:45 Wolverhampton Wanderers - Everton



DID YOU KNOW?

* The last three meetings between Wolves and Everton have ended as draws - but a draw on Saturday won't be enough for Mick McCarthy's men who surely need to win their home games if they are to avoid the drop.

* Wolves fans might need to remain patient, as all four of the goals their team have scored in the Premier League against Everton have been netted in the second half.

* McCarthy's men have turned Molineux into a fortress in recent months - winning three and losing just one of their last five Premier League games at home.

* Wolves fans will be disappointed to learn that their team have the worst points per game record on a Saturday with an everage of just 0.88 points a game. The Midlands club have won just 15 of their 74 Premier League games played on a Saturday.

* Everton fans travelling to Molineux will know their side need to sure up their defence if they are to leave with three points - the Toffees have gone 11 games without a clean sheet away from home in the Premier League.

* Remarkably, six of Everton's last eight goals have come between the 30th and 40th minutes.

* As well as their terrible luck with injuries, the Toffees fans can also bemoan the bad fortune they have seen on the field - with their side having more shots cleared off the line by opposition defenders than any other team.

* Despite boasting a defence that includes England centre-back Jagielka, 29 per cent of the goals conceded by Everton have been headers - the highest proportion in the Premier League.

* April has been a kind month to Everton - who have lost just one of their last nine Premier League away games in the fourth month of the year.

* David Moyes is often heard bemoaning the lack of strength in depth his Everton side possess and the stats back up his claims - just 19 different players have started a Premier League game for Everton this season, that is fewer than any other side.

LAST MEETING

August 21, 2010: Everton 1-1 Wolves

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's side-foot finish with just 16 minutes left to play earned Wolves a deserved point at Goodison Park against a frustrated Everton side - who were fired into the lead by Tim Cahill and missed several good chances in a dominant first half.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Wolves: Hennessey; Foley, Berra, Stearman, Elokobi; Hammill, Henry, O'Hara, Jarvis; Fletcher, Ebanks-Blake.

Everton: Howard; Hibbert, Jagielka, Distin, Baines; Coleman, Neville, Heitinga, Bilyaletdinov; Osman; Beckford.

Prediction
If Wolves do survive the dreaded drop, they will have their home form to thank. McCarthy's team have already beaten the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City at Molineux and will be confident that they can add seventh-placed Everton to their list of top-half scalps.

The fitness of Rodwell and particularly Cahill is crucial to Everton's chances of success on Saturday. Although Jermaine Beckford looks better after every Premier League game he plays, the Wolves defence will fear they are capable of dealing with the former Leeds striker if he is without the support of Everton's Australian star.

Wolves will be looking to put their poor performance at Newcastle out of their minds and will be looking to bounce back to winning ways on Saturday to kickstart their run-in. The fixture list has been kind to Wolves, who will feel that all of their remaining home games give them a great chance of picking up enough points to ensure they are playing Premier League football next season. Both sides have had issues defensively and I expect plenty of goals in this Saturday lunchtime kick-off.

Wolves 3-2 Everton