Sunday, May 22, 2011

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22.05. (Sun) 17:00 Wolverhampton Wanderers - Blackburn Rovers



DID YOU KNOW?

Blackburn Rovers have never lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. Their last defeat to this opposition came in 2000 in the second tier, when the hosts managed to carve out a 2-1 victory.

Paul Robinson could become only the fifth goalkeeper in the history of the Premier League to concede 500 goals in the top-flight, should he let one in on the day.

Rovers have lost 12 games on the road, scoring 21 but conceding 41 in the process.

If all games ended at half-time, neither one of these sides would have been battling for relegation. The hosts would have been in a comfortable seventh position, while Steve Kean's men would have been fighting for a Europa League spot.

Steven Fletcher has been in impressive form in the past few weeks, scoring four times in the last five games for Wolves.

Mick McCarthy's men have managed to take seven points out of a possible nine from their last three games.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Wolverhampton Wanderers (4-4-2): 
Hennessey; Stearman, Craddock, Mancienne, Elokobi; Foley, O’Hara, Henry, Jarvis; Ward, Fletcher.

Kevin Doyle is believed to have aggravated a knee injury ahead of the relegation dogfight, but could potentially return to claim a spot on the bench. This means that the partnership between Steven Fletcher and Stephen Ward should continue.

Matt Jarvis failed to train on Friday, and remains a doubt for this game.

Blackburn Rovers (4-5-1):
Robinson; Salgado, Samba, Givet, Olsson; J Jones, NZonzi, P Jones, Emerton, Hoilett; Roberts.

Chris Samba, Junior Hoilett and Jermaine Jones have all returned to fitness and should be able to take their respective places in the starting line-up in this all-important clash at Molineux.

Ryan Nelsen and Vince Grella are long-term casualties and will play no part in this fixture.

Prediction
Both teams need the points to survive and it could all come down to which side wants it more. But on the face of it, this looks like a draw.

Wolves 1-1 Blackburn