Wolves are hosting Manchester United at Molineux this evening in the Premier League – and it’s a chance for revenge after the controversial first game of the season.
Many Wolves supporters have been waiting patiently for this fixture, with Wolves getting seriously unlucky in Gary O’Neil‘s first game in charge.
Back in August, with Julen Lopetegui having left just days before the game, Wolves played brilliantly against United at Old Trafford.
In the end though, Wolves lost 1-0 after Raphael scored against the run of play. There was outrage late on though, with Andre Onana clattering Sasa Kalajdzic and no penalty being awarded by referee Simon Hooper.
Wolves arrive at this fixture in fantastic form, going seven games unbeaten, and there is real optimism tonight…
Predicted Wolves XI to face Manchester United – Gary O’Neil sticks with Tommy Doyle as Rayan Ait-Nouri and Pablo Sarabia
Jose Sa is bound to start in goal and in front of him, it’s likely we’ll see the familiar trio of Max Kilman, Craig Dawson and Toti Gomes.
Nelson Semedo, who is having a terrific campaign, should play on the right, and it may be that O’Neil brings Rayan Ait-Nouri back in for a start on the left. The £10 million star was on the bench against West Brom and played in the final stages of that game, after returning from AFCON days earlier.
The midfield will be the most interesting aspect of the teamsheet tonight.
Joao Gomes is available for selection again, after serving his three-game ban.
But Tommy Doyle has been magnificent for Wolves since he came into the starting XI a few weeks ago.
He absolutely does not deserve to be dropped, and so it could be that he and Mario Lemina are deployed as a pairing again.
There is potential for O’Neil to use all three. Gomes was amazing alongside Lemina in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford, and he had been in very good form before his sending off against Brentford.
But would mean dropping a forward, which is something the manager may be reluctant to do.
In attack, Matheus Cunha and Pedro Neto are nailed on selections, and it could be that Pablo Sarabia comes back in after missing out against West Brom. The Spaniard is fit and available, as per O’Neil on Wednesday.
Wolves have the tools and the momentum to win tonight, and what a brilliant thing it would be to see the team jump into the top half of the Premier League table given all those early season relegation predictions from rival fans and pundits.
Wolves (5-2-3): Sa/Semedo, Kilman, Dawson, Toti, Ait-Nouri/Doyle, Lemina/Neto, Cunha, Sarabia. (This mean two changes from West Brom. Ait-Nouri and Sarabia IN, Doherty and Bellegarde OUT).