Molineux legend Andy Thompson believes there are two changes Gary O’Neil could make for Wednesday’s FA Cup game with Brighton.
Wolves are looking to keep their good form in 2024 going by getting past the Seagulls in the FA Cup fifth round.
The game is at Molineux and Wolves fans will feel optimistic about making quarter-final.
Last time out against Brighton, Wolves got a 0-0 draw and that was seen as a positive result, against a side that have proved troublesome in recent times.
Given it’s a fairly quick turnaround, Gary O’Neil could well make some changes – and Thompson reckons there’s two he’ll be thinking about in particular…
Andy Thompson names the two Wolves changes Gary O’Neil could make v Brighton
Wolves fans will be very optimistic about Wednesday’s game.
A cup game under the lights at Molineux should hopefully get the players fired up, ready to try and defeat a very good side.
Despite the game coming quickly after Sunday’s win over Sheffield United, Thompson does not feel the manager will tinker with the team too much, and feels we may only see a couple of changes.
He said on Matchday Live Extra: “I’d be surprised if Bellegarde doesn’t start on Wednesday. I said about Lemina just not playing well in the game, he seemed to be holding himself a couple of times in certain situations. There’s going to be people who have got slight problems and that will be the only reason he makes changes. I think Doyle might come in.
“If he was going to make changes, Bellegarde and Doyle might come into the side, that’s about it. I don’t think he’ll change it wholesale.”
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde must seize chance v Brighton
Bellegarde got off to a pretty good start at Wolves, aside from his red card against Bournemouth.
But just recently he has fallen by the wayside a little, with O’Neil clearly favouring Pablo Sarabia on the right, and Joao Gomes and Mario Lemina in the middle.
The £13 million Frenchman is a talented player, but just lately he’s not really had much of an impact for Wolves.
It is not entirely his fault – at times, he’s had to play as a kind of false nine, which is not a position he is very accustomed too. He could perhaps be doing more, but it’s also difficult for him.
If he does get the nod against Brighton, then he’ll need a very strong performance if he is going to earn a regular starting place, because those in the positions he plays are doing very well at the moment.