Wolves are in Premier League action against Nottingham Forest this weekend – and Gary O’Neil has been urged to make one key change for the game.
Wanderers fell to a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United at Molineux on Saturday in controversial fashion.
Wolves took the lead in the first-half but let it slip in the second and at the end, Max Kilman thought he had nodded in an equaliser for the hosts.
But the goal was reviewed by VAR, who instructed referee Tony Harrington to go to the pitchside monitor. Ultimately, the goal was disallowed because the offside Tawanda Chirewa was in front of Lukasz Fabianski.
The decision has been widely slammed, with many arguing that Fabianski was not impeded and was never getting to the ball.
It was a sickener for Wolves fans, but this weekend’s game with Nottingham Forest represents a decent chance to bounce back – and Andy Thompson and Lee Naylor would like to see O’Neil make one change in particular…
Gary O’Neil urged to start Craig Dawson in place of Santi Bueno for Wolves against Nottingham Forest
On Saturday against West Ham, there was once again no Craig Dawson in the matchday squad.
The 33-year-old sustained a groin injury before the international break, and has now missed the club’s last five games across all competitions.
Santi Bueno has started four of the five games that Dawson has missed, and has given a decent account of himself. The Uruguay international hasn’t completely blown people away, but largely shown good composure in the backline.
The summer signing for Girona was making only his 14th Wolves appearance on Saturday and it’s clear he’s still adapting to English football. But there is definitely a player there.
But in the eyes of former Molineux full-backs Andy Thompson and Lee Naylor, Dawson should replace Bueno this weekend. Speaking on Matchday Live Extra, Thompson said: Dawson would come in for me, if fit.
Naylor concurred, saying: “Yeah I think Daws comes in.”
Asked by Mikey Burrows if that meant it was Bueno who would be dropping out, both firmly agreed.
Bueno improving, but Wolves missing Dawson
This is probably a change that a lot of Wolves fans would also like to see this weekend.
Bueno has done OK since coming into the backline, but Dawson has definitely been missed at the back. The £3 million signing from West Ham is just such a commanding and authoritative figure, and he knows the score in the Premier League.
Arguably, his spell on the sidelines has also not been good for Max Kilman, whose form has dipped a little in recent weeks.
Dawson – described earlier this season as ‘incredible’ by Stuart Pearce – recently returned to training, and O’Neil said ahead of the game against Burnley that he expected the defender and Hwang Hee-chan to ‘definitely; be around for the Forest game.
Hopefully, he comes through training OK this week and can be in contention to start.