Saturday’s clash with Newcastle United is a vitally important game for both sides.
Both teams are winless in their opening three games, and the angst grows with each passing fixture.
Eddie Howe’s side will be clear favourites in this one, as is usually the case when they play at St James’ Park.
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Last season, Wolves and Newcastle met after the September international break as well, where the Magpies emerged victorious.
And the same referee from that day, an unpopular figure in the Wolves fanbase, is in charge again this weekend.
Chris Kavanagh has been appointed for Wolves vs Newcastle and fans won’t be happy
Wolves have a history of issues with VAR, and Chris Kavanagh has been involved in a couple of them.
Most notably, a controversial decision went against Wolves last season when Man City scored a 95th-minute winner, which Kavanagh initially ruled out for offside.
VAR intervened and the decision was overturned, sparking plenty of post-match debate and even earning then-sporting director Matt Hobbs a ban for some choice words hurled in Kavanagh’s direction.
The on-field decision wasn’t a glaring error, so VAR’s involvement was confusing, and there was also a clear foul by Matheus Nunes in the build-up that went unchecked.
Wolves didn’t need another cause for concern ahead of this fixture
Wolves could have done without Kavanagh’s appointment.
Their record in games he officiates has been extremely poor. Wolves are winless in nine previous outings where Kavanagh has been in charge.
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There was also another controversial Kavanagh decision sprinkled in there, when Wolves’ Nelson Semedo was sent off against Liverpool, in what Jamie Carragher described as a harsh decision.
All this to say, this referee isn’t the ideal pick for fans. Vitor Pereira needs to urge caution in what could be a game with a bite. Newcastle love those.
Regardless of who is officiating, this is going to be a difficult game for Wolves at a time when they can’t afford to drop more points.
But such is the nature of the Premier League, and they will have to get on with it and aim for a positive result.