Wolverhampton Wanderers will hope to maintain their points advantage in the Premier League‘s relegation battle when they welcome West Ham United to Molineux on Tuesday.
The hosts are in 17th place with 26 points, nine more than 18th-placed Ipswich Town and 19th-placed Leicester City, while the Hammers’ 1-1 draw with Everton on March 15 left them in 16th place with 34 points after 29 matchweeks.
Match preview
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Wolves managed to beat Southampton 2-1 on March 15 in their most recent Premier League match, and though the victors only produced 0.36 xG compared to the Saints’ figure of 1.37 xG, points on the board are all that matter at this stage of the season.
Boss Vitor Pereira‘s side have managed to score in each of their past eight fixtures, though they conceded first in the four games prior to their victory against Southampton.
A loss on Tuesday for Wolves could give the Ipswich the opportunity to move within three points of them given the hosts face Ipswich on April 5 in the league.
Pereira’s team come into the clash having lost two, drawn one and won one of their last four in all competitions, but they have won three of their last six in the top flight.
Wolves have failed to win three of their five most recent matches at home – losing on three occasions – and have lost five of their past seven at Molineux.
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Meanwhile, West Ham would have taken three points from their clash with Everton had Jake O’Brien‘s 91st-minute equaliser not cancelled out Tomas Soucek‘s opener, but the Hammers can have no complaints with the scoreline given they created few opportunities of note.
In fact, Graham Potter‘s side have only found the back of the net six times in their past eight matches, though it should be said that they have only conceded twice in their last four.
The visitors did manage to triumph 2-1 in their earlier matchup against Wolves on December 9, extending their winning streak against their hosts to three games.
West Ham’s form is positive, with the Londoners winning two, drawing one and losing just one of their four most recent outings, though they did suffer defeat in six of their prior eight.
However, Potter will be concerned by his team’s showings on the road considering they have been beaten in three of their last six away from home, winning just once in that time.
Team News
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Wolves attacker Matheus Cunha is suspended for two more games and will moss Tuesday’s match, as will forwards Enso Gonzalez, Leon Chiwome and Sasa Kalajdzic.
The hosts may name an unchanged front three from their win against Southampton, so expect Jorgen Strand Larsen, Marshall Munetsi and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde to feature.
Matt Doherty, Emmanuel Agbadou and Toti Gomes could be trusted in central defence given Yerson Mosquera is not scheduled to return until August, and the trio may start behind midfielders Andre and Joao Gomes.
As for West Ham, strikers Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug will continue their absence from the pitch due to injury, while Crysencio Summerville is also sidelined.
Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen are likely to be paired together in a makeshift front two, and they could be supported by midfielders Lucas Paqueta, James Ward-Prowse and Soucek.
In defence, centre-backs Jean-Clair Todibo, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Max Kilman are the most probable candidates to protect goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Doherty, Agbadou, T Gomes; Semedo, J Gomes, Andre, Nouri; Munetsi, Bellegarde; Larsen
West Ham United possible starting lineup:
Areola; Todibo, Mavropanos, Kilman; Wan-Bissaka, Paqueta, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Emerson; Kudus, Bowen
We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 West Ham United
The absence of talisman Cunha could negatively impact Wolves’ ability to threaten West Ham, and they may struggle to create chances.
The Hammers have been strong defensively in recent matches, and though they have not found goals easy to come by, their improved form of late should make them favourites on Tuesday.
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