Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wrexham will want another heavyweight win in front of a home crowd when they face Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

The Red Dragons beat league leaders Middlesbrough 2-0 at the Stok Cae Ras in the week as they aim to climb up the table.

It was also a victory that puts second placed Wolves within striking distance of the top and the West Midlands outfit will be wanting to take their chance.

• This is the first meeting between Wrexham and Wolves in any competition since the 1987-88 campaign, with Wrexham winning home (4-2) and away (2-0) in the fourth tier.

• Wolves are winless in all three of their away league games against Wrexham, drawing 2-2 in January 1924, 0-0 in January 1987 and losing 4-2 in April 1988.

• Since the start of last season, Wrexham have won just one of their eight Championship games against sides relegated from the Premier League (D4 L3), beating Ipswich Town 5-3 in February.

• Wolves have lost four of their last six away league games against Welsh sides (W2), with this their first visit since a 2-1 loss to Cardiff in the 2018-19 Premier League.

• Having lost their first two Championship games in the 12.30 kick off slot last season, Wrexham are now unbeaten in their last four (W2 D2).

We asked for your thoughts after Wolves scored two late goals to win 2-1 at Bristol City on Wednesday.

Here are some of your comments:

Bristol City fans

Steve: League One manager and signings. The football is awful and the club has no ambition. I have given up going and only watch on tv now.

Rob: Thought City deserved something out of the game. Gutted for the players having battled so well for 80 minutes. Wolves had a lot of possession and plenty of speculative efforts but created few clear-cut chances. Premier League nous on the defensive blocking at the free-kick for their winner made the difference.

Tim: Yet another turgid performance from this City side which looks bereft of attacking ideas at home. Playing to win 1-0 from a set-piece might have worked for Skubala in L1 but it isn't working in the Championship. Again, we barely created anything and were far too passive. The team looks afraid to take risks in possession. There is far more ability in this team than our current tactics are allowing them to show. Skubala looks out of his depth to me.

Ken: Another poor home result reflecting last few seasons' results. Mid-table again, if we are lucky.

Micky: Same old problems at City. Conceding late goals and throwing away all the hard work they had done.

Image source, Shutterstock

Wolves fans

Steve: Every game in the Championship is tough so I'd have probably been ok with a point before kick-off, but we deserved the win and played well overall. On to Wrexham, a good win for them (against Boro) so I'd be happy with a point there as well.

Alan: Wolves are not playing brilliant but grinding out results, when they finally click they will blow this league away.

Andy: Lucky to get three points, stats show otherwise but a better team would've finished Wolves off well before our comeback. Back four still lack the concentration for 90 minutes. Substitutes made the difference. Lopez took some stick, not protected at all by the referee, but he needs to get used to that in this division. Let's take the points and run.

Richard: Wolves again played well in recycling the ball, had a lot of possession and shots and passes in the City box. That said the crossing is woeful. Too many times it was either too high or struck aimlessly across the area. The standard in the Championship is poor if we can play like that and be second.

Paul: Again we found a way to win. Tough league, so far so good. Wolves will need to buy a midfielder and a striker in January. Injuries could be a deciding factor in 2027.

Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto says his side were good value for their 2-1 win at Bristol City on Wednesday, even though they left it late to seal it.

Substitute Sean Neave struck twice from close range in the final eight minutes to turn the game around for Wolves, who had trailed at the break to Scott Twine's stunning free-kick.

Peixoto told BBC Radio WM: "Before we conceded the goal, we created a lot of chances to cross and too many people inside of the box took a lot of time to finish the play, to shoot to the target - sometimes when we crossed we didn't attack the ball in the right moment.

"We talked with the players at half-time, they understood what we had to do in the second half.

"They played what the game needed - more directly, attacked the space, more reaction when we lost the ball, more intensity to press the opposition team."

Peixoto praised his side for the manner of their late comeback and the impact of the substitutes.

"We pushed them, we believed to the end, the players who came from the bench [were] very important," he added.

"We put two strikers [on] to make the team more offensive and we scored one goal and we kept believing and we scored the second goal - I think we deserved the win."

Wolverhampton Wanderers may have a chance to slip into the automatic promotion spots on Wednesday when they visit Bristol City (20:00 GMT).

The West Midlands side are on a four game undefeated streak (W3 D1) and should Swansea City fail to beat Portsmouth on Tuesday, Wolves will have the chance to take second position with a victory at Ashton Gate.

However, Bristol City have fallen away from the play-off positions after just one win in five league games (D2 L2) and will be aiming to regain some ground off likely promotion rivals.

• Bristol City have won just two of their last 18 league games against Wolves (D4 L12), with this their first meeting since a 2-1 home loss in December 2017.

• Wolves haven't kept a clean sheet in any of their last 11 league games against Bristol City, but have also only failed to score in one of their last 12 against the Robins.

• Bristol City have lost 1-0 to both Blackburn and Sheffield United in their last two home league games. They last lost three in a row without scoring at Ashton Gate in March/April 2021.

• Wolves have won three of their six away league games this season (D1 L2), having been winless on the road across the whole of last term (D6 L13).

• Bristol City have scored fewer home goals than any other side in the Championship this term (3). Each of their last four games at Ashton Gate has finished 1-0 (W1 L3).

Emma Milton
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

A 3-0 win, a clean sheet and a place in the Championship's top three. The scoreline suggests a comfortable afternoon for Wolves. But watching the game, I came away with more mixed feelings.

For the first 30 minutes or so, Wolves gave us plenty to be positive about. We looked sharp, played with purpose and, most importantly, took our chances.

After recent frustrations in front of goal, it was good to see us being more clinical.

Then Jordan James went off, and the game seemed to lose some of its spark.

Wolves still looked better than they have at times this season, but we never quite seemed to get back to that early rhythm. We were winning, yet still not firing on all cylinders or reaching our potential.

Cardiff had a big share of possession but struggled to turn it into enough threat.

That helped Wolves keep a clean sheet, though the visitors had chances and the scoreline made the game look more straightforward than it felt.

The result was convincing. The performance, less so.

That gap between the score and the feeling in the ground is why I can understand fans feeling a little nonplussed.

There was something flat about Molineux, even with Wolves playing better and scoring three.

Cesar Peixoto needs to find a way to bring the team and supporters together. Results matter, but so does the sense that the players are giving fans something to believe in.

Still, the bigger picture is hard to dismiss. Wolves sit third, four points off the top and firmly among the promotion contenders. There is plenty to be encouraged by, even if this performance left questions unanswered.

So, is the glass half full or half empty? The league position says half full. The feeling at Molineux suggests there is still more to come.

Find more from Emma at Always Wolves, external

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Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Cesar Peixoto is not feeling the love from Molineux despite being fourth in the Championship table.

Chants of 'you don't know what you're doing' rang through the stadium during Saturday's game against Watford after Wolves put just three of their 24 shots on target in a 1-0 win.

For Ryan Leister of The Wolves Report podcast, it is one specific squad decision that is getting fans hot under the collar.

"The person that seems to be splitting the mix is Marshall Munetsi," Leister told BBC Radio WM's Football Phone-In on Wednesday.

"Incredible engine, incredible professional, seems like a really good guy, but when you've got a midfielder who plays in midfield that doesn't want to be on the football, it's hardly a surprise that you're not going to be able to play through many teams.

"If Wolves go into that game on Saturday and they don't start Jordan James and Wolves don't win the game, the manager is going to feel some real heat."

Leister feels a tactical tweak that would allow James to provide more support to Andre in the midfield while also getting the best out of Fer Lopez in attack could help Peixoto earn back some trust.

Until the performances improve though, the Portuguese is going to struggle to get the fans on his side, says Leister.

He added: "Support has to be ignited from somewhere. You can't just expect the fans to turn up and be at their roaring and angry best on a good day and not give something as well.

"If the football is pedestrian, expect the fans to be pedestrian as well."

Listen to BBC Radio WM's Football Phone-In on weeknights at 6-7pm or catch up on BBC Sounds here.

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Cesar Peixoto is not the first Wolves manager, let alone manager of anyone else, to be told by a section of his home crowd that he doesn't know what he's doing.

But he may be the first one whose team were actually winning the game when it happened.

Saturday was an odd day. Wolves beat Watford both narrowly and comfortably. They played well at times and not very well at others.

The team won, and the coach was jeered, although not by everyone.

Perhaps those of us who liked to think the result ultimately trumps all other considerations, especially in the free-for-all of the Championship, are wrong after all.

In the first half, Wolves camped in Watford's territory, outshot the visitors 17-0 (although lamentably few were on target), and Adam Armstrong, looking sharper than recently, ended his non-scoring run with a neat finish.

That wasn't so bad, even if Watford were, well, so bad.

The second half dragged a bit. Perhaps the first was just too easy.

Even so, when Jordan James was replaced after an efficient if not spectacular performance, the annoyed fans let Peixoto know about it.

James has become the latest focus of attention. He is an obvious talent at this level.

But Fer Lopez's form made him the first pick before the break, alongside the unpopular but determined Marshall Munetsi.

When Peixoto left Munetsi out and played Lopez and James together, Wolves put in an anaemic showing against Bolton and deservedly lost.

A detached observer might argue that with Wolves in the top four while sorting this out - despite some key players still being injured - things could be a lot worse.

But in football grounds there are very few detached observers.

Peixoto's request at last Friday's press conference for a little more patience from fans sounded better in the room than it was ever going to read on the page.

In suggesting that if he was an opposition manager, he would tell his team that if they kept it quiet for 20 minutes the home fans would turn, he was saying out loud something that most managers - at every ground, not just Molineux - have probably thought at one time or another.

Not many would have been bold enough to say so.

In that sense, of airing uncensored opinions, he may be the straightest-talking Wolves manager since Mick McCarthy.

There is something to admire about that.

But he may need to win quite a few more games - and maybe more stylishly - before some fans will be willing to hear him out.

Listen to BBC Radio WM's football phone-in on weeknights from 18:00-19:00 GMT.

Wolverhampton Wanderers will be trying to take a place in the automatic promotion spots as they host Cardiff City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Fourth placed Wolves are just two points shy of second placed Swansea City as it stands.

Cardiff, meanwhile, sit firmly in the midtable in 16th and will be hoping to continue their three-match undefeated run (W2 D1) to ascend closer to the promotion chasers.

• Wolves have alternated between winning and losing across their last six home league games against Cardiff City (W3 L3), winning their last 2-0 in March 2019.

• None of the last 12 league meetings between Wolves and Cardiff have been drawn, with the Bluebirds winning seven times to Wolves' five in that time.

• Wolves have won three of their last five home league games (D1 L1), as many as in their previous 22 at Molineux (D7 L12).

• Cardiff are one of three teams – along with Preston and Watford – yet to win an away match in the Championship this season (D2 L4).

• Cardiff's Ollie Tanner has created more chances from open play than any other player in the Championship this season (25), while only Finn Azaz (5) has more open play assists than his four.

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

Image source, Shutterstock

Wolves beat Watford 1-0 and a win is always welcome. But the performance left a familiar question hanging over the celebrations.

If this side is meant to dominate the league and earn an immediate return to the Premier League, why does it still feel so hard to see the quality?

The BBC's match stats tell part of the story. Wolves had 24 shots, but only three were on target. That is just 12.5% of their attempts. Taking shots is not the same as threatening the goalkeeper and too many Wolves attacks ended without making Watford work.

This is becoming a familiar frustration rather than a one-off. Too often this season we have been waiting for Wolves' quality on paper to translate into quality on the pitch. Promising attacks lose their way and chances pass without the goalkeeper being tested.

The Watford game brought three points, but little reassurance that those problems are being addressed. For a side expected to dominate this division and go straight back up, that gap between expectation and performance is becoming harder to ignore.

It would be unfair to dismiss the win. Three points matter and Wolves showed enough persistence to find a way through.

But supporters are entitled to expect more than a narrow victory built on a high volume of shots.

A side with promotion ambitions should be making more of those moments count or at least forcing the opposition goalkeeper into more saves. One goal was enough to take the points, but it did not make the wider concern disappear.

That does not mean every shot should fly into the top corner. It does mean choosing better opportunities, getting attempts on target and showing more composure when the game is there to be won.

Wolves need to turn attacking spells into clear chances, not just a big number in the match statistics.

The table will judge Wolves on results, but performances matter, too. If the aim is to go straight back up the standard has to look convincing, not merely good enough to scrape past Watford.

This was a win and Wolves should take it. But the 24 shots and three on target are a warning. Until the quality starts showing where it matters most, supporters will keep asking whether this team is truly playing like promotion favourites.

Find more from Dave at Always Wolves, external

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Championship match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Watford.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Jon: We really seem to struggle to put games to bed when we score. We are lacking a bit of quality in wide and attacking positions and we allowed Watford back into the game and were clinging on towards the end against a poor side. There is a bit of a flat and frustrated mood amongst the fans and we need a bit of sparkle to lift the clouds. We are close the top of the table but not playing like it. A win is a win but the second half was a struggle. Can we do better against Cardiff?

Mike: The first half was more positive than in any game since the international break, but this has to be measured against the fact that Watford looked a very poor team. The second half was dire, we contrived to give opportunities to Watford but they still didn't manage a shot on target. Wolves look well below the level that is required for promotion.

Rob: The Albion game all over again. Poor opposition with a great stopper in goal. But Wolves should have been out of sight by half-time. James was impressive, not sure why he was subbed and the manager needs to find a way of starting James and Lopez. At last we saw Mane running again and again at defenders rather than holding back. But we must stop messing about with the ball in defence. Krejci was nearly caught several times just after half-time, just clear the danger! A long way to go if we are to threaten for promotion.

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Watford fans

Howard: Absolutely terrible. Far too negative.

Chris: In the first half Wolves had almost 70% possession, 17 shots to none from us and scored. We failed to be competitive and, regretfully, the second half we only slightly improved. For the last 70 years even our worst years we were generally always competitive, we even created chances at Wembley against Man City. Our club is totally mismanaged from top to bottom and our players are the pits, surely we have to change everything.

Mark: Another change of formation, more players out of position. There is no structure and the only consistency is losing. I have never seen such a poor side in over 45 years of watching Watford. Please invest in some quality players.

John Bennett
BBC Final Score reporter

Image source, Shutterstock

On paper, the win over Watford on Saturday should fill Wolves fans with plenty of positivity after a post international-break blip in form, but, for me, it brought up the big concern about this team - they're not clinical enough.

The result should've been a lot more comfortable for the home side and the atmosphere in the second half should have been a lot less edgy and nervy. The stats say it all; 26 shots, just 1 goal.

I was impressed with their flowing football at times, with the likes of Kieran Trippier, Jordan James and substitute Mateus Mane looking dangerous and there were so many attacking opportunities.

However on countless occasions either the final shot, or more often than not, the final ball, let Wolves down.

Plus, it's not a one off; in fact it's now 10 matches on the spin for Wolves without scoring more than two goals in a game. That's something that didn't cost them against a Watford side that offered very little, but it did last Tuesday when they conceded an 86th-minute equaliser at home to Portsmouth.

Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty to be happy about from a Wolves perspective and it's to their credit that Watford were so toothless on Saturday.

To add to that, it was also a weekend when a number of rivals, just above them, and just below them, dropped points.

But in a tight promotion race, Cesar Peixoto's side have to find a way to be more clinical in front of goal, to avoid needlessly dropping points in games which they totally dominate.