Wolverhampton Wanderers

This is a meeting between two founder members of the English Football League with Preston winning 4-0 on the second weekend of the 1888-89 season.

Since then, Preston have won 49 of their encounters while Wolves have recorded 47 victories and there have been 27 draws in all competitions.

• Each of Preston's past four home league games against Wolves have finished as draws since a 3-1 loss in September 2008. It is the same amount of stalemates as across their prior 18 home meetings with Wolves combined.

• Wolves have lost just one of their past eight league games against Preston North End (W3 D4), with this the first meeting between the pair since a 1-1 draw in February 2018.

• Preston have lost just two of their past 11 league games against sides relegated from the Premier League the season prior (W4 D5), though did lose their most recent on home soil against Southampton in May (1-3).

• Since the start of the 2021-22 season, Wolves have failed to win any of their past 11 matches played on the opening two days of a campaign, losing each of their five away games in that run while netting just one goal in total.

• On the opening day of the 2026-27 Championship season, no player completed more successful passes than Wolves defender Toti Gomes (88), while his 95.7% pass accuracy rate was the strongest of any player to produce 40+ completed passes in the competition.

Wolves have entered the race for Brighton winger Amario Cozier-Duberry, 21, with the England under-20 international remaining a target for Rangers and former loan club Bolton. (The Argus, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip column here.

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer - Always Wolves

Image source, Shutterstock

Wolves' 2-2 draw with Blackburn was not a crisis, but it raised a question supporters have been asking since the start of the season.

Is this squad ready to compete at the top of the Championship and earn an immediate return to the Premier League?

There is attacking talent. Fer Lopez was the clearest example. His pass for Marshall Munetsi's goal was outstanding, but his wider performance was just as encouraging. He found space, played forward and gave Wolves a clear attacking focus.

For a period, Wolves' movement and passing suggested they could cause serious problems in this division. However, that spell did not last.

Once Blackburn settled into the match, Wolves became slow and predictable. They struggled to create space and did not show the same high press or attacking intensity seen during pre-season.

Mateus Mane looked short of confidence and experience, while other attacking players also struggled to influence the game.

That can be part of adjusting to the physical demands of the Championship, but it also highlighted the lack of proven alternatives from the bench.

The defensive problems were just as concerning. The centre-backs looked as if they had not fully adapted to playing in a back four.

Toti, in particular, struggled with the positioning and decision-making required in that system.

He was often exposed when Blackburn attacked the wide areas, while Wolves lacked the calm and authority needed to manage those moments.

The goalkeeper position remains another concern for Wolves. Dan Bentley currently has the shirt, but he has struggled to provide the confidence an unsettled defence needs.

Jose Sa has the experience and shot-stopping ability to be valuable in the Championship, yet he remains on the bench.

Sa was animated and visibly involved throughout the game, showing how invested he remains in the team.

Whether Wolves decide to restore Sa, continue with Bentley, or look for an alternative, the situation needs to be resolved quickly.

The uncertainty is not helping a defence that already looks short of confidence.

These issues explain the frustration around the summer transfer window. The concern is not simply that more players are needed.

Wolves need the right players, particularly in central defence, midfield and the attacking options available from the bench.

There are still two weeks left for the Wolves hierarchy to put this squad right, but there is a lot of work to do.

Blackburn did not expose a crisis, but they showed that Wolves are not yet balanced or consistent enough to be considered clear promotion favourites.

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves

Image source, Getty Images

Former Iceland striker Jon Dadi Bodvarsson has announced his retirement at the age of 34.

Bodvarsson scored four goals in 64 international appearances for Iceland and started the Euro 2016 match in which his country upset England 2-1 to advance to the quarter-finals, a result that led to Roy Hodgson's resignation.

The striker spent almost ten years in England, first at Wolves, and then Reading and Millwall, before a successful spell at Bolton between 2022 and 2024 where he scored 25 goals in 94 appearances.

He also played for Wrexham and Burton Albion before heading home to Iceland to return to his first club Selfoss.

Bodvarsson said in a statement on social media: "I want to thank all my managers, coaches, players and staff members that I've been grateful enough to have met and worked with. It was great sharing the highs and lows of football with you."

Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto says his side played more with their "heart" than "head" as they clawed back a point with an added time equaliser against Blackburn Rovers on the opening day of the Championship.

The hosts took the lead in the first half but Blackburn struck back with two goals to leave Wolves trailing in the second before Raul Jimenez converted from the spot to salvage a point in the 93rd minute.

"In the first half, we created better chances, we had the ball with us and we attacked more," Peixoto told BBC Radio WM.

"In the second half when we conceded we played more with our heart than our brains. We lost some organisation and made it difficult for us.

"The players showed a big fight to the end like I want. For me it's one point, but we are trying to fight for three points all the time."

Listen to the full reaction above or on BBC Sounds here.

Image source, Opta

The Championship campaign kicks off on Friday night as Blackburn head to newly-relegated Wolves (20:00 BST).

Both sides made winning starts to the campaign in the EFL Cup first round last weekend but it's a first league game in the dugout for Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto while Tony Mowbray begins his second spell in charge of Rovers.

Wanderers have lost their past five opening day games while Blackburn had won four straight before going down 1-0 at West Brom to start last season.

• Wolverhampton Wanderers are unbeaten in their past eight league meetings with Blackburn Rovers (W4 D4), drawing both games the last time they met in 2016-17.

• Blackburn Rovers have lost just one of their past nine away league games against Wolverhampton Wanderers (W2 D6), with their last two visits to Molineux both finishing 0-0 (April 2016 and April 2017).

• Wolves ended the Premier League last season losing just one of their final six home games (W2 D3), earning more points in that time (9) than in their previous 15 at Molineux (6 – W1 D3 L11).

• 59.6% of Blackburn's points in the EFL Championship last season came away from home (31/52), the highest proportion; Rovers finished 2025-26 winning three of their final five matches on the road (D1 L1).

• New Wolves signing, Rafiki Saïd, attempted more take-ons than any other player in the Belgian Pro League last season (171), completing 69 of them, while leading the competition for shots following a take-on (16) and behind only Nacho Ferri (2.69) for xG from a take-on (2.61).

Ajax are weighing up a move for Wolves defender Santiago Bueno, 27, the club's reigning Player of the Season. (Football Insider, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Friday's gossip column here.

The new EFL season is back and so is the 72+ podcast.

Aaron Paul is joined by Andy Woodman, Luke Chambers and Lyle Taylor to preview all three divisions on our new 72+ feed, looking at who are the promotion contenders, relegated giants and dark horses.

Salford City manager Peter Cklamovski also discusses his journey from Australia and Asia to English football, working with Ange Postecoglou and the pressure of taking charge of one of League Two's promotion favourites.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

The 72+ podcast has a new home - click here to subscribe

The 72+ podcast is BACK and it's got a brand new home.

Follow along as Aaron Paul and Jobi McAnuff dive into the biggest stories across the EFL, with expert analysis, exclusive guests and the moments everyone is talking about.

A new episode drops on Tuesday night so make sure not to miss it by clicking subscribe on the new 72+: The EFL Podcast BBC Sounds page here.

West Ham and Wolves sent scouts to watch Colombian Real Betis midfielder Nelson Deossa, 26, in the Spanish La Liga side's 3-1 pre-season friendly win over Arsenal in Dublin. (Mundo Betis - in Spanish), external

West Ham, Wolves, Middlesbrough and Burnley are all battling for the signing of Welsh ex-Leicester City midfielder Jordan James, 22, from French side Rennes. (Alan Nixon - subscription required), external

For more EFL transfer news and rumours, read Monday's full gossip column here.

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