Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Newcastle United 12/02/19

12 February 2019

Unbeaten in their last five games across all competitions (W4, D1), Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome the Premier League relegation fighters Newcastle United to the Molineux Stadium.

After two successive league defeats in which they’ve failed to hit the net, Wolves have racked up a three-game PL winning streak, scoring over 2.5 match goals in each triumph. What’s more, the returnees go into this meeting off the back of a four-game home winning run in all competitions during which they’ve scored 12 goals while conceding six along the way. Just when they were left with virtually no chance of closing the gap on the top-five, the Wanderers seem to have started playing their best football. In their last five outings across all competitions, Nuno Espirito Santo’s players have scored over 1.5 goals per match although allowing over 1.5 match goals three times in the process. Although Wolverhampton’s defensive game used to be their strong suit during the first half of the season, one clean sheet in their last 11 competitive clashes suggests they are more focused on the attack now.

Meanwhile, the visitors seek revenge for a 2-1 home defeat back in December, frantically looking over their shoulders as they sit 17th with the same tally as the relegation-threatened Southampton (24 points). Their inability to maintain consistency has seen the Magpies raising and falling in sequences. After a frustrating four-game PL winless streak (D1, L4), Rafael Benitez’s men have secured back-to-back league victories but have failed to build on it. Newcastle come into this encounter following a 1-0 away loss to Tottenham Hotspur, which was their third failure in their last four PL road games (D1, L3). Only two teams have scored fewer goals away from home than Newcastle (9), with Rafa Benitez’s players scoring over 1.5 match goals on just two of their 12 PL road trips this term.

Provisional line-up – Wolverhampton Wanderers:

Gk: Rui Patricio Defense: Jonny Castro – Ryan Bennett – Coady – Willy Boly – Matt Doherty Midfield: Roman Saiss – Dendoncker – Moutinho Attack: Diogo Jota – Raul Jimenez

Provisional line-up – Newcastle United:

Gk: Dubravka Defense: Schar – Lejeune – Lascelles – Yedlin Midfield: Longstaff – Atsu – Matt Ritchie – Isaac Hayden Attack: Ayoze Perez – Salomon Rondon