Date: Saturday 7th
February 2026
Venue: Molineux Stadium
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
After
our EFL Cup exit midweek (let’s call it a tactical withdrawal to focus on
bigger things, like existential angst), we’re packing our bags for a proper
adventure at Molineux, where Wolves await. If only we got points for emotional
rollercoasters.
Last weekend against
West Ham started with a first half so dire, David Attenborough could have
narrated it as a nature documentary on endangered attacking intent. Two goals
down at half-time, we had more defensive gaps than a lump of Swiss cheese. But
credit where it’s due—after the break, the changes worked, and we staged an
impressive comeback to win 3-2. Cue the optimism, right?
Fast
forward to Arsenal in the EFL semi-final: same 3-2 start, albeit in Arsenal’s favour,
but the ending? Well, let’s just say Netflix rejected the script for being too
tragic. Rosenior’s defensive fixes for Arsenal’s corners were so good the rest
of the league will be nicking his homework, but up front we were about as sharp
as a spoon and this time, our subs looked more like they’d just lost their car
keys rather than entering the field to rescue the game.
Still,
back to matters in hand, and Wolves, have been handed back-to-back defeats by
City and Bournemouth coming into today’s game. We’re strutting in fifth,
they’re holding up the table like a dodgy trestle, and we’ve already beaten
them twice this season. Which, as every long-suffering Chelsea fan knows, means
we’re odds-on favourites to gift them their performance of the season.
Step
up Charity FC.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
today’s game, Wolves manager, Rob Edwards, says “They’ve got an amazing
squad so whatever team Liam [Rosenior] chooses will be fresh, ready and packed
full of talent.”
Liam
Rosenior, meanwhile, says “We prepare in exactly the same way we prepare for
any game that we play. But the biggest thing for me as the head coach of this
group is that I want to see consistency in our levels of performance,
engagement and intensity in every game that we play. That’s something I’ve
spoken to the group about. The next game is the most important game and the
Wolves game is another huge game for our season.
I’ve
watched Rob’s team recently; they actually put in a very good performance
against Bournemouth and were unfortunate not to get anything out of the game. I
thought they played very, very well and they put in some very positive
performances in their last few games.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Wolves, Toti Gomes (hamstring)
remains out, whilst Ladislav Krejci is available again.
For Chelsea, Levi Colwill (ACL), Jamie Gittens (hamstring), Tosin Adarabioyo, Romeo
Lavia (both thigh), Dario Essugo (other) are all injured and Mykhaylo Mudryk has
just received another month’s ban because apparently his suspension wasn’t already
long enough.
TEAMS
WOLVES
(Possible line-up): Sa; Mosquera, S. Bueno, Krejci;
Tchatchoua, Andre, Mane, J. Gomes, H. Bueno; Hwang, Armstrong
CHELSEA
(Possible line-up): Sanchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Fofana,
Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Neto, Fernandez, Garnacho; Delap
LAST SEASON
Wolves 2-6 Chelsea (25th
August 2024)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
WOLVES: DWDDLL
CHELSEA: DDLWWW
OTHER STUFF
- Wolves have lost their
last three against Chelsea in the Premier League
- Chelsea have beaten Wolves in the league
and EFL Cup this season
- Wolves have failed to score in their last
3 Premier League games
- Chelsea have won their last 3 Premier
League games
- Wolves have scored just
four goals across their last seven Premier League games at Molineux
- Wolves haven’t scored a second half goal
in any of their last 10 Premier League matches at Molineux
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Wolves 1-3 Chelsea
