watch our preview of wolves v Chelsea
TEAM NEWS
Ruben Neves begins a two-match ban for Wolves as a consequence of accumulating 10 yellow cards, while Jonny remains suspended. Hugo Bueno returned from injury as a second-half substitute last weekend. Hwang See-Chan is also available for selection after suffering a hamstring strain.
Chelsea caretaker manager Frank Lampard could recall midfielder Mason Mount, who hasn’t played since 26 February. Thiago Silva, Cesar Azpilicueta and Armando Broja were the only players absent for the midweek draw with Liverpool.
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HEAD TO HEAD
JULEN LOPETEGUI PRESS CONFERENCE
Hwang Hee-chan is available to play and there is no other fresh injury news, although captain Ruben Neves is suspended for the next two matches.
Following the news Daniel Podence has been charged by the FA for alleged spitting, Lopetegui confirmed Wolves will contest it: “The club is working on this. The fact is very clear, he never spat at anyone, 100%.”
When asked about facing Chelsea after Frank Lampard’s appointment as caretaker manager, he said: “With a new coach we don’t know if he is going to change anything or not, so this is not under our control and we have to put focus in our work and not in Lampard’s work.”
On whether he can take anything from his previous game against Lampard this season, a 2-1 win at Everton in December: “It is very different, it is a new team and new time, same coach but different moment and different team and different game for sure.”
On the relegation battle: “It’s not easy to win in the Premier League for any team. We are fighting to be out of the relegation [zone], we are going to continue fighting. It’s going to be a very hard and long race for a lot of teams.”
MATCH STATS & FACTS
Head-to-head
- All three of Wolves’ Premier League wins against Chelsea have been at Molineux. Frank Lampard played for the Blues in their 1-0 defeat in January 2011 and was manager for the 2-1 loss in December 2020.
- Wolves are winless in four Premier League meetings since a 2-1 triumph at Molineux in December 2020 (D3, L1).
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Wolves have only managed one win and five points in their past seven league fixtures, in contrast to four victories and 13 points from their first seven games under Julen Lopetegui.
- They have alternated between a defeat and a win in their 11 most recent home matches in all competitions, most recently suffering a 4-2 league defeat against Leeds.
- The Black Country side have conceded 42 league goals in 2022-23, only one short of last season’s final tally.
- Wolves are vying to earn four successive Premier League home wins against sides starting the day above them in the table for the first time. Their current run consists of victories over West Ham, Liverpool and Spurs.
- Their last 11 Premier League goals were scored by 11 different players, including two own goals.
- Raul Jimenez has gone 21 Premier League appearances without a goal since scoring against Watford in March 2022.
- Adama Traore is poised to become the fourth player to make 150 Premier League appearances for Wolves, emulating Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves and Conor Coady.
Chelsea
- Frank Lampard’s first managerial spell at the Blues lasted for 18 months. He guided them to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League and an FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal in his only full season in charge in 2019-20.
- Lampard has lost 39 Premier League matches as a manager, two more than he has won.
- Chelsea, currently 11th, have not finished in the bottom half of the table since 1995-96.
- This is the first season since 1993-94 in which they have fewer than 40 points after 30 games.
- The Blues have only won four of their past 20 Premier League fixtures (D8, L8).
- Their most recent away game was a 3-1 league victory at Leicester City to end a 10-match winless away run in all competitions.
- Chelsea have scored 29 goals in as many top-flight matches this season, only ever netting fewer at this stage of a campaign in 1921-22 and 1923-24.
- They can go three successive league fixtures without scoring for the first time since a run of four in September 2007.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Peter Bankes. Assistants: Eddie Smart, Nick Greenhalgh. Fourth official: Dean Whitestone. VAR: Andy Madley. Assistant VAR: Nick Hopton.
MATCH INFO
Kick off is at 3pm on Saturday 8th April at Molineux. The match will not be shown live on UK television.
foundation fixure & samosa Saturday
This fixture support the work of Wolves foundation so please support them if you can. You can also catch Dazzling Dave at the samosa stand just before the subway raising funds for Dementia Uk and the Foundation.