Wolverhampton Wanderers -- 20th, 13 GP, 3-5-5, -1 GD, 14 points v. QPR -- 4th, 14 GP, 8-2-4, +4 GD, 26 points ------ 23 October 15:00 Molineux ------ Rangers News: Matthew Rose has returned to full training and will be available. However, Georges Santos is still suffering with his achilles problem. So, with Dan Shittu unavailable, the back line seems likely to be either Rose-Santos-Simek-Bignot or Padula-Rose-Santos-Bignot. If Georges can't go, I guess it's Padula-Rose-Simek-Bignot. No further word on Bircham's ankle, so I presume he's good to go. The midfield is therefore likely to be Cook-Gallen-Bircham-Rowlands. With Jamie Cureton still out (two more weeks), thankfully Tony Thorpe has returned to full training, so is an option up top. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Furlong-Thorpe pairing, with McLeod entering for Thorpe when he gets gassed. The Opponent: Before the season, Wolves were tipped as likely to bounce straight back up to the Premiership, but haven't started particularly well. Their 2-0 victory over Derby County on Tuesday was their first home win of the season, having drawn 4 of their first 5 at Molineux (1-4-1). Their last six games (most recent first): H Derby W, 2-0 A Forest L, 0-1 A West Ham L, 0-1 H Cardiff L, 2-3 A Burnley L on penalties after 1-1 extra-time draw (Carling Cup) A Plymouth W, 2-1 The Series: The all-time series is exactly even, 11-11-11. In league play, Rangers trail slightly, 8-9-9. The teams last played on the same level (at this level), for a five-year stretch from 96/97 to 00/01. The 00/01 season saw the teams draw 1-1 and 2-2. The teams first met in January 1900! Rangers hosted an FA Cup match that ended in a draw, but QPR won the replay at Wolves four days later. They didn't play again in any competition until 1968/69! The Referee: Lee Probert gets the call. In 9 games this year (4 in the Championship), he's issued 29 yellows and 4 reds. This appears to be his first QPR game -- in 01/02 and 02/03 he mostly worked Conference games and has moved up the levels over the last two seasons.
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We're 1-0 down on a headed Cort goal. A strange lineup for the R's today, as I guess Furlong was simply given a rest (haven't heard anything about an injury). Day, Bignot, Simek, Santos, Rose, Branco, Bean, Bircham, Cook, Rowlands, Gallen. Bench: Edghill, Donnelly, Cole, Padula, McLeod.
Chance for a penalty with Bircham going down in the box as the keeper went to his feet, but the commentators said Birch seemed to be looking for it and it was one that is sometimes called, sometimes not. Gallen with a decent chance just now, earning a corner. Santos heads just wide from the corner. A bit better work from the R's at the moment.
With Rangers knocking on the door and looking like equalizing, Wolves score on a counter to make it 2-0 (Cort again). A couple of minutes later, Wolves' Miller got a second yellow, so the R's will play the final minutes a man up. McLeod on for Simek.
It turned out it was a slight groin strain that forced Paul Furlong to miss, with the good news being that Furs will be fit for the Burnley game this weekend, with that same report saying that Jamie Cureton could also return in time for this weekend's game. The return of Dan Shittu is now estimated at three weeks, so Frankie Simek looks to be in contention for playing time throughout his loan period. Good news -- Gareth Ainsworth has returned to full training, although this weekend may be too soon for him. Georges Santos seems to have recovered from his achilles injury, so shouldn't be a doubt for this weekend.
I guess we were due for a bit of a dip. But still, 5th place after 15 games is absolutely a fantastic start. It doesn't do any good to start getting EPL dreams going at this stage when there is stil a lot of hard work and 31 more games to go.