Fan Preview: Wolves vs Birmingham City

If Blues players survive the week’s training in the appalling weather then Alex Mcleish is almost certain to name an unchanged squad. Jordon Mutch included on the bench for the Fulham game has been shipped off to Hereford. Under new rules he will be available for Blues Youth cup tie at Altrincham against Manchester United. A far more sensible arrangement as all clubs want to get their best players available for that while wanting the experience of first team football for their most promising players.

Blues loaning out of young players has not been very successful in the past and hopefully Jordon will not suffer the fate of Krystian Pearce who having been shipped out to Peterborough finds himself wallowing in their reserves. Pearce is now ignored by the England selectors where once he was hailed as the next Rio Ferdinand.

But back to the visit to Molineux where Blues take on the Football League Champions. That is a title which frankly annoyed me as I believe we proved in the two League matches against them that we were vastly superior. A bad decision ruled out a perfectly good goal by Mcfadden before half time, Larsson was taken ill before the match, Phillips went off at half time and somehow we ended up with Mehdi Nafti at full back! Having taken the lead Blues conceded a poor equaliser but still held on comfortably. At St Andrews of course we went down to ten men but still ran out comfortable winners. To be fair to Wolves and us, the rest of the division was dross and while Blues lost ground mid season when they were revamping the team, Wolves settled and younger side beat what was placed before them.

The Premier League has found out their short comings particularly in defence. While Blues have had solid performances and an occasional point against the top sides Wolves have taken a walloping. The matches that they have played against the bottom clubs, and that is almost all of their games have returned mixed results. A good win at Wigan and at home to Fulham have to be balanced against the home defeats by West Ham and Portsmouth.

Blues go into game two of the month that matters, Fulham last week, Wolves, Wigan, West Ham and Everton is a championship in its own right. A decent haul from that group could see Blues enter the second half in relative comfort. Although early days, beating Wolves, who face Bolton next week, would be a massive blow to the Yams survival hopes. Because it is such a must win game for them they will be dangerous opponents.

Wolves are supplying their fans with big yellow cards to wave about on Sunday. Maybe the genius who thought that one up would like to join me when the ammunition he supplied comes raining down on the visiting fans. No wonder they call them Dingles!

By Alan Watton

What is your view on this story? Have your say below - You DON'T need to register in order to post your comment