Wolverhampton Wanderers welcome Portsmouth to Molineux in what should be an interesting Championship clash on Tuesday, October 20, with both sides looking to continue their recent run of good results.
Wolves will be hoping to build on their 2-1 win over Burnley, while Portsmouth arrive full of confidence after picking up victories against Sheffield United and Norwich City.
Both teams have shown they can get results in recent weeks, so this could be a closer game than some might expect.
Wolves will go into the match as favourites, especially with home advantage, but Portsmouth have enough about them to cause problems if the hosts are not at their best.
Wolves looking to build momentum
Wolves come into this game after an impressive comeback win against Burnley.
After going behind to Jamie Vardy’s opener, Fer Lopez brought Wolves level before Tawanda Chirewa scored the winner in the second half.
It was an important result for Wolves, who will now be looking to put together a more consistent run of performances.
They have shown glimpses of what they can do going forward, but there have also been times when they have looked vulnerable at the back.
Playing at Molineux should give them a boost, although they will need to be careful not to underestimate a Portsmouth side that has picked up some good results lately.
Fer Lopez could be an important player again for Wolves. His ability to find space and create chances could cause Portsmouth problems, while Chirewa will also be hoping to build on his impact against Burnley.
If Wolves can get on the front foot early and make good use of their attacking players, they should have a decent chance of taking all three points.
Portsmouth hoping to continue their good form
Portsmouth travel to Molineux after picking up back-to-back wins against Sheffield United and Norwich City.
These results will give John Mousinho’s side plenty of confidence ahead of what is likely to be a difficult test.
Their 3-2 win over Sheffield United showed they can be dangerous going forward, while the 1-0 victory over Norwich demonstrated that they can also grind out results when needed.
Marko Milovanovic scored the winning penalty at Carrow Road, giving Pompey a valuable away victory.
Portsmouth will know they cannot afford to give Wolves too much space, especially in attacking areas.
They may look to stay organised, frustrate the hosts and try to make the most of any opportunities on the counter-attack.
The visitors also have a decent historical record at Molineux, which could give them some encouragement.
However, past results will count for little if they cannot match Wolves’ energy and quality on the night.
If Portsmouth can keep things tight in the first half, they could make the game uncomfortable for the home side.
Team news
Wolves have a few injury concerns heading into the fixture.
Raul Jimenez is expected to be out for an extended period following knee surgery, while Rodrigo Gomes, Boubacar Traore and Bertrand Traore have also been reported as unavailable.
Adam Armstrong’s fitness is another concern after he missed the win against Burnley.
His potential absence could give Sean Neve an opportunity to start.
Fer Lopez is likely to be one of Wolves’ key players, particularly after his goal at Burnley.
Chirewa could also be pushing for more involvement after coming off the bench to score the winner.
Portsmouth have injury problems of their own, with several players reportedly unavailable.
These include Connor Ogilvie, Conor Shaughnessy, John Swift and Thomas Waddingham, while Keshi Anderson is expected to miss time with a hamstring injury.
Colby Bishop is also a doubt after suffering a knee problem before the Norwich match.
His availability could be important for Portsmouth, particularly if they need a goal during the second half.
Both teams will be hoping to have as many players available as possible, but the latest fitness updates will need to be checked before kick-off.
Predicted line-ups
Wolves could stick with a 4-2-3-1 formation, looking to control possession and use their attacking players to put Portsmouth under pressure.
Wolves predicted XI: Sa; Tchatchoua, Djiga, Toti, Konan; Munetsi, Andre; Mane, Lopez, Said; Neve.
Portsmouth may also line up in a 4-2-3-1, with two holding midfielders helping to protect the defence and provide a platform for counter-attacks.
Portsmouth predicted XI: Schmid; Swanson, Poole, Dia, Meghoma; Adams, Pack; Kamara, Segecic, Kavuma-McQueen; Marezi.
These are predicted line-ups rather than confirmed team selections.
Score prediction
Wolves 2-1 Portsmouth.
By Elliot Desage
