November 9, 5 p.m. Wolverhampton. Molineux Stadium
English Premier League. Day 11
Wolverhampton v Southampton
Where to watch: Setanta Sports
Players suspended: None
Injured: Sam Johnstone (uncertain), Sasa Kalajdzic, Enzo Gonzalez, Jerson Mosquera, Boubacar Kamara, Hwang Hee-chan, Bastien Meupiy – Gavin Bazunu, Ross Stewart, Will Smallbone, Adam Lallana
Wolverhampton vs Southampton: Bookmaker Odds
The November international break is fast approaching, marking the final break on the calendar for this year. Therefore, there might not be a better time for clubs to consider changes to their coaching staff. The British press is abuzz with speculation about the futures of various coaches, while bookmakers are taking bets on who could follow in Erik ten Hag’s footsteps and lose their jobs. Currently, Gary O’Neil and Russell Martin are considered the leading candidates for the next coaching departure. Therefore, the match at Molineux is seen not only as a battle for survival, but also as a duel between two managers fighting to retain their positions.
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Wolverhampton
The Wolves faced the toughest schedule in the first ten games, according to Opta stats. However, this fact probably won’t be seen as an excuse for Gary O’Neil’s disastrous start to the season. The main indicator of success – results, accompanied by statistics – does not favor the 41-year-old manager. Wolverhampton are yet to pick up a win and currently sit bottom of the table with just three points. Considering how they finished last season, Wolves have picked up just eight points from their last 20 Premier League games, making the overall situation even more worrying.
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The Wolverhampton fans had shown their support for Gary O’Neil, but in the last match against Crystal Palace, even they had reached their breaking point. As the match ended 2-2, chants calling for the coach’s resignation rang out from the stands. The match against Southampton is considered with certainty by the British press as decisive for the Wolverhampton coach. A victory could see the Englishman continue in his role, while a defeat would likely mean the end.
Southampton
The Saints found themselves in an even more difficult situation heading into the final day of games. However, a 1-0 home win over Everton – Southampton’s first in the Premier League since March 2023 – ultimately pulled the team off the bottom of the table. Although Russell Martin’s position remains precarious.
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Southampton can thank Aaron Ramsdale for their victory, who made several outstanding saves before Adam Armstrong scored the decisive goal. “It was a real team effort. The first win is always special. Getting it was much more important than keeping a clean sheet for the first time. The fact that both events happened at the same time match reflects good teamwork,” praised the Saints goalkeeper, especially the defenders. However, it cannot be denied that Southampton’s performance, particularly in defense, continues to leave something to be desired. In terms of xGA (expected goals against), the Saints have fallen behind Leicester and now find themselves second to last, just ahead of Ipswich.
Wolverhampton vs Southampton: Author’s Prediction
Wolves maintain their status as the most entertaining team in the Premier League. Notably, matches involving Wolverhampton saw the highest number of goals – 41 in total (average 4.1 per match). Southampton’s attacking intent, coupled with their vulnerability in defense, suggests this clash involving Gary O’Neil’s side will also feature a significant number of goals. I expect both teams to score, with Wolves finally recording their first win of the season. My prediction is a Wolverhampton victory with goals from both teams.
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