Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United will be looking to return to winning ways when they face off at Molineux in the Premier League on Saturday.
The hosts will be seeking revenge against the Whites after losing 2-1 at Elland Road on the opening day of the season back in August.
Match preview
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Wolves were unable to follow up their hard-fought 1-0 home win over Tottenham Hotspur with another three points, as they were condemned to a 2-1 defeat at Newcastle United last weekend.
Substitute Hwang Hee-chan tapped home his first Premier League goal of the season to restore parity in the 70th minute after Alexander Isak had opened the scoring, but Magpies substitute Miguel Almiron had the last laugh as the Paraguayan curled in the winning goal nine minutes later to condemn Wolves to their 14th league defeat of the campaign.
Julen Lopetegui had every reason to feel hard done by as Wolves were denied a first-half penalty after Raul Jimenez was bundled over by Nick Pope, but they can ill-afford to dwell on their most recent setback as they attempt to steer themselves away from a hotly-contested relegation battle.
Despite a run of only one league win in their last five, Wolves remain 13th in the Premier League table, but they sit just three points above the drop zone and four points ahead of Saturday's opponents Leeds in 19th place.
Keeping a clean sheet could be crucial if Wolves are to come away with maximum points at Molineux, as they have failed to win their last 10 home league games in which they have conceded. Meanwhile, the West Midlands outfit have kept a clean sheet in all five top-flight home victories so far this season, including wins against Nottingham Forest, Southampton and West Ham United.
Wolves have already beaten Leeds on home soil this season, with Boubacar Traore scoring the only goal five minutes from time to secure a slender 1-0 win in the EFL Cup third round in November.
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Despite failing to win any of their last three Premier League games, Javi Gracia will have taken positives from Leeds' 2-2 draw at home against Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend.
The Whites pegged back the Seagulls twice to rescue a point at Elland Road, with goals from Alexis Mac Allister and Solly March cancelled out by two stunning strikes from Patrick Bamford and Jack Harrison.
Leeds have now drawn eight top-flight games so far this season, while they have won the fewest matches (five) of any team in the Premier League, but success on Saturday could see them climb out of the relegation zone heading into the international break.
Considering that Leeds have won each of their last three Premier League games when starting the day in the relegation zone – with a final-day triumph over Brentford last season followed by wins against Liverpool and Southampton this season – Gracia and co can head to Molineux with confidence of claiming all three points.
The Whites have picked up seven points in their last three meetings with Wolves, including a 3-2 away win last season and a 2-1 home victory on the opening day of this campaign, and another win on Saturday would see them complete their first top-flight double over the West Midlands side since 1973-74.
Team News
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Wolves boss Lopetegui has confirmed that Hwang is ruled out until after the international break with an unspecified injury, joining Sasa Kalajdzic, Chiquinho, Diego Costa (all knee) and Hugo Bueno (thigh) on the sidelines.
Boubacar Traore – who has not featured since November – is closing in on a return from a groin problem, but will not be fit to feature on Saturday, although Pablo Sarabia is available for selection after missing the defeat at Newcastle with a heel issue.
Lopetegui is unlikely to make too many changes, if any, to his starting lineup, although the likes of Matheus Cunha, Pedro Neto and Rayan Ait-Nouri will all be pushing for a recall.
As for Leeds, Tyler Adams is to see a specialist after sustaining a thigh injury and there is currently no timeframe on his potential return, while Stuart Dallas (leg) and Adam Forshaw (groin) are still recovering from long-term injuries.
Liam Cooper, who has been called up to the Scotland squad, has not featured since the beginning of February but the defender is available for selection on Saturday along with top scorer Rodrigo, who came off the bench against Brighton after missing seven games with an ankle injury.
Both Rodrigo and injury-prone striker Bamford will have their fitness assessed ahead of kickoff, though, and if neither are fit to start, either Georginio Rutter or Wilfried Gnonto could be recalled to operate down the middle.
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Jonny; Lemina, Neves, Moutinho; A. Traore, Jimenez, Podence
Leeds United possible starting lineup:
Meslier; Ayling, Koch, Wober, Firpo; Roca, McKennie; Summerville, Aaronson, Harrison; Bamford
We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Leeds United
Both teams will view this fixtures as a must-win as they bid to move away from danger, and although Wolves have struggled in recent league meetings with Leeds, they will be regarded as favourites to claim maximum points at Molineux.
Leeds have picked up the joint-fewest points (six) away from home in the top flight so far this season, and they may struggle to break down the hosts' backline on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
