Wolves v United
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Molineux
Date: Saturday, 5 February Kick-off: 1730 GMT
TEAM NEWS
Stephen Hunt will miss out for Wolves with a calf strain, so on-loan Jamie
O'Hara could make his first start.
Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher is available after recovering
from an eye injury sustained during the victory over Aston Villa.
Rafael is also expected to return after being given the all-clear from the
concussion he suffered at Blackpool.
Park Ji-Sung is unlikely to be involved while he continues his recovery from
South Korea's Asian Cup exploits.
Wolverhampton Wanderers (from):
Hahnemann, Mouyokolo, Jarvis,Craddock, Jones, Ward, Fletcher, Ebanks-Blake,
Stearman, Mujangi Bia, Vokes,Milijas, Elokobi, Hill, Hennessey, Zubar, Doyle,
Henry, O'Hara, Hammill,Ebanks-Blake, Edwards, Foley.
Injured: Guedioura (broken leg), Hunt (calf), Kightly & Mancienne (both knee)
Manchester United (from):
Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Lindegaard
Rafael, O'Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Smalling, Evans, Evra, Fabio
Nani, Obertan, Carrick, Fletcher, Scholes, Gibson, Anderson, Giggs, Bebe
Rooney, Berbatov, Hernandez, Owen
Doubtful: Park (fatigue)
Injured: Hargreaves (hamstring), Valencia (ankle)
MATCH PREVIEW
A record 19th league title in May remains the target for everyone at
Manchester United, but the class of 2011 will guarantee their place in the
history books even sooner should they avoid defeat at Molineux.
A positive result for Sir Alex Ferguson's side would see them extend their
unbeaten run to a club record 30 Premier League games, one better than the
Treble winners of 1999.
It is a remarkable feat, all the more so for a team who have only sparkled
sporadically this season, and testament to a resilience and fighting spirit
that has produced dramatic comebacks against the likes of Liverpool, Stoke,
Aston Villa and Wolves themselves.
Twice Mick McCarthy's men have faced United this season, and twice they have
been denied at the death, and it was another 90th-minute winner that again
defeated Wolves on Wednesday when Daniel Sturridge scored on his debut for
Bolton, a result that leaves the Molineux club propping up the Premier League
table.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
‧ United have won their last six matches against Wolves since a 1-0 Premier
League defeat at Molineux in January 2004.
‧ Wolves have lost more matches (15) this season than any other club in the
Premier League.
‧ Defeat for Wolves would signal four successive league defeats for a third
time this season.
‧ This is Mick McCarthy's 100th Premier League match as a manager (W17, D18,
L64). The former Republic of Ireland boss turns 52 on Monday.
Man Utd
‧ Unbeaten United are four points down on Arsenal's 'invincible' squad of
2003/04. United have 15 wins and nine draws from 24 games, compared with
the Gunners' 17 wins and seven draws.
‧ Dimitar Berbatov has scored 19 league goals this season - his best return
in a Premier League season, and only five fewer than Wolves' entire team.
‧ Sir Alex Ferguson's side have won all three Premier League matches against
West Midlands clubs in 2011, scoring 10 goals.
‧ They have won only three of their 11 top-flight matches on the road this
season - on all three occasions Javier Hernandez scored.
LEADING GOALSCORERS
Wolves
Fletcher: 6 goals (4 league);
Doyle & Milijas: 5 goals (2 league)
Man Utd
Berbatov: 20 goals (19 league);
Hernandez: 11 goals (7 league)
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Michael Oliver
Assistant referees: Dave Bryan & Mick McDonough
Fourth official: Mike Jones
LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Wolves (L0-1 v Bolton, a):
Hennessey, Zubar, Berra, Stearman, Elokobi, Hammill (Ebanks-Blake 89),
D Jones, Henry, Edwards (O'Hara 75), Jarvis (Ward 75), Doyle.
Subs not used: Hahnemann, Craddock, Fletcher, Milijas.
Man Utd (W3-1 v Aston Villa, h):
Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra,Nani, Fletcher (Anderson 34),
Carrick, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney.
Subs not used: Lindegaard, Owen, Smalling, Hernandez, Scholes, Fabio Da Silva.
M.E.N Prediction: Wolves 0-2 United
- the Reds are on a roll at the moment
Key opponent:
Matt Jarvis - lively winger has been impressive for Wolves this sesaon
Skysports.com prediction: Wolves 0-2 United
One to Watch: Wayne Rooney
Lawro's Premier League predictions Wolves 0-2 United
Wolves thought they had nicked a point at Bolton on Wednesday. Their
goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was outstanding and Kevin Doyle hit the woodwork
late on for them too before Bolton pinched their winner.
But they are on a bad run of four straight defeats now and the last team they
want to be playing to try to end that is Manchester United.
United are top of the table and unbeaten and the most ominous thing for me
from their win over Aston Villa on Tuesday was that Wayne Rooney suddenly
looked like he had clicked into gear.
Of course, the other significant news for United in midweek was the
retirement of their veteran defender Gary Neville at the age of 35. I saw him
against Stoke and West Brom at the beginning of January and he was lucky not
to be sent off in both games.
Neville had plenty of rivals for that right-back spot at United anyway and I
think he has been very clever and sensible to call it a day now.
He has been the best right-back we have seen since the Premier League started
in 1992, and the good thing about his decision is that he is finishing right
at the very top, which is the best thing you can do.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/9384148.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/football_focus/9386431.stm
http://tinyurl.com/49go7yb
http://www.skysports.com/football/match_preview/0,19764,11065_3284312,00.html