Blog: Wolves scoring freely at the right time

With 13 games left of the season, Wolves have time to gain ground on the top six, but it might be an ask for them to claw back five points, writes blogger Richard Hobbs.more

There is still over a quarter of the season to play and a there is still a lot of football between now and the end of the season.

Teams will drop in form and and some will build up momentum. Norwich have spent large parts of the season outside the playoffs but are now looking unstoppable and could make a late run for a title push.

Kenny Jackett has finally found a system for a free scoring Wolves side. A front four of Sako, Dicko, Afobe and Van La Parra or Henry has seen Wolves goal from a team that lacked penetration to one where you now expect goals.

A large part of the goal glut in recent weeks is that Wolves now play two centre forwards. In Afobe and Dicko, Jackett has found two players who and willing to hassle the opposition backline, link up play and run in behind defences.

When Dicko played up front by himself and without a creator in central midfield, Wolves were too bunched together and weren't able to find the space to exploit.

Now with Afobe leading the line with him, there is space in the front behind the opposition defences to run into. With both strikers able to come short for the ball or run behind for it, the opposition have struggled to track them.

The new strike partnership has also helped Bakary Sako rekindle his form.

Without a goal in several months, Sako now has three in his last two games and Jackett will want him to carry on his purple patch on Saturday.

The Malian doesn't seem to be letting his contract situation affect his performance and looks up for the promotion push.

With Wolves playing more open and expansive football, there is more pressure on the defence. Scott Golbourne is a welcome return to left back.

As well as his solid defending, he is a constant outlet and is excellent at moving the ball forwards.

Danny Batth, who has come under scrutiny in recent weeks had a very good game midweek and will be hoping him and Stearman can repeat the form they pair had at the start of the season.

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Wolves play Cardiff in Wales at the weekend. It's always a tough trip to South Wales and even though they lay in 13th, Wolves are going to need to be at their best to beat them.

Peter Whittingham is an excellent player at this level and Wolves struggled against Kenwyne Jones in the last fixture between Cardiff and Wolves.