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Tim Nash's Wolves predictions for the rest of the season

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Tim Nash examines Wolves' likely fortunes in the seven remaining matches of their Championship regular season.

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Wolves are regarded as the dark horses in the Championship play-off race. But they refuse to be ignored and are determined to play a part in the scramble for the top six.

Notts Forest (A) – April 3

Seven wins and two draws in 11 games is the record in charge for Dougie Freedman, confirming what a good job the former Wolves striker has done since taking over from Stuart Pearce.

Forest currently trail Kenny Jackett's side by eight points and one place so their recent charge looks to have come too late to trouble the top six this season.

Tommy Rowe of Wolverhampton Wanderers

But these East-West Midlands derbies are normally highly-charged, highly-competitive affairs and I can't see the home side being anything other than determined as they look to end their campaign on a high.

Forest enjoyed a flattering 3-0 win at Molineux back in November at the nadir of Wolves' season.

Two goals in four second-half minutes from Brett Assombalonga and Matty Fryatt sealed their fate and a third from Henri Lansbury clinched what looked like a heavy defeat.

But it looks like being a much closer affair this time with Wolves in a much better mindset.

VERDICT: Six years ago at the City Ground, Michael Kightly clinched a memorable 1-0 win for Mick McCarthy's soon-to-be-champions and one goal could settle it again for the visitors.

Leeds United (H) – April 6

Eight wins and two draws from their last 13 games belie Leeds' position in 13th place.

And when you consider their away form in that spell – victories at Huddersfield, Middlesbrough, Reading, Wigan and Fulham – Wolves can't afford any complacency at Molineux in front of what is sure to be a big crowd and a feisty atmosphere.

Michael Jacobs of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Steve Morison of Leeds United

This is the second of three consecutive live televised games and Wolves will be looking for the kind of determined performance in front of the cameras that they produced against Derby last time out.

Leeds looked decidedly ordinary after a strong first half in the game between the teams at Elland Road earlier this season.

But boss Neil Redfearn has turned them into a much stronger outfit and in homegrown pair Sam Byram and left-sided midfielder Alex Mowatt, they have two of the best young players in the Championship.

Jackett's side will have to keep a wary eye on the pair.

VERDICT: Providing they keep things tight at the back, I can see another narrow win for Wolves.

Birmingham City (A) – April 11

This is always a tough fixture with an edge, but Wolves are nevertheless unbeaten in their last three trips to St Andrew's.

On their last visit Sylvan Ebanks-Blake suffered a broken leg and in their previous Championship promotion tilt, Chris Iwelumo's season was ended by a red-card challenge by Lee Carsley.

Michael Morrison of Birmingham City and James Henry of Wolverhampton Wanderers

Back to the present day, two wins in 13 don't tell the full story for Gary Rowett's side. They have lost only one of their last five during which they have beaten Brentford and drawn against Derby. In 18-year-old Demarai Gray, Blues have one of the most sought-after players in the division.

Blues drew 0-0 at Molineux for Rowett's first game in charge in November, displaying a resolute defence.

VERDICT: Same again with no goals.

Middlesbrough (A) – April 14

Wolves produced one of their best performances of the season to beat Middlesbrough 2-0 back in October. But 'Boro are handily placed in third at the moment and although they haven't been flying, with four defeats in nine, have impressive home form.

Middlesbrough's Patrick Bamford celebrates scoring his sides first goal of the game during the FA Cup Fourth Round match at the Etihad Stadium

They have reeled off three straight victories at the Riverside, scoring eight times – and Middlesbrough on a Tuesday night is not one for the faint-hearted.

Aitor Karanka has made Boro the best home team in the Championship. They have no shortage of attacking riches, with one-time Wolves target Patrick Bamford, Jelle Vossen, Kike and Lee Tomlin the front men.

Wolves will be hoping their record on Teesside counts for nothing. They haven't won away to Middlesbrough in 22 trips going back to 1952.

VERDICT: Boro's home strength to bring them victory.

Ipswich Town (H) – April 18

This promises to be another emotionally-charged Molineux occasion with the spice of a potential play-off cliff-hanger and the return of Mick McCarthy in front of the live TV cameras.

Wolves will fancy their chances after looking much more convincing at home since February. But they will be wary of an Ipswich team who bullied them at Portman Road.

The game was only a few minutes old when Dave Edwards' match was ended by a tackle heavily criticised by Kenny Jackett afterwards.

And although sloppy mistakes by midfielders Kevin McDonald and Lee Evans led to the goals by in-form striker Daryl Murphy, there was a feeling that Ipswich had it a little too easy.

Ipswich have recovered from seven defeats in 13 to win their last two and be two points ahead of Wolves. The Tractor Boys are also boosted by the arrival of Wolves target Jonny Williams and Zeki Fryers from Crystal Palace.

VERDICT: Draw – a cagey stalemate with honours even looks likely.

Wigan (A) – April 25

Five points adrift of the safety line, Wigan could be down by the time they face Wolves in the penultimate game of the league season. But that situation could go either way, with the Latics maybe playing with freedom if they're down while it could be a highly-charged affair if they still have something to play for.

They have picked up recently with three wins and a draw in their last six outings, with the loan arrival of a certain Leon Clarke playing its part.

Clarke won't be allowed to play against Wolves, who will be looking to a near-5,000 backing to roar them on to another win to try to cement a place in the top six.

Wolves managed a 2-2 draw against Wigan back in October when poor defending saw the visitors peg them back. James Perch and Marc-Antoine Fortune cancelled out strikes from Dave Edwards and Bakary Sako.

VERDICT: Wigan's form has picked up, but this needs to be an away win for Wolves to underline their play-off ambitions.

Millwall (H) – May 2

The chances of Millwall still having something to play for by this point seem slim, given they are already seven points adrift of safety, second from bottom in the table.

Wolves took their foot off the pedal earlier in the season when they allowed a three-goal lead to slip and draw 3-3.

Kenny Jackett the head coach / manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers

But in truth it was a flattering advantage as their goal led a charmed life before Lee Gregory and veteran substitute Ricardo Fuller (2) rescued a point for the Lions with two quality strikes.

But since that day, the clubs' fortunes have gone in opposite directions.

Wolves have tightened up considerably since then and now possess a much greater attacking threat in former Millwall loan striker Benik Afobe, who will be looking to put one over his old team-mates.

And Millwall have struggled, currently on a winless stretch of nine games.

That kind of form leaves them looking certainties to go down unless they can pull off something pretty spectacular.

VERDICT: One that Wolves really should win.

FINAL VERDICT - PLAYOFFS

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