Blog: Wolves need another blue moon
An entire year has passed since Wolves briefly topped the Championship table after a goalless draw against Birmingham City at Molineux.
As the clubs prepare to do battle this Halloween at St Andrew's, the club is currently in 14th place in the league after what has been an 'unlucky' thirteen games.
Wolves currently sit nine points off sixth placed Birmingham in the play-off positions, but only six off the foot of the table.
The season has been dogged by inconsistency and conceding a high volume of goals and the club will look to arrest the slide and avoid a fourth consecutive loss.
When Gary Rowett took Birmingham to Molineux in his first game in charge, they came off the back of a record 8-0 defeat at home to eventual champions Bournemouth.
They were languishing in the relegation zone. A year on, Rowett has Birmingham sitting just a point off the top two, having amassed four wins in the last five games.
They are having a great season so far and will be considered favourites for the lunchtime clash.
The draw last November was the last point Wolves gained for over a month, losing the next five games in a row.
Late autumn has not been a good time for Jackett in either of his Championship campaigns. Jackett no longer has talismanic players like Dicko or Sako to rely on to help Wolves regain form.
He must do it without them at a time when the pressure on him is arguably higher than ever before. But the results are not the only scare that Wolves are currently facing.
They go into the weekend with just four fully fit first-team defenders in Batth, Doherty, Golbourne and new emergency loan signing Mike Williamson.
They will be hoping that Dominic Iorfa can recover from a knee injury obtained in the defeat to Brentford. Otherwise, central midfielder Conor Coady is the only cover for central defence.
This lack in strength of depth is frightening, especially as Richard Stearman was sold without being replaced late into the summer transfer window.
This is a situation of the club's own making. Wolves also now join Birmingham in the position of off-the-field uncertainty,.
Owner Steve Morgan has walked out on the club and put them up for sale.
Transfer budgets are likely to be cut to a minimum to cover necessity, with loans and free transfers looking to be the only way Wolves will be able to alter their squad.
Birmingham City are currently the example of how to succeed in such tough conditions- they have far less wealth and stature than Wolves but are doing well so far this season.
If the current situation is to be the fate of Wolves in the short to medium-term, Wolves may want to take note.
If Wolves can get a result at Birmingham this weekend, they will lift some of the Halloween gloom.
surrounding the club. With so long left of the season, it would be foolish to completely write off
Wolves' chances.
Just weeks ago, many would have forecasted a defeat away to Fulham, but Wolves left Craven
Cottage 3-0 victors. They have the ability within the squad to be much higher up the table, but they
are hindered by the fragility of it.
Aside from the defensive issues, Wolves do currently have good depth in midfield and playing
Edwards behind Afobe worked well for a large period of the match against Middlesbrough, with both
of these players able to win headers – an attribute required currently as Wolves look to play more
long balls than previously.
Back in April, Birmingham overturned Wolves' lead to win at St Andrew's, putting a dent in Wolves'
promotion charge. The clubs have swapped league standings compared to April. Hopefully they can
also swap the result and leave Birmingham with three points.
The ghouls and gremlins plaguing Wolves currently have not yet turned into full-blown demons, but
Jackett and his young squad must show the determination required to halt the losing streak and
ease the pressure.
