Wolves vs Stoke preview

This Staffordshire derby is one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures in the Potters’ calendar and we’ll be looking to exact revenge for the 2-2 draw at the Brit earlier in the season after we inexplicably allowed a two goal lead to slip through our fingers.

With Wolves’ prospects for remaining in the Premier League looking brighter than Burnley and Hull and with West Brom on the verge of a return it seems as though we’ll have another Midlands’ derby to look forward to and another guaranteed six points courtesy of the Baggies on the board.

Vital Quotes:

TP admits that he has a problem getting Ryan Shawcross back into the starting eleven. He told the official site: ‘I’m desperate to get Ryan back in the team, but at the moment it is hard because the lads who are in there have been exceptional in recent games.

‘We have kept a few clean sheets and have looked extremely solid in those matches, but I am sure he will be back playing again before the end of the season.’

Stoke Official site

Wolves Team News:

Mick McCarthy will be without his skipper and former Stoke player, Karl Henry after he was shown a red card in dubious circumstances during their 1-0 defeat at Arsenal last weekend.

Player to watch: Kevin Doyle

The former Reading striker knows all about relegation and isn’t taking anything for granted despite Wolves’ five point gap from the relegation pack after the Royals tumbled down the table a few seasons back from Wolves’ current position. He told Wolves’ official site: ‘We were mid-table at Christmas and didn’t go into the bottom three until the last but one week of the season and at this stage of the season we were in a similar position to where Wolves are now.

“With about six weeks to go we were saying we just needed one more win and we didn’t get it.
“We didn’t go into the bottom three until the last week of the season and then we didn’t have a chance to get back out of it’

Wolves official site

Stoke City Team News:

Tony Pulis has to decide whether to risk Ricardo Fuller. He hobbled off last weekend after scoring the opener against Hull but, even if fit, may be rested in case he picks up a 10th yellow card. If he’s missing, it’ll another chance for Tuncay and David Kitson with Louis Moult likely to get another opportunity on the bench.

Player to watch: Tuncay

The Turkish international has shown glimmers of promise and plenty of endeavour throughout the season without really showing us his best. TP has suggested that several of his players have been frustrated with his squad rotation policy, which has normally involved rotating the front line, and it would be natural to assume that Tunny is one that he has in mind.