Eng. Championship
2013-01-11 - Wolves vs Blackburn Rovers
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Championship
Friday 11 January 2013 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Wolves
An embarrassing loss to non-League Luton Town in the FA Cup was the final straw for the Wolves board and they decided to sack manager Stale Solbakken. It had been a tough 2012 for Wolves as they were relegated from the Premier League and have struggled to get accustomed to the Championship. Now it is the turn of Dean Saunders to turn the club around after arriving from League One Doncaster Rovers.
Wolves have struggled in the Championship and they are 18th in the table with 31 points to their name, leaving them just 6 clear of the relegation zone. However, it is the nature of the Division that Wolves are only 9 points off the Play Offs and that is what they will focus on. Wolves have a 4-4-5 record at home this season, scoring 16 goals and conceding 19.
A poor run of form culminated in Solbakken's sacking and that run has seen Wolves lose 4 in a row in all competitions. Wolves gave lost back to back home games without scoring a goal and they have now lost 4 of their last 5 at home. The side have won just 1 of their last 9 home games ahead of this one.
Blackburn Rovers
Another relegated side from the Premier League which has struggled to get used to life in the Championship are Blackburn Rovers. There are other similarities to Wolves as Blackburn have already been through 2 managers this season and are set to unveil Michael Appleton as their third manager of the year as they look to get themselves moving back up the table.
The side are 13th in the Championship table, but they have 35 points to their name which means they are still in touch with the sides above them in the Play Off spots. Blackburn have a 3-7-3 away record so far this season, scoring 21 goals and conceding 19 and no other team has lost fewer games on their travels so far.
Since removing Henning Berg as manager, Blackburn have won 3 in a row in all competitions and they have only conceded 1 goal in those games. Blackburn beat struggling Barnsley 1-3 at Oakwell in their last away game, but they had failed to win their previous 3 away games and Blackburn had lost back to back League games at Blackpool and Middlesbrough.
Head to Head
Blackburn Rovers beat Wolves 0-2 at Molineux last season when both were in the Premier League.
That means Rovers are unbeaten in their last 5 visits to Wolves, winning back to back games here.
Wolves did win 0-1 at Ewood Park earlier this season.
Prediction
Wolves have been in disarray in recent games, but we have seen what effect a change of manager can have at a club and I think there is a chance that the home side get back on track in this one.
They don't have the best record against Blackburn Rovers in recent games, while Blackburn are also one of the toughest teams to play when they are visiting teams.
However, they did lose back to back away games recently and I think there is every chance Wolves can make the 2.50 odds pay in this one.
The Pick :
Wolves 2-1 Blackburn Rovers
