Wolves head to Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday, and it’s a match that is huge in the context of the relegation battle.
Wolves drew against Everton last weekend as Marshall Munetsi scored his first goal, sending them six points clear of 18th-place Ipswich Town.
This weekend, anything less than three points for Vitor Pereira’s men against Southampton will be disappointing, as the Saints have only collected nine all season.
Ivan Juric’s side essentially have their relegation fate sealed after a woeful 24/25 campaign, and could yet see them break Derby County’s record low 11 points in a single season in 2007/08.
Wolves will fancy their chances of winning on the South Coast for that reason, and Paul Merson has now issued his prediction.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Paul Merson predicts Southampton vs Wolves
In the reverse fixture, Wolves beat Southampton 2-0 as goals from Matheus Cunha and Pablo Sarabia handed then-manager Gary O’Neil his first win of the campaign.
Pereira will be without Cunha for this clash, as the Brazilian serves the second match of his suspension.
In his prediction for the fixture, Merson thinks Wolves will struggle without their talisman, although he does think the Old Gold are already safe regardless of what happens.
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Predicting the Wanderers to win 1-0, he wrote in his column for Sportskeeda: “Wolves will stay up by default, won’t they? Leicester and Ipswich can’t win a game anyway!
“If Wolves beat Southampton here, I believe it all but confirms their status in the Premier League for another season. If they fail to get three points here, then the game against Ipswich next month becomes a direct shootout for relegation.”
“Southampton have been poor all season but I just can’t blindly back Wolves to get the win in this one. I say that because Wolves will be without Matheus Cunha. He is their X-factor and I’m not sure how they can be effective going forward without him. I’m going to have to pick Wolves, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this ends up being a draw.”
Joe Cole thinks Wolves will survive
Wolves aren’t needing to do much currently to keep themselves above water, as both Leicester and Ipswich keep losing.
But, it only takes either side to win – although unlikely – to pile further pressure onto the side in 17th position.
That being said, former Chelsea star Joe Cole thinks Wolves will survive in the Premier League, explaining his reason why after their latest draw against the Toffees.
“Any point you get at this stage of the season keeps that distance with the teams below you is good and I agree I think they’re playing well,” he said. “I think they’ve playing well enough to stay up. You just think for the sake of the league and the neutral, you want it to be tight down there.
“You want it to be exciting because that’s what our leagues are always about, but that’s down to the other teams. I think Wolves will just keep doing what they’re doing and keep plugging away, and they’ll pick up enough results between now and the end of the season.”