Up For The Cup?


Ex Wanderer
By Scott Cooper
February 15 2003

Wolves should win this game easily, but with Wolves nothing is ever simple. A 6 game unbeaton run which included a a 3 goal win againt Newcastle and four goals scored against Leicester and S.Wednesday was ended when bottom team Brighton beat Wolves 4-1. Will Wolves be up for the cup?

Walsall Vs Notts Forest

Wolves Vs Rochdale

Competition : The FA Cup, Fifth Round

Date & Time: 16.2.03 - 7.00pm
Tickets: Wolves have a few tickets for the game left and Rochdale have been unable to sell their allocation in the JI Lower and part of the JH stand         

News: George Ndah may make a comeback after missing the last two games due to injury. Although Blake played in the Birmingham Senior cup in midweek, he is still a doubt for Sunday.

News: Rochdale have major injury problems. Manager Paul Simpson has classed Gareth Griffiths, Michael Oliver, Neil Edwards and Paul Connor as doubtful. 

Head2Head Records
Wolverhampton Wanderers       Rochdale
Ven Versus Pos
A 1 - 4 Brighton L 24
A 4 - 0 Sheff Wed W 23
H 1 - 1 Wimbledon D 17
A 1 - 0 Walsall W 19
H 1 - 1 Derby D 17
H 1 - 2 Bradford L 20
A 1 - 2 Burnley L 15
A 1 - 1 Millwall D 17
H 0 - 2 Coventry L 14
H 1 - 0 Norwich W 4
Ven Versus Pos
A 1 - 0 Darlington W 16
H 2 - 1 Oxford W 4
H 0 - 1 Lincoln L 12
A 0 - 1 Southend L 15
A 3 - 3 Bournemouth D 4
H 2 - 2 Wrexham D 8
A 1 - 1 Bury D 4
H 4 - 0 Hartlepool W 1
A 2 - 2 Torquay D 4
H 0 - 1 York L 12

Wolves

 one2watch: As the Nation witnessed, when Mark Kennedy is on form, the Wolves are un-beatable. If Kennedy shows his form, as he did in the first round against Newcastle then Wolves will cause Rochdale all sorts of problems.

one2watch: Player Manager Paul Simpson will be out to get Wolves. The Ex-Wolf scored some cracking goals for Wolves and Sunday he will be doing his best to score against the Wolves.

.

Strikers in Focus
Nathan
Blake

Wolves
9
Paul
Simpson

Rochdale
14
9 Goals 9
16 Games Played 24
0.56 Goals Per Game Average 0.38
6 Total Games Scored In 7
4 Games Scored 1 Goals 6
1 Games Scored 2 Goals 0
1 Games Scored 3 Goals 1
1 Scoring Run (games) 3
2 Dry Spell (games) 8
2 Close Range 0
7 Inside 18 Yard Box 5
0 Outside 18 Yard Box 4
8 Shots 2
1 Headers 0
0 Volleys 0
0 Penalties 3
0 Free Kicks 4

Prediction

2-1

The Verdict: Wolves are known as the football Leagues equivalent to Englands nation team. Against the big clubs, Wolves pose a great threat. They are great in attack and the defense defends the way we know it can. Against the "lesser" teams, Wolves are not at the races (i.e England 1 Australia 3 and Brighton 4 Wolves 1). Wolves will see Rochdale as a "Lesser" side, and therefore, many Wolves fans wouldnt be at all surprised should Wolves lose the tie.

Wolves, like Rochdale have had a cracking Cup Run. Rochdale, who have played two more games than Wolves beat Preston North End and Coventry in the latter stages of the cup - Wins which have given Rochdale a huge confidence boost, aswell as a great cash Boost. Wolves beat Newcastle in the Thrilling 3-2 win live on Sky and then thumped Leicester for 4 in a great 4-1 win.

 The game is Live on BBC 2, and we must pray that Wolves go into the game on the same level as they did against Newcastle and Leicester, if they dont, Jones could be out of a job.