Wolves v Derby - match preview

PREAMBLE

When even the normally reserved Kenny Jackett is using phrases like 'massively important' and 'big game', you know it really matters, writes Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers.

Wolves may be marooned in the Championship wilderness, 14 points off both the top six and the bottom three.

But with angry consternation overflowing from the terraces, questions being asked of Kenny Jackett's future, players being booed by their own fans and deep concerns at the long-term plans of a club with no chairman, Wolves feel close to crisis mode.

Supporters have turned on either the club, the team or the head coach during each of Wolves' last three defeats to Preston, Huddersfield and Brentford.

It's a toxic atmosphere, and one that is almost certain to rear its ugly head again tomorrow should Wolves' miserable run of form and results continue.

Jackett knows it's of paramount importance that he gets the fans onside.

He also hopes a new signing in pacey, direct and attacking winger/left-back Jeremy Helan will provide the boost and the spark that his team so sorely needs.

It certainly won't be easy against a Derby team that has rediscovered its mojo.

But while this isn't a must-win for Wolves, they desperately need to give their long-suffering supporters something to go on.

An exciting, attacking performance, a couple of goals, a thrilling draw, or even a big victory. Just something, Wolves. Something.

Helan is expected to go straight into the Wolves team, although whether it's at left back or left wing is debatable (he wore the number three jersey in training this week, if that's anything to go by).

Wolves have had Matt Doherty and Kortney Hause filling in at left back lately, while Tommy Rowe and Nathan Byrne have been out of position at left wing, so Helan's arrival is certainly welcome.

Mike Williamson, Michal Zyro and James Henry remain sidelined until at least next Friday's trip to Middlesbrough.

Jackett's main selection dilemma is whether to keep boo-boy Rajiv van La Parra in the side, or take him out of the firing line.

Derby should have former Albion man George Thorne available after four games out with a calf injury, while Darren Bent may return after missing Wednesday's 1-0 win over Blackburn with a migraine.

Darren Wassall's squad is one of the biggest in the league, with England international Stephen Warnock not even able to make the bench of late.

That bench has still included the likes of Tom Ince, Nick Blackman and Andreas Weimann, underlining the quality at Wassall's disposal.

LIKELY LINE-UPS

Wolves (4-4-2): Ikeme; Iorfa, Batth, Hause, Doherty; Byrne, McDonald, Coady, Helan; Sigurdarson, Mason. Subs: Martinez, Ebanks-Landell, Rowe, Price, Saville, Van La Parra, Le Fondre.

Derby (4-3-3): Carson; Christie, Keogh, Shackell, Olsson; Hendrick, Hanson, Butterfield; Russell, Martin, Johnson. Subs: Grant, Buxton, Thorne, Camara, Blackman, Ince, Bent.

Chris Martin: Take your pick from that team. But Martin recently ended a scoring drought, scored twice in the reverse fixture (a 4-2 win for Derby in October) and is always a goal threat.

FORM GUIDE

Wolves are 23rd in the Championship form table, having accrued three points in their past six matches.

Only relegation-threatened Rotherham, with two points, fare worse.

At home they've won just four games all season, and those four victories have come over sides currently 14th or lower in the league.

Derby recently went eight without a win, a run that contributed to Paul Clement losing his job.

But victories over Brentford and Blackburn in the past week have reignited their flagging promotion charge and they're currently fifth, five points behind second-placed Burnley.

MATCH ODDS

The bookies reflect Wolves' current woes by offering as high as 3/1 for them to win at home tomorrow, with Derby the clear favourites at 21/20.

Martin is 5/1 favourite to score first, ahead of Bent, Blackman and Joe Mason at 6/1.

The narrative first-scorer options of debutant Helan or returning-to-former-club Jason Shackell are 16/1 or 33/1 respectively.

A repeat of last season's 2-0 win to Wolves is 18/1, with a second consecutive 3-0 defeat for Wolves the more likely option according to bookies, at 16/1.

Bjorn Sigurdarson is due a goal and if you fancy him to score in a 1-0 Wolves win that'll be 40/1.

March 20, 2015 (Championship), Wolves 2 Derby 0. A memorable game in front of 27,480 at a jubilant Molineux. Derby had almost double the number of Wolves' shots and 60 per cent possession. But a superb rearguard action, a goal from Nouha Dicko and a blooper from Lee Grant gave Wolves the 2-0 win.

August 24, 2012 (Championship), Wolves 1 Derby 1. Stale Solbakken made it four points from his first three matches with a 1-1 draw. Kevin Doyle opened the scoring but Theo Robinson grabbed an injury-time equaliser for the Rams.

December 9, 2008 (Championship), Wolves 3 Derby 0. After a seven-game winning run had been ended by a draw with Blues and defeat at QPR, Mick McCarthy's Wolves returned to form in style. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake scored two and David Edwards the other.

September 12, 2006 (Championship), Wolves 0 Derby 1. McCarthy missed the chance to take Wolves to the top of the table early in his reign as Steve Howard scored his first goal for the Rams after a £1m move from Luton.

October 18, 2005 (Championship), Wolves 1 Derby 1. Glenn Hoddle's draw specialists struck again. Wolves drew 40 matches in 2004/05 and 2005/06 combined, with 1-1 their favourite scoreline. Kenny Miller opened the scoring, with Mounir El Hamdaoui levelling just after half time.

Kenny Jackett: "A good start's going to be crucial.

"But a good start, middle and end – and a good performance and result – is what we're working towards.

"That will be the thing that gets the fans onside.

"I think it'll be a good atmosphere, I think the crowd will get behind us.

"Invariably they'll react to what they see on the pitch, whether that be good, bad or indifferent.

"That's OK, it's up to us to take the lead and lift that crowd. And we're capable of doing that."

Darren Wassall: "The togetherness in the dressing room is a big contributing factor to why we have got six points from the last two games.

"Hopefully, we can go and put on another performance and get another good result at Wolves.

"People talk about promotion and play-offs, but we can only control what we do and we have 13 games to go.

"We want to try and do our very best in those games and see where it takes us."

THE REF

Graham Scott (Oxfordshire): Just one red card in 14 games for Mr Scott this season, plus 58 yellows.

PREDICTION

Helan's signing is a boost and it would be typical Wolves to turn it on against one of the division's big boys.

Derby's form in the past week is ominous but if Wolves play to their strengths it could be a decent game. 2-2.