League title is now in Wolves touching distance
Wolves will win the Championship title tomorrow if they gain at least a point against Bolton.
On paper it looks like a game Nuno Espirito Santo’s men should win, writes Jamie Brassington.
They secured promotion on Saturday, meaning they have a huge pressure off their shoulders.
Bolton have struggled this season and are teetering two places above the relegation zone.
They have not won in their last five games and have lost their last two homes games.
Meanwhile, Wolves are in fine form and not lost in their last seven.
The previous time these two sides matched up, Wolves thumped Bolton 5-1 at Molineux in November in what was their biggest victory of the season.
That’s all on paper, but it’s not like Wolves this season to slip up too much – bar the 4-1 defeat at Villa.
Nuno will be hoping the players can go out and enjoy the game, give the fans a good performance and secure the league title on their terms.
They will be riding high on a wave after their promotion and 2-0 victory over Birmingham City last weekend.
However, Nuno will not let his players take their eyes off the ball.
Instead he will be focusing his team on getting a maximum tally of 104 points.
The players were back at training on Wednesday and Nuno said his players had certain ‘things to deal with’ ahead of the 160-mile round trip to Bolton.
“We’re going to prepare for the game,” Nuno said after the 2-0 victory over Blues in the West Midlands derby on Sunday. “We have to deal with some things – it’s not the same today that it was one week ago.
“But no relaxing. (I want) everybody working for the next game.”
With Nuno so intent on breaking the 100-point barrier, he’s unlikely to make many –if any – changes to his starting XI.
Ivan Cavaleiro limped off early on against Blues, which may promote Benik Afobe – who netted from the bench on Sunday – or Leo Bonatini to the starting XI.
Either Afobe or Bonatini are set to be supported by Diogo Jota and Helder Costa once more, while Ruben Neves – in the wake of being linked with a host of Premier League giants, including Liverpool – will look to provide the ammunition from midfield.
Bolton sit 20th on 40 points in the Championship, only two points above Barnsley in the relegation zone.
They have endured a poor home record this season having lost more matches than they have won at the Macron Stadium.
On the contrary, Wolves boast the league’s best away record, having won 13 and lost four.
Should Wolves fall to a shock defeat, they would have to rely on Cardiff dropping points in the 7.45pm kick-off in order to secure the Championship title this weekend.
It is in touching distance – all they need to do is pen the final chapter of an incredible season.
