Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Derby County. Sky Bet Championship.
MolineuxAttendance28,503.
Watch live on Sky Sports Football or Main Event from 7.30pm on Wednesday
Wednesday 11 April 2018 20:44, UK
Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has all his key players available against Derby on Wednesday night, as Wanderers close in on a return to the Premier League.
Following Tuesday's results, the Championship leaders are eight points above second-placed Fulham with a game in hand, and lead third-placed Cardiff by nine points. Five points from their remaining five games will guarantee Wolves a top-two finish and automatic promotion.
It remains to be seen what team Nuno will pick after he sprang a big surprise with his selection at Cardiff last week, starting both Leo Bonatini and Benik Afobe with Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro dropping to the bench. Ruben Neves, whose superb free-kick won Wolves the game in south Wales, and Matt Doherty were also recalled at the expense of Alfred N'Diaye and Roderick Miranda.
Back-to-back wins have given Derby's play-off challenge a timely revival and Rams boss Gary Rowett could name an unchanged side for the third straight match. Following the embarrassing home defeat to Sunderland, Rowett made five changes to his starting line up for the trip to Preston and he saw his team end an eight-match winless run. He stuck with the same players on Saturday as Derby defeated Bolton.
Defenders Andre Wisdom and Alex Pearce, midfielders Joe Ledley and Tom Huddlestone and striker David Nugent were the players brought back in and they are likely to keep their places. Derby have no fresh injury problems but Ikechi Anya (calf) has suffered a setback in his recovery. Bradley Johnson (ankle) and Marcus Olsson (knee) will also remain on the sidelines but could be back in contention at Burton at the weekend.
Wolves' last league double over Derby was in the 2008-09 season, when they won promotion to the Premier League.
The Rams last won back-to-back away league matches at Molineux in October 1992.
If Wolves win, they'll have 92 points. Even when converted to three points for a win, in only one Football League campaign have they ever earned more (103 in League One in 2013-14).
Indeed, their previous highest in a second tier campaign was the 90 they earned in 2008-09, when they won the division and were promoted to the Premier League.
Derby have kept a clean sheet in seven of their last 11 Championship away games.
Gary Rowett's two previous Championship visits to Molineux have both ended goalless (in November 2014 and March 2016 as Birmingham manager).
What a big win that was for Wolves against Cardiff on Friday night. To survive two late penalties just shows that it's their year and it shouldn't be too long before they seal promotion and then the title.
Derby have two wins in a row, which is massive for them after their poor run before that. They would rather go pretty much anywhere than Molineux at the moment, though. Home win for me.
David Prutton predicts: 2-0 with Ruben Neves to score first (33/1 with Sky Bet)
