Wolves vs Leeds: Expect few goals and Whites' relegation fears to worsen
Leeds clashing with Wolves
Both Wolves and Leeds need points for very different reasons, but Leeds look ill-equipped to pinch tight contests right now.
Leeds will look to build on their huge win over Norwich City when they travel to Molineux to face Wolves on Friday night.
The Yorkshire side created some valuable breathing space for themselves at the bottom of the table last week, but will have to be even better still to get the best of Wolves, who still harbour aspirations of European football for next season.
When: Friday, March 18, 20:00 GMT
Where: Molineux
Where to watch: Sky Sports
Who is the ref for Wolves vs Leeds
Kevin Friend will be the man in the middle for this one, with Jarred Gillett assuming VAR responsibilities.
Friend was certainly friendly towards Leeds when he last refereed them, with the penalty he awarded them being the only goal of the game in their win over Crystal Palace in October.
Wolves won't be too disappointed to see him either, though, with them beating Tottenham in the only match he has officiated involving them so far this season.
Season stats 2021/22: Premier League matches (12), yellows (57), reds (1), penalties (4)
Recent form
Wolves suffered a recent blip in form, suffering three straight defeats. However, they have got their season firmly back on track since.
Back-to-back wins against Watford (4-0) and Everton (1-0) have restored confidence levels and, perhaps ominously for Leeds, underlined their ruthlessness when facing relegation-threatened rivals.
Leeds' form before the Norwich win was frankly horrendous. It ended a run of six straight defeats and seven defeats in eight, and provided them their first success since mid-January.
Wolves and Leeds players in form
Conor Coady is arguably the most consistent defender in the Premier League, and he has been a key man in Wolves' recent return to form.
He scored the only goal against Everton and led his side to clean sheets in both of their last two games.
One of Leeds' biggest problems this season has been that they have not been able to get anyone into form. Players have occasional good performances before disappearing again.
Rodrigo has two goals in his last six games, and that is as close to 'form' as anyone has been for Leeds this season. The Spaniard also scored a last-minute equaliser in the reverse fixture this season, so he is one Wolves will be wary of.
Last three matches
Leeds 1-1 Wolves (October 23, 2021)
This one was a game that really slipped through Wolves' fingers, with Leeds managing to salvage a draw with a last-gasp penalty.
It all looked like it was going very smoothly for Wolves when Hwang Hee-chan edged them ahead after just ten minutes.
However, they failed to press home that early advantage, with Rodrigo pinching the equaliser from the spot in injury time.
Wolves 1-0 Leeds (February 19, 2021)
The corresponding fixture last season was not a classic by any means, with Wolves securing all three points courtesy of a messy own-goal.
Whites' goalkeeper Illan Meslier was the unlucky man, putting through his own goal mid-way through the second half.
For the stattos among us, Meslier, who was just 11 days short of his 21st birthday, became the youngest goalkeeper to ever score an own goal in the Premier League.
Leeds 0-1 Wolves (October 19, 2020)
This one was not exactly a classic either, with a solitary goal once again enough to take the spoils for Wolves.
Romain Saiss thought he had broken the deadlock after 53 minutes, only for VAR to intervene and rule it out.
Undeterred, Raul Jimenez bagged the decisive goal with 20 minutes remaining.
Last ten matches
Wolves wins: 6
Draws: 1
Leeds wins: 3
Wolves scored: 18
Leeds scored: 11
Managers' thoughts
Bruno Lage believes Leeds will pose a far greater threat than their lowly league position suggests.
"They want to have the ball, solid at the back, two midfielders every time near the ball, to build up the game, and four amazing strikers," he said.
"[Patrick] Bamford worked with Carlos at Middlesbrough, Raphinha played against me at Sporting, James was my player at Swansea, so they are good in attack. A strong opponent to play against."
New Leeds boss Jesse Marsch, meanwhile, has also declared himself a big fan of Wolves.
"Fantastic team with intelligent players," he said. "Very well coached. I knew Lage is a good coach, but when I watched their team I was very impressed. Defend well. Good rotations. Clarity in how they want to play. Big challenge for us.
"They will test us in many ways against the ball with pressing, how we control them in the defensive third. They haven't given away one goal in transition all season and that's how we want to score.
"[We have to] Try to execute a simple match plan. Succinct in all phases of the game. Defending well and not going behind will be important."
Predicted Wolves vs Leeds teams
Possible Wolverhampton Wanderers starting line-up: Sa; Kilman, Coady, Saiss; Jonny, Neves, Moutinho, Ait-Nouri; Podence, Jimenez, Neto
Possible Leeds United starting line-up: Meslier; Ayling, Llorente, Struijk, Dallas; Koch, Forshaw; James, Klich, Raphinha; Bamford
Wolves vs Leeds prediction
Goals have been hard to come by in recent meetings between these clubs, but Wolves look much more likely to come out of top in a tight clash. Let's go for 2-0 Wolves.
