Wolves V Birmingham
Wednesday, 18 January 2012 – 19:45 GMT (LIVE on ITV1)
FA Cup Third Round Replay
Despite the original tie failing to produce a single goal, ITV have boldly decided to persevere and are showing this FA Cup third round replay between Wolves and Birmingham live – and I reckon it could pay dividends second time around.
Both teams cancelled each other out at St Andrews eleven days ago, in what was a dour contest. Birmingham enjoyed the bulk of possession in front of their own supporters, whom could only half fill the stadium for what was/is a West Midlands derby, yet it was Wolves who carved out the better openings and had it not been for Sylvan Ebanks-Blakes’ wastefulness or the width of the post to deny Matt Jarvis, the Premier League side would be through already.
So what makes us think the replay will be any different? Well, for starters Wolves should take a firmer hold of proceedings back at Molineux. The pitch will also make a huge difference. The surface at St Andrews was not conducive for a lively game of football, with the usually simple task of stringing a few passes together made almost impossible on a bumpy pitch.
Goals are generally a given at Molineux as well; each of Wolves’ last seven league games at home have featured both teams scoring, while there hasn’t been a goalless draw here since Wanderers drew with Stoke in the Premier League back in April 2010.
We’ve established that there should at least be goals, but who will prosper? I can’t help but feel Birmingham’s best chance has passed them by with that goalless draw at St Andrews, on a terrible pitch which only they are accustomed to playing on. I expect Wolves’ Premier League pedigree to shine through on Wednesday, even though Mick McCarthy has hinted at changes.
Nobody likes to hear that dreaded word – ‘changes ‘ – but it isn’t necessarily alarming where Wolves are concerned. Mick McCarthy has a decent sized squad at his disposal, most of which could easily grade the Championship, and the strength of his squad was there for all to see earlier in the season during the Carling Cup. Wolves reached the Fourth Round before being dumped out 5-2 by Manchester City, but not before putting four past Northampton and five past Millwall with second string teams.
I’m expecting a little better than a second string Wolves starting XI, although McCarthy has hinted that top scorer Steven Fletcher will be rested. That isn’t much of a problem when you have fellow forwards Kevin Doyle and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake hungry to fill in. Both will feel they have a point or two to prove to the manager, but so does the team as a whole having gone eight without a win in all competitions.
Birmingham (29/10 to WIN the match with StanJames) will make the short trip to Molineux buoyed by their emphatic weekend victory over Millwall in the league, scoring six without reply away from home, which does bode well in terms of them at least registering a goal in the replay. However a long, arduous season brought about by their earlier commitments with the UEFA Europa League means this replay is a mere inconvenience for Chris Hughton, the Blues boss whose sole aim this season is to gain promotion back to the top flight.
A home win for me, in what should be a much improved contest than the one eleven days previous.
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