Wolves manager Gary O’Neil is working to ease the pressure on his team before their upcoming match against Crystal Palace. Currently, Wolves sit 19th in the Premier League with only two points from nine games, while Palace are four points ahead in 17th place.
“I know there will be a lot made of the next games, but they’re not must wins,” O’Neil stated during a pre-match press conference.
O’Neil acknowledged the quality of Crystal Palace, noting their £30 million investment in a striker from Arsenal and praising Eberechi Eze’s skills. He emphasised the need for readiness and determination in every game. Southampton, another challenging opponent, is known for their ball retention and structured play. Wolves recently showed resilience by coming back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Brighton, scoring their first goal after 88 minutes.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner faces fitness concerns with key players Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton after both were injured against Aston Villa in the EFL Cup. While Glasner was optimistic about Wharton’s injury being a recurrence of an existing issue, he expressed uncertainty about Eze’s condition. “I hope that it’s not too serious but I don’t know,” Glasner commented.
Wolves’ Matheus Cunha has been pivotal this season, scoring an equaliser against Brighton last weekend, bringing his tally to four goals this season. However, despite scoring in 15 Premier League matches for Wolves, he has only been on the winning side three times. For Crystal Palace, Jean-Philippe Mateta stands out as their top scorer with three league goals and one assist this season.
The match between Wolves and Crystal Palace is expected to be closely contested as both teams have struggled early in the season. Wolves are second-bottom of the table without a home win this season, extending their losing streak at Molineux to five matches since May 2024. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have yet to secure an away victory in the league this season.
Despite these challenges, O’Neil remains confident in his team’s spirit and determination. “The lads will never stop,” he said. “We’ll stand up, we’ll keep going and we’ll be fine.” He assured fans that while they might sometimes lack quality, they will never fall short on fight or effort.
Predictions and Statistics
The probability of a draw between these teams is estimated at 27%, according to Opta statistics. Wolves have a slightly higher chance of winning at 38.6%, compared to Crystal Palace’s 34.4%. Both teams are eager to improve their standings after poor starts to the season.
Crystal Palace recently secured their first win of the season by defeating Tottenham 1-0 at home, bringing them to six points after nine matches (D3 L5). This victory could provide them with some momentum heading into their clash with Wolves.
The encounter promises to be competitive as both sides aim to turn around their fortunes in the league. With each team facing its own challenges and opportunities for improvement, fans can expect an engaging match-up at Molineux Stadium.
