New Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will bid for his second win in three days when he takes his star-studded side to Molineux. The new Eastlands boss passed his first test against Stoke with flying colours and will face a Wolves side weakened by the absence of Stephen Ward in defence after his dismissal at Liverpool on Boxing Day.
Quick Check
Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Wolves have won three of their last five matches.
- Five of the seven encounters between the two sides have been settled by one goal.
- George Elokobi is available for his final league appearance before leaving for the African Cup of Nations.
- Defender Stephen Ward is unavailable with a one-match ban after being sent off at Liverpool.
- Midfielder Dave Edwards is out for at least another two months with a hamstring injury.
- Winger Michael Kightly is out for another week with an ankle problem.
- Striker Andy Keogh is sidelined for the next three months with ankle ligament damage.
- Wolves have kept only two clean sheets in their last 16 games.
Manchester City
- Striker Carlos Tevez has scored six goals in his last six games.
- City have won three of the last five meetings between the two sides.
- Emmanuel Adebayor scored the only goal when the clubs last met in August.
- City\’s clean sheet against Stoke on Boxing Day was their first in nine matches.
- Adebayor and Kolo Toure will make their final league appearances before leaving for the African Cup of Nations.
- Centre back Joleon Lescott will be sidelined for another six weeks after knee surgery.
- Defender Wayne Bridge is out for another month with knee ligament damage.
- Midfielder Michael Johnson will miss the rest of the season with a long-term knee problem.
Expert Advice
Manchester United fans were devastated at Carlos Tevez\’s decision in the summer to quit Old Trafford for their arch-rivals and it\’s easy to see why with the Argentina international having been in scintillating form over the two months. The striker grabbed his sixth goal in as many games against Stoke on Boxing Day and he looks likely to play a key part in Roberto Mancini\’s plans over the coming months. City also kept a long-overdue clean sheet on Boxing Day and, while the Premier League\’s big spenders will come up against more severe tests between now and May, the clash at Molineux is unlikely to be one of them. Wolves\’s results have improved markedly in December and they may well score but City looked to have too many assets going forward and an away win by one goal at Betsson\’s price of 3.65 appears an attractive bet.
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