Premier League: Leeds visit Wolves hoping to move clear of danger

Getting back on track

Friday night's clash at Molineux features two teams solely focused on taking maximum points for their very different respective battles.

Wolves have got their bid for Europe back on track with two straight victories after three defeats threatened to derail them, while Leeds claimed their first victory in nine thanks to an added-time Joe Gelhardt winner to lift the west Yorkshire side four points clear of the drop zone.

Team spirit key for Wolves

Manager Bruno Lage singled out Wolves’ team spirit after they won at Everton last time out thanks to a goal by Conor Coady. That followed a comprehensive win over Watford as they responded to three straight losses by moving to the fringes of the European places.

The Black Country side are seventh, one point ahead of Tottenham and two behind West Ham with the London sides meeting on Sunday. Victory over Leeds would elevate Wolves to within a point of fifth-placed Manchester United who do not have a game this weekend.

The renewed optimism is in sharp contrast to the aftermath of the defeat by Crystal Palace when their season threatened to stall, especially given the nature of the performance where they offered little.

Defensive solidity 

At Goodison Park they had to dig in against a side desperate for points in their battle for Premier League survival. Defensive solidity has been the cornerstone this season and their record of conceding just 12 goals at home is bettered only by the top four.

They have though only scored 14 goals at Molineux which hints at a tight game with Wolves to win and under 2.5 goals at 4.9 and Wolves to win to nil at 3.3.

Ruben Neves has been key for Wolves this season, recently scoring against Watford before providing the assist for Coady’s winner at Everton. He is at 5.9 to score anytime while top scorer Raul Jimenez is at 2.28.

Leeds' Stuart Dallas will be hoping he can help his side pick up another victory at Wolves on Friday night

Leeds facing nine cup finals

It has been a turbulent time for Leeds with the departure of Marcelo Bielsa and the late victory over Norwich was greeted by wild celebrations at Elland Road.

It was very much a never-say-die result given the Canaries’ late equaliser before Gelhardt struck and they are going to need to reproduce that spirit in each of their remaining nine games.

Although Bielsa’s exit has left a trail of emotion, the team can now get down to winning ugly if needs be and what they must do is build on Sunday’s victory.

They have only won twice on the road this season at Norwich and West Ham, and are at 3.45 to take all three points. It’s imperative they stop conceding so many goals with only Norwich sporting a worst goal difference, and they have kept a clean sheet on just three occasions.

Raphinha has been a standout this season with nine goals and three assists, and he is at 3.95 to score anytime with Patrick Bamford, who made his first start since September last weekend, at 2.82.

Expect a tight game

Both sides will be optimistic going into the match at Molineux although Wolves are a different proposition for Leeds to bottom side Norwich. The Black Country side neither score nor concede a great deal, and Leeds are less likely to create as many chances as they did against the Canaries.

They also have to convert the ones they do carve out. Wolves are at 2.18 to win with a draw at 3.5.

Recommended bets:

Wolves @ 2.18

Raphinha anytime @ 3.95

Wolves/under 2.5 goals @ 4.9