Wolves v Palace

Molineux, Tuesday 7.45pm

Story so far

Wolves are currently sitting in tenth but, with the right result, could push themselves up into the playoff places by the end of tonight.

Wolves have won four and drawn two of their last six games at home and not lost since mid-September when they were defeated by Derby. Their home form is third in the league, behind both Colchester and Preston.

Wolves, like Palace, have an appalling strike rate which sees them with a tally of only 17 goals all season.

Team news

Centreback Leon Cort is still out with his hamstring injury sustained while running up the stairs at home.

So Eagles boss Peter Taylor is likely to keep the same team that drew 0-0 at Preston on Saturday.

He played a 4-5-1 formation with Jobi McAnuff and Clinton Morrison tucked up just behind frontman Jamie Scowcroft.

Carl Cort - brother of Leon - is sidelined for Wolves with a knee injury. Winger Michael McIndoe should make his debut after coming in on loan from Barnsley. Defender Rob Edwards (dead leg) is doubful.

Quotes

"Mick McCarthy's teams are always hard working and well organised teams," explained Taylor, who was a room-mate of McCarthy's when the pair were studying for their coaching badges at Lilleshall back in the 1990's.

"They had good spells and bad spells (against Sunderland), like every team has in almost every game, and the Clarke chance should have won them the game, but unfortunately for them it didn't go in," he added.

"Johnson looks the biggest threat and the report from our scout says that, with his pace and movement outstanding."

"It's all about how we do from now on and what we've got to do. We're not happy with the position that we're in and we know we're a lot better than that and I think we're starting to show it.

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Wolves - league stats

Position	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Points
10th	19	8	4	7	28

Full league table

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Wolves - current form

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
5	1	2	2	5	7

Full form table

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Our away record v Wolves

Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against
26	6	6	14	26	34

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Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
10/12/2005	League	Crystal Palace	1 - 1	Wolves
09/08/2005	League	Wolves	2 - 1	Crystal Palace
01/03/2003	League	Wolves	4 - 0	Crystal Palace
14/09/2002	League	Crystal Palace	4 - 2	Wolves
07/02/2002	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 2	Wolves

All time results

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One to watch

Jay Bothroyd

The former Charlton man joined Wolves on a free in August after being released by then manager Iain Dowie. He was taken on trial at Palace but Taylor failed to offer him a contract.

Bothroyd is a skillful and quick player but can turn in half hearted performances or can't get himself into the game.

Like Palace, Wolves are struggling to hit the back of the net but a moment of brilliance from Bothroyd could be the key in turning the match.

Ref watch

Keith Stroud Hampshire

Tonight's visit to Wolves brings Keith Stroud to officiate. A resident of Hampshire, a county with rolling countryside, the Spinnaker Tower and is home to refereeing demi-god Rob Styles; Stroud is a relative newbie in refereeing terms, with this being only his fourth full season in the Football League.

In his previous 14 matches this term, stretching across all three Coca-Cola fizzy pop leagues, he's issued 38 yellows, at an average of just under 3 per game (modest) and he's only had to send two players off for being naughty boys. Here's hoping his modest records continue this evening.

Last meeting

Palace 1-1 Wolves

Saturday December 10 2005

Palace: Speroni, Boyce, Ward, Popovic, Soares, Leigertwood, Watson, Hughes, Morrison (McAnuff, 82 ), Freedman (Macken, 66 ), Johnson

Subs not used: Kiraly, Hudson, Andrews

Bookings: Macken, Popovic

Goals: Johnson 44

Wolves: Postma, Edwards, Lescott, Gyepes, Naylor, Anderton, Huddlestone, Kennedy, Seol, Ganea (Clarke, 75 ), Miller

Subs not used: Ross, Ricketts, Oakes, Olofinjana

Bookings: Gyepes, Kennedy

Goals: Seol 19

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