Preview | Wolves vs Bournemouth

1 | Roll Call

Gary O’Neil has been handed a triple injury boost ahead of Saturday’s game. Central defensive duo of Craig Dawson and Santiago Bueno missed the trip to Fulham due to illness and injury respectively, but both are back fit and available. Their absence meant Mario Lemina dropped into a defensive role and the head coach much decide if to stick or twist. Pablo Sarabia was withdrawn at half-time of the win over Southampton, having opened the scoring in that match, and missed the Fulham game due to injury. However, the Spainard is now back available and is an option, with Rodrigo Gomes starting on the wing at Craven Cottage. Sam Johnstone also missed the Cottagers trip, but O’Neil expects him to be back in the squad this weekend.

Bournemouth are without the suspended Antoine Semenyo after he picked up a fifth yellow card of the season last time out. He’s the Cherries’ joint top scorer this term with four goals. However, they regain the services of Ryan Christie, who missed the Brighton & Hove Albion game due to suspension himself. Andoni Iraola is already without Alex Scott, Luis Sinisterra and Julian Araujo due to long-term injuries. He also hinted at other niggles in the camp but isn’t expecting to lose any more players for the trip to Molineux.

2 | The Stat Pack

Goals

• Matheus Cunha | 7
• Evanilson | 4

Assists

• Jorgen Strand Larsen | 3
• Lewis Cook | 3

Biggest win

• Fulham 1-4 Wolves | November 2024
• Bournemouth 3-1 Southampton | September 2024

Cards

• Joao Gomes | 4
• Antoine Semenyo | 5

Clean sheets

• Jose Sa | 1
• Kepa Arrizabalaga | 1

Super Mario!

🔢👏 pic.twitter.com/k5qiwWMKff

— Wolves (@Wolves) November 26, 2024

3 | Journey to Saturday

What a difference a few weeks makes! Heading into November sat at the bottom of the Premier League standings, searching for their first Premier League win of the season with just two points to their name, O’Neil’s side are now out of the relegation zone with another seven points added in three matches and in the middle of a four-game unbeaten run in the top flight. Bouncing back from their poor defeat at Brentford, Wolves came seconds away from a point against Manchester City, but their fight back from two down to take a draw from the Amex kickstarted the season, with another 2-2 tie with Crystal Palace preceded wins over Southampton and a 4-1 second half demolition of Fulham last weekend.

Bournemouth have had an up and down season so far, with Andoni Iraola’s side unable to string a run of wins together. Three games unbeaten to start the campaign was followed by successive defeats, but since a 1-0 loss to Leicester City to start October, the Cherries have earned a pair of wins against league title rivals Arsenal and Manchester City. However, Bournemouth have also taken just one point from their games versus Aston Villa, Brentford and Brighton & Hove Albion. Those last two losses either side of the November international break have seen Bournemouth drop down to 13^th in the Premier League standings, with 15 points from their opening dozen outings.

4 | First Cherries top flight meeting at Molineux

The first time Wolves and Bournemouth met in the top flight of English football also came at Molineux, back in December 2018. A goal in each half saw Wolves continue to settle back into Premier League life impressively during the first half of the 2018/19 campaign. Raul Jimenez turned home Diogo Jota’s centre for 1-0 and although Wolves were forced to withstand some Bournemouth pressure in the pouring rain, Ivan Cavaleiro was the man who would secure the three points as he was sent clean through late on. Jimenez’s strike was his fifth for the club, with all of those first five coming at Molineux.

Wolves | Patricio, Doherty, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Jonny, Moutinho, Neves, Jota (Costa 46), Gibbs-White (Saiss 74), Jimenez (Cavaleiro 88).

Bournemouth | Begovic, Ibe (Wilson 58), Ake, Cook, Mings (Rico 35), Daniels, Surman, Lerma, Fraser, King, Stanislas (Mousset 80).