V Watford

[PureOldGold]

Shackell’s off for Jason


Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has backed no-nonsense Jason Shackell to ‘rough up’ centre forwards when he gets his big chance to start.

Shackell is expected to replace the suspended Richard Stearman for Saturday’s trip to Watford, as Wolves seek a cure for the defensive ills that have seen them concede 12 goals in four games.

McCarthy believes the 25-year-old former Norwich captain has all the qualities to snuff out Championship attacks, as he looks forward to his first start after six appearances as substitute.

The Wolves boss said: “As a centre-half, you have to dominate centre-forwards – you have to ‘rough them up,’ because you want strikers coming off the pitch thinking ‘I don’t want to play against those two again!

“I expect my centre-halves to be competitive and Jason has already picked up on what I want.

“He says he can do his defensive duties first and foremost, so he’ll do for me, but he’s also got a good left foot as well.

“Despite him ‘doing what it says on the tin’, I also like my defenders to pass it to one another too and he’s capable of doing that.”

Shackell’s uncompromising approach has to led to comparisons between him and McCarthy. The Wolves chief revealed he came highly recommended – from a former Celtic team-mate.

McCarthy added: “Jason can’t remember me playing, so maybe his gran’s told him! But ‘Granty’ (Albion coach Peter Grant) recommended him highly to me.”

[PureOldGold]

Wolves boss ready to wield the axe

McCarthy today threatened to ring the changes after slamming Wolves for “numbskull” defending as they were hammered by 5-2 by lowly Norwich.

The straight-talking Wolves boss branded his side’s defending as ‘ridiculous’ after they suffered their third defeat in four games.

Wolves’ biggest loss since the 6-0 drubbing by Southampton last March made it 12 goals conceded in four matches after just five in seven previous games.

“I’d sum that game up by saying we were awful,” said McCarthy. “We were been the masters of our own downfall. We came back into it but we made absolute numbskull errors.

“I’m not going to knock Norwich’s performance because they played well.

“But the first goal was a mistake by us, the second goal was a mistake by us – albeit a good finish from Leroy Lita – and the third goal was an individual error.

“The fourth goal was from the free kick caused by the sending off, and I guessed that summed us up.”

McCarthy will definitely be without ever-present central defender Richard Stearman for Saturday’s trip to Watford as he is automatically banned for one game after his sending off last night.

Jody Craddock is poised to hit the comeback trail – possibly today against Wrexham at Compton – while Jason Shackell is waiting for his first start.

And the boss feels changes may be necessary if the downturn continues.

“Let’s analyse it and put it into perspective: we’re second in the league now but we’re not doing ourselves any favours,” said McCarthy.

“I guess if we don’t tighten up and it doesn’t get any better, then there’s no question we will have to look at doing something else.”

[PureOldGold]

Watford v Wolves, Vicarage Road, Championship, Saturday October 25, Kick-off: 3pm.

Opposing Dangerman: Tommy Smith

The driving force behind the Hornets, he’s the joint top scorer with five and creates just as much.

Probable line-up’s: -

Watford (4-4-2): Lee; Doyley, DeMerit, Bromby, Sadler; Smith, Eustace, O’Toole, Harley; Hoskins, Rasiak.

Wolves (4-4-2): Hennessey; Foley, Collins, Shackell, Ward; C Edwards, Henry, D Edwards, Kightly; Iwelumo, Ebanks-Blake.

[PureOldGold]

Watford striker Tamas Priskin starts a three-match ban after being sent off midweek, but Grzegorz Rasiak is available after a shoulder injury.

Captain Jay DeMerit may return (hamstring) and winger Jobi McAnuff is now fit after his back problem.

Wolves defender Jason Shackell is set for a full debut to replace Richard Stearman, suspended after his midweek red card in the 5-2 defeat at Norwich.

Jody Craddock (broken metatarsal) and Matt Hill (knee) are still not ready.

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy told BBC WM of his concerns after their run of three defeats (and 12 goals shipped) in four games:


"It is worrying. In isolation, the Norwich game was down to mistakes, but out of four games we've taken only three points, and that was a scratchy 2-1 against Coventry.

"So we need to improve. Having had a look at the game from the other night, and looked back at a couple of games from how we were playing early on, there's a few basic things that we can do better. If we do, we'll be back at it."

[PureOldGold]

Watford 2-3 Wolves

Michael Gray's winner settled an enthralling clash at Watford and maintained Wolves' promotion push.

Chris Iwelumo put Wolves in front after 57 seconds but Grzegorz Rasiak bundled home an equaliser after 21 minutes.

David Jones curled in a superb free-kick to put Wolves ahead again before the break but John-Joe O'Toole restored equality after 47 minutes.

Tommy Smith fired over from the spot on the hour after Jones fouled O'Toole before Gray's 71st minute strike.



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Watford: Lee, Sadler, Bromby, Mariappa, Doyley (Henderson 88), Eustace, Harley (McAnuff 71), Smith, O'Toole, Rasiak, Hoskins (Ainsworth 72).
Subs Not Used: Tyler, Jenkins.

Booked: Eustace.

Goals: Rasiak 21, O'Toole 47.

Wolverhampton: Ikeme, Foley, Shackell, Collins, Ward, Kightly, Henry, Jones, Gray (David Edwards 76), Ebanks-Blake (Keogh 81), Iwelumo (Vokes 86).
Subs Not Used: Hennessey, Friend.

Booked: Henry, Collins, Iwelumo.

Goals: Iwelumo 1, Jones 40, Gray 71.

Att: 16,386

Ref: Keith Woolmer (Northamptonshire).