Sutton's predictions: Wolves v Brentfordpublished at 11:16 10 February
11:16 10 February
Chris Sutton is taking on Sexy Beast star Stephen Moyer for the latest round of Premier League predictions.
Sutton's prediction: 2-1
Brentford have lost eight of their past nine league games and are in a bit of bother - they badly need a positive result here.
Yoane Wissa should be back for the Bees soon after DR Congo lost in the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, and that will help.
But how can I not back Wolves here, with the form they are in, and with Pedro Neto looking so dangerous? Gary O'Neil's side won the reverse fixture 4-1 in December and I don't see Brentford getting their revenge on Saturday.
Stephen's prediction: 1-0
Wolves have surprised a few people recently, and it seems to keep happening. I really like Brentford boss Thomas Frank, because he tells it how it is, but I am not sure what has happened to his team. They have suffered some bad defeats recently.
O'Neil on Hwang return, Gomes contract and goal efficiencypublished at 13:32 9 February
13:32 9 February
Gary O'Neil has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League home match against Brentford.
Here are the main headlines from his news conference:
Hwang Hee-chan is available against after returning from the Asia Cup, which has given "everyone a lift this morning" in training.
O'Neil said the forward "gives us a fantastic option from the bench this weekend and "there will be decisions to be made" when he selects his starting XI.
On defender Toti Gomes, who signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract this week: "It speaks volumes for what a great guy he is and the ability he has. When I first came in, he was out of the side, but even then he was desperate to make an impact so he trained in a way to get your attention. He's worked really hard and he deserves it."
He says his side are "more organised and structured" now and that is why they are more efficient in front of goal.
On the VAR report this week that said there have been 20 incorrect decisions this season: "I like VAR but if it’s going to stay, it needs to be better. At the FA Cup game at West Bromwich Albion, it was nice to know that when you scored, it definitely was a goal and you could celebrate."
Wolves v Brentford: Pick of the stats published at 09:52 9 February
09:52 9 February
Here are the key facts and figures before Saturday's game between Wolves and Brentford in the Premier League.
Wolves have won four of their past six Premier League games, as many as in their previous 14 beforehand. They have netted 16 goals across those last six matches, as many as their previous 12 league games prior to this.
Brentford have dropped a league-high 26 points from winning positions in the Premier League so far this season. Indeed, after defeat to Manchester City on Monday, the Bees have now lost more games than they have won when opening the scoring this term.
Wolves have scored in each of their past 18 Premier League home games, since a 1-0 loss to Bournemouth in February last year. They last had a longer scoring streak at Molineux in league football between October
1999 and September 2000.
No team is on a longer current run without a Premier League clean sheet than Brentford. They have conceded in each of their past 12 games in the competition, shipping at least twice in each of their past six.
Pedro Neto has eight assists for Wolves in the Premier League this season – only Adama Traore has ever provided more for the club in a single campaign (nine in 2019-20)
Brentford’s Neal Maupay has scored in each of his past three Premier League appearances. He has never scored in four in a row in the competition before. He last scored in four straight league games in September 2018 in the Championship.
Are number nines a thing of the past?published at 08:14 9 February
08:14 9 February
BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.
Frank asked: Teams like Wolves who play without a number nine are doing very well. Are old fashioned strikers needed anymore? Has the game changed?
Michael replied: The game has changed. I think we've seen a different type of striker.
But look at Liverpool and Arsenal for example, people mention they still need a number nine, so people are saying it, but we're not necessarily seeing those old-fashioned nines.
Manchester City did so well with the false nine, but then Erling Haaland came in and scored 50 goals. They still needed him and they still wanted a number nine, but it depends on your playing style.
Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
Will FFP result in a quiet summer transfer window?published at 16:55 8 February
16:55 8 February
BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.
Russell asked: The January transfer window was very quiet compared to recent years, probably due to Financial Fair Play and points deduction worries. Do you think the days of teams spending hundreds of millions each window are over? And if so, what long-term effects might that have on the Premier League?
Michael replied: I think we are going to see different spreads of spending. We're not going to see hundreds of millions in the January window because people will be more conscious of spreading those payments and their budget will already be in place.
They will probably do a lot more of it before the season, so I think we are going to see less of the the excitement of the January window because of quite obvious reasons.
The business will be done in the summer and clubs will say ‘this is what we've got'. They might have to send others on the way out first, rather than just spending that money and getting rid of players later.
Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
At the beginning of the season, everyone was certain Wolves would face relegation, so now aiming for the top seven is a pleasant surprise.
Let’s look at five key factors that could make the difference in pursuing one of those seven spots.
1. Injuries
The first crucial element is to avoid injuries. Wolves have limited options on the bench and a small squad. While the team coped admirably without Pedro Neto for a while, missing a couple of key players could have a significant impact.
2. Goal scoring
Wolves have been scoring for fun lately and need to maintain this momentum.
They should continue to instil a diverse goal-scoring strategy, by encouraging different players to contribute to goals in unique ways. This can keep their opponents guessing, whilst maintaining a competitive edge.
Gary O'Neil's side have faced difficulties when playing against teams that have adopted a defensive approach. They have found it challenging to break down these teams and must now discover the creativity needed to overcome these obstacles.
3. Defensive stability
Wolves have let in more goals than they'd like, so O'Neil is expected to concentrate on shoring up the defence and enhancing focus. They need to steer clear of the habit of starting games slowly and falling behind early if they want to compete for a top-seven spot.
Additionally, they have been focusing on improving their set-piece defending. Although they had been making progress in this aspect, they may be disheartened by some of the goals they have recently conceded.
4. Tactical versatility
It's crucial to keep a flexible gameplay strategy and O'Neil has shown a readiness to adjust tactics and playing style based on the opposition and match circumstances. While some managers stick rigidly to their beliefs, this adaptability might just be what propels Wolves to a top-seven position.
5. A little bit of luck
Luck is also a factor to consider. With many teams competing for the top seven, Wolves might need some of their rivals to face challenges.
There’s a lot that needs to fall into place for Wolves to get that top-seven finish, but with the team and morale flying high, you never know!
Will Lopetegui be looking at Wolves' success with regret?published at 14:44 8 February
14:44 8 February
BBC Sport pundit Michael Brown has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.
Bobby asked: Do you think Julen Lopetegui has got any regrets from giving up the Wolves job, given the amazing turnaround under Gary O'Neil?
Michael replied: I don't think Lopetegui’s got regrets. I think he'll say he had his plan and he had his beliefs with what he wanted to do going forward and with that support behind him. If he didn't get on with everybody or be in the same direction then he'd say I'll wait for another chance.
Would he be thinking 'I'd like to be in the middle of the Premier League and looking after Wolves?' Yeah, I'm sure he would, but that's football. It is an incredible job by Gary O'Neil. Lopetegui’s got great experience and I don't think he'll be too disappointed.
Michael Brown was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson
'Wolves' goalscoring surge based on growing spirit of adventure'published at 10:54 8 February
"I didn’t really like us at 4-1," said Gary O’Neil on Match of the Day 2. "I saw a little lack of focus, so I spoke to them about that."
He couldn’t suppress his grin, though.
The radio commentary position at Stamford Bridge is immediately behind the dugouts, so I can confirm that a few minutes after their fourth goal, as Matheus Cunha and others indulged in a few tricks and flicks, O’Neil barked out an order to rein it in.
He had the air of a parent catching the kids red-handed with a secret stash of biscuits, but you could hardly blame them for getting greedy.
Even before falling behind, Wolves had looked sharp. After Chelsea took the lead, Wolves attacked mercilessly.
Yes, the first two goals took deflections, but to use that to account for Chelsea’s defeat was a bigger deflection still.
"We didn’t manage well the stress," Mauricio Pochettino reflected accurately. Chelsea, on their own ground and with a team assembled at colossal cost, were not merely outplayed but seemingly had their senses scrambled by Wolves’ relentless approach.
The image left in the mind from Sunday is of Wolves in their changed kit attacking in waves, as if Stamford Bridge was being constantly buzzed by the Red Arrows.
That picture may explain the difference between Wolves now and in recent seasons. Since returning to the Premier League, they have always had pace, but they no longer raid alone.
Many times, even when playing well, their frontrunners used to find there was little support to finish off their good work. Look back at Sunday again and see how often, when a Wolves player wins possession, a squadron of five or six hurtle up the field together.
That approach brings risk as well as reward, of course, which would be one reason why O’Neil was keen to remind his players of the importance of keeping focus and not forgetting the basics – something that cost them in the final moments against Manchester United.
But, their goalscoring surge – an avalanche relative to the past three seasons – is based on a growing spirit of adventure. Most of all, the players look like they are having a good time.
They will not win every game like this, but it is becoming a lot more fun to watch them try.
*Wolves v Brentford – live commentary on BBC Radio WM (95.6FM), Saturday (15:00 GMT)
*BBC Radio WM Football Phone-In, weeknights (18:00-19:00 GMT)
Transfer news: Wolves keen on Arsenal youngster Cozier-Duberrypublished at 07:23 7 February
07:23 7 February
Arsenal remain in contract talks with their England Under-19 winger Amario Cozier-Duberry, 18, with Wolves, Newcastle United, Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and Anderlecht all interested. (Fabrizio Romano), external
'We're not going to stop here' - Kilmanpublished at 11:25 6 February
11:25 6 February
Image source, Getty Images
Wolves captain Max Kilman told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club they want to "finish the season as strong as possible" but haven't set a target.
Asked whether he's surprised they're in contention for a European spot, Kilman said: "I'm not, but we knew how difficult it was going to be and there was so much confusion at the start of the season without a manager, then Gary [O'Neil] coming in and players leaving.
"I knew the quality within the squad, so if we could get the cohesion and everyone working together then I knew we would be doing well. Of course, there's still time to go and we're in a good position - but we're not going to stop here. We want to make sure we finish the season as strong as possible."
On the job O'Neil is doing at the club, Kilman added: "He's very focused on every game.
"We celebrated at full-time with the crowd but then he was like: 'Let's get ready for Brentford.' He tries to be as grounded as he can because we have so many tough games. But he's been very good so far.
"We've never been a team that sets targets and at the beginning of the season with that confusion, the aim was to just stay up. But we are performing very well. The manager says take it game by game - and that's working well for us."
Why aren't people giving O'Neil the plaudits he deserves?published at 14:39 5 February
14:39 5 February
BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.
Gary asked: Phil, why does the media have a total lack of respect for Gary O'Neil and Wolves. Whenever we beat one of the bigger clubs, we never seem to play well. It’s always that the other team plays badly, or they have injuries, or they need more time to rebuild their squads.
One so-called football expert said it’s completely unacceptable for Chelsea to lose at home like that to Wolves. It's utterly unprofessional and disrespectful. Everyone tipped us for relegation so I think Gary is due a lot more plaudits than he's getting.
Phil answered: I'm not sure I agree with you, actually. I think there's a lot of respect for the job Gary O’Neil is doing and I stated back in August that I was very surprised Bournemouth sacked him, although Andoni Iraola is doing a fine job after an uncertain start.
I think there will always be a focus on the so-called (and I very much stress so-called) 'bigger' clubs, but I genuinely think there is a lot of respect in the media and beyond for O’Neil – as well as sympathy for some of the pretty rotten decisions Wolves have had this season.
I can only speak for myself and I have great respect for the job he is doing and to win so convincingly at Chelsea is further evidence of it.
I admit I tipped Wolves to be relegated but that was in the very brief period between Julen Lopetegui’s departure and O’Neil’s appointment. That’s my excuse anyway.
No such worries now, he is doing an excellent job.
Your thoughts on Chelsea v Wolvespublished at 13:02 5 February
13:02 5 February
We asked you for your thoughts on Sunday's Premier League match between Chelsea and Wolves.
Here are some of your comments:
Chelsea fans
Will: Lack of size, physicality, aggression, intensity, leadership, team unity and defensive structure. Silva has been too old to play in a back four for several years. Pochettino too passive on many levels.
Tim: When is Ben Chilwell going to learn he is a left-back and not a left winger? Three of the goals started from him being out of position, same as he was against Liverpool. Sterling is also poor. The whole team need some of Gallagher's effort - what he lacks in skill at least he makes up for in desire. That's all the fans want to see.
Jack: First two Wolves goals seemed a bit lucky and there were a couple of penalty decisions that could have gone another way - but, at the end of the day, it still wasn’t a good performance and we didn’t deserve the three points.
Wolves fans
Mike: A fantastic performance. We played with a high press to put pressure on the Chelsea backline and midfield, and we were devastating on the break. The fitness level was unbelievable after the effort that went into the second half on Thursday night, and to come back from the heartbreak finish to that game was probably our best performance of the season.
Tim: A great result but I really don't think there was much between the teams. We were more clinical in our finishing and that certainly hasn't always been the case this season. The best thing, though, apart from the three points, is seeing Cunha becoming an increasing goal threat.
Martin: I’ve been a distant supporter of Wolves since the late 1950s and I’ve never been so excited as I am about this present team and manager.
Wolves 'are an exciting team to watch'published at 08:23 5 February
08:23 5 February
Image source, Getty Images
Where’s it going so right for Wolves?
"Their story is an interesting one because most people at the start of the season didn't expect much from them at all when Gary O'Neil came in," said Nedum Onuoha on the Football Daily podcast.
"They've played well this season, they've had some downs, but they've had some really good wins and performances. They are an exciting team to watch.
"The fans are really enjoying watching their team take it to sides."
Chelsea 2-4 Wolves - analysispublished at 17:19 4 February
17:19 4 February
Image source, Getty Images
BBC Sport's Harry Poole
A first league double over Chelsea since 1974-75. A first win at Stamford Bridge in any competition since 1979.
Sunday' 4-2 demolition of the Blues was the latest marker of Wolves' undoubted progress under Gary O'Neil, and what an enjoyable one it was for the visitors.
Hat-trick hero Matheus Cunha will grab the headlines for his outstanding contribution, while Pedro Neto once again starred, but it was a complete team performance which ensured Wolves brushed off the disappointment of Thursday's late heartbreak against Manchester United in emphatic fashion.
The manner of the victory was one thing, but the consequences are another.
O'Neil's side are up to 10th, one point and one place above Chelsea after 23 games - and with their sights now firmly fixed on chasing the clubs above them.
Image source, Getty Images
