Wolves v Blackburn

TEAM NEWS

Wolves striker Kevin Doyle is a doubt after aggravating the knee injury which sidelined him for almost two months during his comeback last weekend.

Winger Matt Jarvis may start after being rested for the last two games.

Blackburn trio Chris Samba, Junior Hoilett and Jermaine Jones have all shaken off injuries and are available for Sunday’s game.

Loanee Mame Biram Diouf returns to the squad, having been ineligible to face his parent club last weekend.

Wolves

Doubtful: Doyle (knee)

Injured: Edwards & Zubar (both back)

Blackburn

Injured: Grella (Achilles), Nelsen (knee)

PREVIEW BY MOTD COMMENTATOR JONATHAN PEARCE

On a final afternoon of nail-biting uncertainty one thing is definite – the winners of this one will be staying up. A point should be enough for Rovers. A draw might do for Wolves. Either could still survive even if they’re beaten at the final hour. But a victory will make sure.

It’s a last-gasp shoot-out between Wolves’ in-form attack, spearheaded by Steven Fletcher, and Blackburn’s much improved defence, which has conceded just six goals in seven games.

I remember Mick McCarthy enthusing over the acquisition of Fletcher in South Africa last summer when we were on BBC World Cup duty. The Scottish international had been one of Burnley’s few successes in their forlorn relegation plummet. With five goals in his last five games, the £6.5m signing has come good at the perfect time. Wolves will need all their firepower if they are to register a third successive Premier League win for the first time. Three points would also give the Molineux club their first top-flight victory against Rovers since January 1965.

Wolves are in this perilous position because their form against bottom six clubs has been poor. They have taken eight points from their relegation rivals and face a Blackburn side unbeaten in three. Rovers keeper Paul Robinson is in defiant form, despite rashly giving away the penalty against Manchester United, and Phil Jones is an exceptional young centre-back. Jermaine Jones and Steven Nzonzi have been dogged midfield terriers of late too.

But do they have enough bite to worry Wolves if they go behind? They’ve failed to win from a losing position this season. On recent form, and with home support, Wolves could nick a very tight one, leaving Rovers sweating on other results – which should see them safe anyway.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Blackburn have never lost a Premier League game to Wolves (W3, D2).
• It is 46 years since Wolves last beat Rovers in a top-flight game (they won 4-2 at Molineux on 16 January 1965). However, Wolves ended that season second bottom and were relegated.

Wolves

• Having beaten West Brom and Sunderland, Wolves are now looking to win three successive Premier League matches for the first time.
• Steven Fletcher has scored five goals in Wolves’ last five games.
• Wolves have a poor record against those sides currently in the bottom six (W2, D2, L5), taking eight points from a possible 27.

Blackburn

• Blackburn have won one of their last 13 league games.
• They are the only Premier League side yet to come from behind to win this season.
• Rovers have lost their final league fixture just once in the past 10 seasons (at Birmingham in 2008).

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Wolves

Fletcher: 12 goals (10 league);

Doyle: 8 goals (5 league)

Blackburn

Kalinic: 6 goals (5 league);

Mame Diouf: 6 goals (3 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Howard Webb

Assistant referees: Darren Cann & Mike Mullarkey

Fourth official: Kevin Friend

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS

Wolves (W3-1 v Sunderland, a): Hennessy, Foley, Mancienne, Craddock, Elokobi, Guedioura (Jarvis 46), Henry, O’Hara, Hunt, Ward, Fletcher (Doyle 71). Subs not used: Hahnemann, Stearman, Ebanks-Blake, Berra, Milijas.

Blackburn (D1-1 v Man Utd, h): Robinson, P Jones, Samba (Andrews 78), Givet, Salgado, J Jones (Dunn 74), Emerton, Nzonzi, Olsson, Hoilett (Pedersen 59), Roberts. Subs not used: Bunn, Benjani, Santa Cruz, Kalinic.