Wolves Stalk Cats

Wolverhampton Wanderers travel to The Stadium Of Light to take on Roy Keane's Sunderland in front of what is expected to be a record Coca Cola Championship crowd.

With both sides in the hunt for a promotion place, be it automatically or through the play ofs, it promises to be a mouthwatering encounter.

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Two time Manager of the Month Roy Keane has a near full strength squad to choose from for the visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Stephen Elliot, Carlos Edwards and Dwight Yorke could all return, Jonny Evans and Danny Simpson have both recovered from minor niggles, but misfielder Graham Kavanagh is still out with a knee injury.

Former players have a habit of biting Wolves where it hurts, and whereas Connolly's stay at Molineux may only have been on loan from Feyenoord, Sunderland's top scorers name on the teamsheet could spell trouble for Wanderers.

Yet again it's a case of good news/bad news for manager Mick McCarthy.

He can once again call on the services of the adaptable Jackie McNamara, having served his two match ban for a second red card of the season, but following a training ground knock to the knee, his defensive options are narrowed by the loss of Rob Edwards.

Depending on how McCarthy shuffles his pack, Mark Little could return at right backwith McNamara returning to the left of defence at the expense of Jamie Clapham.

Wolves could field as many as 3 ex Mackems, with Neill Collins Jody Craddock and Gary Breen all fit, but with only two centre back berths up for grabs, one of them looks set to miss out.

The question still remains, is Magical Mick prepared to drop the out of sorts Gary Breen as Wolves look to put their promotion push back on track?

And not for the right reasons.

Breen has served Mick McCarthy well in the past, but his presence in defence has coincided with a run of less than satisfactory Wolves results that now sees Southampton breathing down thie necks for 6th place.

With many calling for the axe, Breen will have to put in a match winning performance against his former club to convince many of his right to a starting place.

Anything less cold see Wolves outside of the play off slots come 5 o'clock.

Games between teh two sides have only notched 1 goal or less 19 times in 113 ties.

Of late, four of the last 7 have ended draws, with Sunderland winning the other three.

In total, Sunderland have beaten Wolves 43 to 35 times with 25 draws in the league.

Sunderland are most pundits favourites to win , and go on to gain automatic promotion, but as has been proved so many times this season, the form book is no indicator of results.

Referee Neil Swarbrick isn't afraid to brandish cards. Twice this season he has flashed yellow six times, 5 twice, and four cards 6 times in 29 matches, with 17 in the last 4 games.

Easter Monday, its Wolves versus Tigers as Hull City visit Molineux

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