Wolverhampton Wanderers are back at Molineux this weekend still hunting for a first league win of the season, while Brentford arrive looking to turn a familiar pattern on its head: solid at home, far less reliable on the road. It has the feel of a fixture where nerves can creep in early — Wolves because of their position, Brentford because away games have repeatedly punished small mistakes.
Wolves start the round bottom of the table with two points from 16 matches), and their last Premier League outing summed up the campaign — a 2–1 defeat at Arsenal decided by two late own goals. Rob Edwards has spoken about spirit and discipline, but results have not followed, and the pressure is now constant every time they take the pitch.
Brentford’s most recent match in any competition came in midweek, when they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup in a 2–0 quarter-final loss at Manchester City. Their last league game was the 2–0 defeat at Tottenham on 6 December, a result that left them on 19 points and sitting in the lower mid-table cluster. The away trend is a clear concern: Brentford have struggled for points on their travels all season, which is part of why this trip feels like an opportunity for Wolves as much as a danger.
Squad availability is likely to shape the tone. Wolves will definitely be without Emmanuel Agbadou and Tawanda Chirewa, both of whom have joined up with their national teams ahead of AFCON, while Yerson Mosquera is suspended. Wolves also have longer-term injuries, with Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, Marshall Munetsi and Rodrigo Gomes all ruled out, and Hugo Bueno not expected back until at least next week.
Brentford’s list has its own headline issues. Frank Onyeka and Dango Ouattara have been called up for AFCON and are listed as unavailable for this match, while Fábio Carvalho (ACL), Antoni Milambo (ACL) and Josh Dasilva (knee ligament) remain sidelined. There are also key fitness doubts: Brentford’s Jordan Henderson and top scorer Igor Thiagoare both expected to face late tests.
On the pitch, Wolves will likely try to keep the game simpler and tighter than it has too often become — stay compact, compete for second balls, and avoid gifting cheap momentum. Brentford, under Keith Andrews, usually look most dangerous when they can combine aggression with control: pressing in spells, stretching play wide and feeding their central striker early when possible. Set pieces could loom large too, especially with both sides carrying defensive absences.
For Wolves, this is another chance to turn “nearly” into something tangible — and with the table as it is, even a single point would matter. For Brentford, it’s about proving they can cope with an awkward away day, manage disruption from injuries and AFCON call-ups, and come through a match that will feel like a scrap from the first whistle.
