Preview: Wolves (Home)

With such a solid home record last season and the arrival of almost £200m worth of players we should, in theory, fancy our chances of picking up another three points against Mick McCarthy's Wolves at Eastlands later today. 39 points from a possible 57 on our own ground last year was extremely respectable. Of the six league games we did lose at home during that campaign, four followed midweek trips into Europe. It's with that in mind that i think we ought to be especially wary of the visitors.

We'll be hoping to win well, and on our day we are capable of dishing out whippings to any of the mid-to-lower sides in this division, last season's results against sides who finished in the bottom half proving that, ten games, ten wins, twenty-seven scored, only five conceded. The three promoted sides were comfortably beaten, 3-0, 5-1 & 4-2, though i must say that i think West Brom deserved much more from their fixture here and were the best footballing side we played at home all season. Indeed since the FA Cup humbling at home to Notts Forest last January, we've won eleven of twelve fixtures in Manchester.

I don't anticipate us making too many changes from the side that took the field at Ewood Park. Those said to be carrying knocks; Robinho, Adebayor and Toure, were all used sparingly or not at all on Thursday, and i'd expect all to start. Carlos Tevez for Bellamy might well be the only switch, though Craig had a very good second-half last weekend. Given, Dunne, Bridge, Barry, Ireland & SWP should retain their places, and i suspect Micah Richards might again be given the nod over Pablo Zabaleta, though i think Zab would start were it my call.

I can't proclaim to have too much knowledge of how Wolves might play, but if Doyle, Ebanks-Blake and Iwelumo do all miss out, and given our record at home, i suspect they might go with a 4-5-1 and try and frustrate us in midfield, with Andy Keogh probably favourite to lead the line after his winner at Wigan midweek. Former City academy player Wayne Hennesey should continue in goal, with loan arrival Michael Mancienne partnering the evergreen Jody Craddock in the centre of defence, with Richard Stearman and Stephen Ward filling the full-back slots.

Again, forgive any mistakes, i've not seen either of Wolves' games so far this year live, so there's a certain amount of guesswork involved, but i'd have thought that new signing Nenad Milijas, who already sounds like a tidy player, would play the most forward of a three in midfield, ahead of Karl Henry and Dave Edwards. With journeyman Greg Halford on the right, and the lively Matthew Jarvis the left.

We should have lots of possession, and be too quick on the break for them, and if we take our chances it's a game we should comfortably win, but fatigue after the friendly in Barcelona could come into play; the heat and humidity, plus the travel involved could possibly result in a few tired legs. Wolves also have a good record at our place, too, losing only one of five fixtures on City turf in recent memory, including three successive 0-1 victories in the Championship between 1997 & 2000.

Probable teams:
City: Given, Richards, Bridge, Toure, Dunne, Barry, SWP, Ireland, Tevez, Adebayor, Robinho

Wolves: Hennesey, Stearman, Ward, Mancienne, Craddock, Edwards, Halford, Henry, Milijas, Keogh, Jarvis

Prediction: City 2 Wolves 0