Wolves v Derby
Wolves v Derby

Free football preview and betting tips: Sky Bet Championship clash between Wolves and Derby County


Wolves host Derby in the Sky Bet Championship on Wednesday and Tom Carnduff is expecting cards aplenty at Molineux.


Wolves v Derby recommended bets

1pt 60+ booking points at 11/4

1pt Over 2.5 goals, over 10.5 corners, over 35 booking points combined at 13/2

For details of advised bookmakers and each-way terms, visit our transparent tipping record


Wolverhampton Wanderers v Derby County (1945 BST, Sky Sports Main Event)

Wolves host Derby County on Wednesday evening with the possibility of being one game away from securing promotion back to the Premier League.

At the time of writing, Fulham are still yet to play Reading, but if they fail to secure victory over the Royals, it puts Wolves in a position to secure promotion in front of their own fans.

Wanderers come into this game on the back of a remarkable victory over Cardiff City. Ruben Neves scored the only goal of the game, but the Bluebirds missed two stoppage-time penalties and left empty-handed.


Opta facts

  • Wolves’ last league double over Derby was in the 2008-09 season, when they won promotion to the Premier League.
  • The Rams last won back-to-back away league matches at Molineux in October 1992.
  • If Wolves win, they’ll have 92 points. Even when converted to three points for a win, in only one Football League campaign have they ever earned more (103 in League One in 2013-14).
  • Indeed, their previous highest in a second tier campaign was the 90 they earned in 2008-09, when they won the division and were promoted to the Premier League.
  • Derby have kept a clean sheet in seven of their last 11 Championship away games.
  • Gary Rowett’s two previous Championship visits to Molineux have both ended goalless (in November 2014 and March 2016 as Birmingham manager).

Provided he's not still following Neil Warnock around trying to shake his hand, Nuno Espirito Santo will be eager for his side to be promoted as early as possible and Wednesday gives them a potential platform to do that.

Wolves are, unsurprisingly, 8/13 favourites to win this one with Derby available at 11/2 and the draw around the 3/1 mark.

The positive news for the hosts is that they're unbeaten in their last six games at home, with Derby winning just one of their last five on their travels. That said, three of those games in that run have finished in draws.

There's a potential for goals in this game. Wolves' last six home games have seen over 2.5 goals, with three of the games during that run seeing four or more goals. Over 2.5 goals is available at 6/5, with over 3.5 priced at 11/4.

Nuno Espirito Santo
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo

In a fixture like this, there is a potential for cards and that's where the value might be.

The referee is Tim Robinson, who has shown a total of 138 yellow cards and 11 red cards this season. He has shown two red cards in a game on more than one occasion.

When it comes to playing teams at the top end of the division, Wolves have seen cards shown in their favour and against them.

In Friday night's win over Cardiff, there was a total of five yellow cards. In the 2-1 victory over Middlesbrough two weeks ago, the game saw a huge ten yellows and two reds.

In the eight yellow cards shown in their defeat away at Aston Villa in March, and it highlights how cards might be the avenue to explore in this one, especially with a total of 110 booking points in the last two clashes between the sides at Molineux.

Corners also might provide decent value. Over the last three meetings between these two sides, there has been an average of 12.3 corners. Over 10.5 corners is available at 11/8, but combining goals, corners and booking points could be an interesting bet.

Score prediction: Wolves 3-1 Derby County (Sky Bet odds: 12/1)

Best bet: 60+ booking points at 11/4

Alternative bet: Over 2.5 goals, over 10.5 corners, over 35 booking points combined at 13/2


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Odds correct as of 1655 BST 10/04/2018.

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