Two bottom-half Premier League sides simply playing for pride between now and the end of the season clash at Molineux on Saturday afternoon, as Wolverhampton Wanderers host Crystal Palace.
Gary O'Neil's charges were taught a footballing lesson in a 5-1 romping at the hands of Manchester City last weekend, whereas the Eagles blew Manchester United away in a 4-0 dismantling on Monday night.
Match preview
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As suspended Wolves boss O'Neil took his seat in the Etihad stand for the showdown with Man City, he was powerless to prevent the indomitable Erling Haaland from ripping his troops to shreds, as the Nordic powerhouse had already assured himself of another match ball by the half-time whistle.
Hwang Hee-chan's 12th of the season at least gave the visiting faithful something to cheer, but Haaland completed his four-goal haul within just a minute of the restart, before Julian Alvarez also got in on the act to condemn the visitors to their 16th loss of the top-flight campaign.
While lamenting the award of City's first penalty of the match, O'Neil was under no illusions that his side were made to pay for some "terrible" mistakes at the home of the champions as their springtime plateau continues; it is just one win from their last nine across all competitions and three defeats from their last four.
Thankfully for the Old Gold, who sit 12th in the table and can still force their way into the top half during the final stages of the season, their safety was guaranteed some time ago, but their downturn in fortunes quickly put paid to any fleeting European hopes.
Edging out Luton Town 2-1 at Molineux on April 27 did at least snap a four-game losing run on their own patch for Wolves, who have now conceded eight penalties in the top-flight campaign and have been behind at half time on 13 occasions; only Sheffield United, Burnley and Luton Town have a worse record in that regard.
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However, Crystal Palace did not need a 12-yard attempt to obliterate a meek Man United side at Selhurst Park on Monday evening, where some atrocious Red Devils defending allowed Michael Olise to draw first blood before the revived Jean-Philippe Mateta put the Eagles two goals to the good.
As Erik ten Hag's tepid troops failed to muster up any kind of a response - despite the best efforts of their vocal fans - Oliver Glasner's men showed no mercy in the second half, where Olise completed his brace after left-back Tyrick Mitchell had also got in on the act.
Tearing Man United to shreds saw the Eagles complete their first-ever league double over the 20-time English champions, who became Palace's fourth victims from their last five matches during an extremely promising spell of end-of-season form, in which Liverpool, West Ham United and Newcastle United have also been put to the sword by Glasner's men.
Optimism for 2024-25 could hardly be higher for the 14th-placed visitors, who will rise at least one place above upcoming hosts Wolves should they come up trumps at Molineux, and recent history certainly favours the crop from the capital.
Indeed, Palace have prevailed in four of their last five showdowns with their hosts in the Premier League, including a pulsating 3-2 September success when Roy Hodgson was at the helm, although the one aberration in that sequence was a 2-0 Molineux beatdown just over 12 months ago.
Team News
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Injury was added to insult for Wolves in their Etihad embarrassment last Saturday, as Mario Lemina had to be withdrawn at the break due to a tight hamstring, although there was a precautionary element to his change.
The midfielder's younger brother Noha Lemina is in the exact same boat with a hamstring concern of his own, but the siblings are in with a strong chance of being available. Tommy Doyle - ineligible for the clash with parent club Man City - is back to bolster the engine room too.
Craig Dawson (groin) and Leon Chiwone (ankle) will not play again before the season is over, and O'Neil has also conceded that Pedro Neto (hamstring) is not quite ready for his competitive return.
Palace's midfield did not emerge unscathed from Monday's affair either, as Will Hughes - who has just had his contract extended - apparently felt calf tightness as he was taken off midway through the second half, although his issue is not believed to be anything sinister.
Hughes could therefore reprise his role in midfield with the energetic Adam Wharton, whose terrific displays in a Palace jersey have led to calls for his inclusion in England's Euro 2024 squad, despite him being yet to make his senior Three Lions debut.
Sam Johnstone (elbow) has no chance of making this game or England's summer squad, though, while Rob Holding (ankle), Jefferson Lerma (thigh), Cheick Doucoure (Achilles) and Matheus Franca (groin) will sit this one out too.
Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; S. Bueno, Toti, Kilman; Semedo, Doyle, Gomes, M. Lemina, Ait-Nouri; Hwang, Cunha
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Clyne, Richards, Andersen; Munoz, Hughes, Wharton, Mitchell; Olise, Mateta, Eze
We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Crystal Palace
As Wolves end the campaign with a whimper, Palace are finishing as the mean to go on under Glasner and have had their hosts' number in recent times, but they have not scored multiple goals away from home in 2024 so far.
However, Wolves' inability to keep the back door shut could see the Olise and Eberechi Eze-inspired Eagles snap that sequence on Saturday, where we believe the capital outfit will shake up the bottom-half standings with another three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
