Football tips: Back Wolves to maul Chorley in Friday’s FA Cup clash

Our tipster Shane O'Brien expects Wolves to rack up the goals against Chorley

Nuno Espirito Santo Conor Coady Wolves FA Cup

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change

7.45pm: Chorley v Wolves

Wolves (-2)

Wolves have an excellent chance to correct their stuttering league form with a convincing win in the FA Cup against non-league Chorley on Friday night. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have now gone six games without a win in the Premier League in a run of results that has seen them drop to 14th and they badly need a confidence-boosting win at Chorley.

 

The Molineux outfit have been in the Europa League picture during each of their last two seasons, but the chances of them getting anywhere near the top six this season are extremely remote so they have really have no excuse for not taking the FA Cup seriously. A win on Friday will see them through to the last-16 of the competition and they can take advantage of their lack of involvement in Europe by going on a cup run.

Friday, 7.45pm: Chorley v Wolves
BT Sport 1/BT Sport Ultimate

Most big clubs will have their attention focused on the Premier League or Champions League by the business end of the season and may be forced to play weakened sides in the FA Cup due to an extremely congested fixture list. Wolves must take advantage of that and need to take Friday’s game with Chorley seriously.

Non-league Chorley caused the least-surprising FA Cup giant-killing of all time when they beat Derby in the third-round, seeing off a team of academy players due to a coronavirus outbreak at Derby. They have little chance of causing another upset against a full-strength Premier League outfit.

(-2)

 

Nuno Espirito Santo Romain Saiss Wolves Sheffield United September 14, 2020

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Fabio Silva to score anytime

Wolves haven’t played since their defeat to West Brom last Saturday, and don’t play again until Wednesday night, so really should field a strong side on Friday night. Friday’s game is an opportunity for some of their struggling players to find their confidence once more following a difficult run in the league and record-signing Fabio Silva should see some minutes at the very least.

Silva scored his first goal from open play for Wolves in their 3-2 defeat to West Brom, but he has found the going tough since his big-money move from Porto, scoring just twice in 16 appearances. He has the chance to improve that record on Friday night against a non-league defence and Nuno Espirito Santo would be mad not to give him the opportunity to do so.

 

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Over 3.5 goals

Wolves have not exactly been renowned for scoring goals since Raul Jimenez suffered a nasty head injury at Arsenal, but even they should have no trouble against a Chorley side that has conceded 22 goals in 16 games in the National League South.

Chorley haven’t kept a clean sheet in their last five league games, and it would be very worrying if Wolves didn’t run up a big score against them on Friday. This is a chance for Silva and other attacking players at the club to rediscover their grove and they simply have to take that opportunity.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at time of publication but subject to change

Chorley v Wolves bet summary – Friday, January 22

Wolves (-2)
Fabio Silva to score anytime
Over 3.5 goals

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