WOLVES host Chelsea on Tuesday in the Premier League. Daniel McCulloch (@DMcCulloch1984) shares his favourite fancies.
Wolves vs Chelsea | Tuesday 15th December 2020, 18:00 | Amazon Prime
This promises to be another tough away assignment for Frank Lampard’s side, following their 1-0 defeat to Everton on the weekend. A trip to Molineux is rarely easy these days and I fully expect a tight encounter on Tuesday.
I backed Chelsea to beat Everton on Saturday but have no complaints about their defeat. While they created a fair amount in the first half, they barely had a sniff in the second 45, with a Mason Mount free-kick that hit the post their only shot of note.
When his squad is fully-fit it must be difficult for Frank Lampard to keep everyone happy but with Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic injured their seemed to be a lack of options on the bench, for while Billy Gilmour looks an excellent prospect, the 19-year-old does not drive fear in to opposition defences to the same effect as the aforementioned players.
Pulisic may well be an option for Lampard on Tuesday night but that does not deter me from my main play: Under 2.5 Goals, which is available at 4/5 with Bet365.
It has obliged in eight of Wolves 12 matches this term and while it is not normally something you associate with Chelsea, it is becoming more prevalent. Four of their last seven saw two goals or fewer and the ones that didn’t came against Burnley, Sheffield United and Leeds, all of whom have far weaker defences than Wolves.
In recent times I have also delved in to the player cards market to a greater extent and with Stuart Attwell the referee, there is reason to be optimistic that there will be a card-frenzy in the Black Country.
Attwell has dished out 31 yellows and a red in six games this season. That average of over five a game is slightly up on last season, where he booked 88 players and sent off four more in 21 matches. In terms of average-per-game, that was the highest in the Premier League, a title he is winning once again this season.
With this in mind, my first choice is Ben Chilwell at 19/4 in the To Be Shown A Card Market. While the left back only has one booking in nine games this campaign, he is up against Adama Traore. I cannot find the exact stats but I believe that on average just under one player a game has been booked for a foul on the flying Spaniard since the start of last season.
Additionally, the 5/1 Bet365 are offering on Leander Dendoncker to be cautioned looks too big. While the Belgian has only been booked twice in 12 starts this term, he is in the top 15 in the league in terms of fouls made and with a fussy official like Attwell in charge, I can see his name in the book come full-time.
Best Bets
Wolves vs Chelsea – Under 2.5 Goals (4/5 Bet365)
Wolves vs Chelsea – Ben Chilwell to be booked (19/4 BetVictor)
Wolves vs Chelsea – Leander Dendoncker to be booked (5/1 Bet365)
