Wolverhampton Wanderers are preparing for what pundit Paul Merson has described as a 'cup final' atmosphere at Molineux this afternoon, as new manager Rob Edwards takes charge for the first time against Crystal Palace.
The fixture arrives at a critical juncture for the club, which is yet to secure a single victory this Premier League season and has amassed a meagre two points from its opening 11 matches. This leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table and facing a monumental battle for survival.
Merson's Verdict: A Glimmer of Hope But No Points
In his analysis for Sportskeeda, Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson acknowledged the electric atmosphere that Edwards' return will generate. He predicted the Wolves faithful would be 'up for it', creating a special occasion for the new manager's debut.
However, Merson stopped short of forecasting a fairytale start for the Telford-born boss. "This is a cup final for Wolves," Merson stated, highlighting the desperate need for points. "They have just two points in 11 matches and another loss here would be insult to injury."
Despite the potential for a new-manager bounce, Merson ultimately backed Crystal Palace, who are themselves pushing for the top four, to leave with all three points. His final prediction was a 2-1 win for the visiting side, leaving Wolves fans praying for an upset.
Edwards' Uphill Battle in His 'Dream Role'
The man at the centre of this drama, Rob Edwards, arrives at Molineux after a controversial but deeply personal decision. The 42-year-old left a Middlesbrough side sitting second in the Championship to take on what he calls his 'dream role' at Wolves.
Edwards admitted his choice would have disappointed Boro, a club in a strong promotion position, but explained he could not live with the regret of turning down an opportunity he had wanted for a long time. "This is just something that I've always wanted to do," Edwards confessed, "and I didn't want to look back and think 'oh, maybe I should have given that a go'."
The scale of his task is underscored by a damning Premier League statistic: no club in the competition's history has ever survived relegation with as few points as Wolves have at this stage of the season. The pressure on Edwards to engineer a miraculous turnaround is immense, starting with this afternoon's crucial fixture.
