Wolverhampton host fellow strugglers Bolton on Saturday in a real relegation six-pointer at Molineux.
Mick McCarthy and Gary Megson will both be gunning for maximum points, and the latter will be hoping a win will help to silence the vulture headline writers who have been speculating over the possibility of Italian coach Walter Zenga trotting in to take charge of the troubled Greater Manchester outfit.
Mick McCarthy's men have taken just three points from a possible 24 and have not won since they beat Fulham 2-1 at Molineux in September. Bolton's recent record is not better too with just one point at Fulham last weekend from their last four outings.
Wolves will be without winger Michael Kightly for up to two months as he prepares to undergo surgery on an ankle injury. Kightly had only just returned to action after seven months on the sidelines because of foot and hip setbacks.
Defender Ronald Zubar and striker Chris Iwelumo are still not ready to return from injury.
But Wolves boss Mick McCarthy expects Greg Halford and Stefan Maierhofer to recover from knocks sustained in training as his side look to end an eight game winless sequence.
Bolton will be without their captain Kevin Davies. Davies will serve a one-match ban after picking up his fifth booking of the campaign against Fulham last Sunday.
Otherwise, aside from long-term absentees Sean Davis and Joey O'Brien, Gary Megson has a full squad to choose from.
REVIEW:
Mick McCarthy saw his Wolves side chalk up their first win in eight games thanks to a nervy 2-1 victory over Bolton today.
Goals from Jody Craddock and Nenad Milijas put them in the driving seat at Molineux.
But when substitute Johan Elmander hit back with 12 minutes remaining, it set up a tense finish.
Bolton though failed to get the goal they craved despite some sustained pressure.
Wolves moved off the foot of the table after the three points boss McCarthy was hoping for.
Barely minutes after the start, the hosts drew first blood when Kevin Doyle won a free-kick, which saw Milijas send the ball into the area for Christophe Berra to package the ball to Craddock, who coolly scored from close range.
The early goal appeared to have knocked the stuffing out of the visitors, as the Wolves dominated the early stages and signalled their intent at scooping up the three points on offer.
As time marched on the home side continued to grow in confidence, and one of the many runs of self-assured play resulted in Matthew Jarvis miscuing the ball, which eventually fell to Milijas, whose wicked strike resulted in goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen producing a superb display of skill as he not only stopped the ball, but held onto it as well.
Towards the latter stages of the first-half, the Trotters managed to work two consecutive corners, but were unable to make things count during their mild patch of pressure.
There was no relenting. Barely a minute into the second period, the woeful McCann lost possession outside his box and Cahill deflected Milijas’ shot wide. Crosses into the box continued to create consternation.
Then came a goal to savour. McCann was brushed aside by Kevin Doyle, who found Milijas. The Serbian left Hahnemann clutching thin air. Perhaps Milijas will adorn the World Cup in South Africa with such spectacular thunderbolts.
Hahnemann dived to his left and flicked Klasnic’s shot around the post. From the resulting corner, Johan Elmander bundled a goal back.
Substitute Stefan Maierhofer might have eased an edginess swamping the stadium but woefully miscued when the delightful Milijas played him in. The tension gripped.
Klasnic raced onto another long punt into the Wolves box but could not finish. Erratic football took the breath away.
However, the hosts hung on for dear life and eventually managed to walk away the happier of the two sides and are now only a point away from jumping out of the relegation zone.