Slow Starting Wolves Face Weak September Schedule

It was a rough August for newly promoted Wolverhampton, but September's schedule may help Mike McCarthy's team find its stride.

As the first month of the highly competitive EPL season came to a close Wolverhampton found itself in 13th, with four points from four matches. A long fall from the Championship success of last season, but the caliber of play has proved well enough to generate points.

Wolverhampton's August Results: 

• 2-0 loss to West Ham (11th)
• 1-0 win @ Wigan Atl. (17th)
• 1-0 loss @ Manchester City (4th)
• 1-1 draw with Hull City (14th)

September bodes well for Wolves. In their upcoming two games Wolverhampton will play at struggling Blackburn on the 12th before returning home to take on Fulham on the 19th. Blackburn is coming off their worst finish in the EPL over the last decade, and currently in 18th place should prove to be one of the easier contests of the season.

However, Rovers gained their first positive result of the season following a draw against West Ham in their last contest. All in all, Wolves should find the net, giving Sam Allardyce another negative result. 

After an impressive season last year, 15th place Fulham has unimpressively stalled at the starting gates taking only three points from its first three contests. Although losses to Chelsea and Aston Villa can be anticipated, I think Wolves proved they can run with the higher level teams in the close defeat to Manchester City. Home field advantage gives Wolves an edge as they look to take their first victory of the season at Molineux. 

The last contest of the month will be at competitive Sunderland on the 27th. A true test, as the speed of Darren Bent, and Kenwyne Jones will cause problems on the defensive side of the ball.

While defenders Michael Mancienne, Richard Stearman, and Christophe Berra look to thwart the cheeky attempts the ever dangerous Bent presents, look for transition through the midfield to be the deciding factor.

If Wolves can take six points from this three-game span it should not be a question of whether they can avoid relegation (10 points from seven matches), but what improvements Wolverhampton will look to make to further increase the competitiveness of the squad. After all, 40 points seems to be all it takes to avoid the axe of relegation.

However, Wolverhampton is currently on pace to finish with 38. A promising September will soon change this situation. An upper half of the table breach by October is likely for Wolves' return campaign in the Premiership.