Midlands | Can Wolves pull off the greatest of great escapes?

Anything is possible? 

Wolves will need to produce something unprecedented in the Premier League era if they are to avoid relegation.

Author | Peter Grainger

Rob Edwards’ side have won their past two matches, against Aston Villa and Liverpool, yet they remain rooted to the bottom of the table with eight games left to play. They are 12 points from safety and carry a significantly worse goal difference than the teams above them.

To compound matters, Wolves have played a game more than several of their rivals and, according to Opta, have a 99.9 per cent chance of dropping into the Championship. 

If that proves correct, it would bring an end to their eight-year stay in the top flight.

History offers only the faintest glimmer of hope. In 2004-05, West Bromwich Albion became the first team in the Premier League era to survive after being bottom at Christmas. Meanwhile West Ham United finished 15th in 2007-08 despite being eight points adrift of safety after 30 games, the largest deficit overturned at that stage of a season.

Then there is the example of Leicester City in 2014-15, who won seven of their final nine matches to climb from bottom with eight games remaining to 15th, before going on to claim the title in extraordinary fashion the following season.

For Wolves, the scale of the task is clear. Four victories would bring them level with Nottingham Forest and West Ham United in 17th and 18th respectively, though they would also need their fellow strugglers to falter along the way.

A win away at Brentford next Monday would at least build momentum. Still, the question lingers. Can they really pull it off?