Wolves face their first Championship match in eight years on Friday night, but the new season brings fresh optimism, as Cesar Peixoto takes charge of his first league game with the Old Gold against Blackburn Rovers.
Roll call
Wolves are still without Sam Johnstone, Rafiki Said and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde for the season opener due to injury. League debuts could be handed to Kieran Trippier and Raul Jimenez, for a second time in the Mexican’s case, but he still needs time to get fully fit, according to his head coach. Ladislav Krejci came off the bench last Friday against Port Vale, but Peixoto says he still isn’t fit enough to start matches, having played at the World Cup, like Jimenez.
Blackburn moved for Wolverhampton-born Sam Morsy on a free transfer this week and the midfielder goes straight into the squad for the trip to Molineux. Winger Mathias Jorgensen is nearing a return, but won’t make the trip, while Scott Wharton and Augustus Kargbo are back on the grass training. Meanwhile, Lewis Miller, Moussa Baradji and Dion De Neve will all miss out due to injury.
Final prep for Blackburn 🐺 pic.twitter.com/Cvis2xJl7E
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 13, 2026
The form guide
Wolves enjoyed the transition from pre-season to competitive football last Friday with a comfortable Carabao Cup win over Port Vale, where first half goals from Adam Armstrong, Andre and Fer Lopez set up a trip to Sheffield Wednesday in round two. That win came off the back of a positive first pre-season under Peixoto, with a 3-0 win over Racing Santander at Molineux providing the highlight – Lopez, Hugo Bueno and Yerson Mosquera scored that afternoon.
Blackburn too enjoyed a winning start in the Carabao Cup last weekend. They came from a goal down at Burton Albion to win 2-1, with goals in the final ten minutes from Andri Gudjohnsen and Jayden Fevrier sending Rovers through to face Sheffield United in the next round. Previously, the Lancashire outfit had gone unbeaten in four of their five summer friendlies, beating Barnsley and Strasbourg, before finishing with a 1-1 draw at League One side Blackpool.
The past with Blackburn
A Championship opening day between Wolves and Blackburn Rovers has happened before and went the way of the Old Gold. In 2015 it took place at Ewood Park and Wolves were being led by Kenny Jackett, who sadly is no longer with us. He saw Benik Afobe give the visitors the lead in Lancashire, before Craig Conway levelled for the hosts. Dave Edwards’ controversial winner, which Blackburn felt was converted with a hand, proved decisive before the break – a winning start for the Old Gold.
Post-match Jackett said: “It hit his hand, ball to hand. I wouldn't say it was deliberate, but yes it definitely made contact. It was a whipped cross in and he's gone to head it. You can't have your arms by your side at that point, but did it hit his hand? Yes it did.
“It was a great three points away from home. I thought we had spells of possession where we looked very good and the diamond midfield gave us an overload and really helped us in spells.”
