Wolves officials were today confident that this evening's home clash with the Canaries would, indeed, survive the winter onslaught.
With the undersoil heating having done its bit to keep the pitch snow-free and the ground staff having been hard at work since the early morning clearing the approaches in and around the ground, Bryan Gunn's rebuilt Yellow and Green Army will face its biggest test yet away at the Championship league leaders.
Fresh from their 3-1 success over City's fellow strugglers Watford at the weekend, Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was looking to keep the natives happy again tonight by making it six points out of six.
The fact that it was snowing again in the West Midlands – for now – appeared to be of little concern with no pitch inspection planned.
With both Reading and Birmingham City without a game this evening, it is clear that McCarthy is desperate to get the game played and – ideally – bring Gunn's unbeaten record as new Norwich boss to an end. Right now, he wants points on the board – not games in hand.
“We won on Saturday and we want the game on, because we got back to winning ways,” McCarthy told the Express & Star this morning.
“We can only take advantage of our game if we win ? we can't worry about anyone else.
“We plan to come in today and hope the game is on. If the game is on, the pitch will be covered. If it's snowing, they will only clear it prior to that.
“We'll come in today and have a snowball fight, it always gets a sweat on! We want to play the game when it's due to be played.”
Having travelled overnight to the team hotel in Birmingham, City – unlike their supporters – do not have too far to travel today and with both Alan Gow and Chris Killen having received their international clearance papers, so the City boss could go into battle with a whole, new-look front line after yesterday's roller-coaster ride on the transfer merry-go-round.
Last out of the door – 'with seconds to spare' apparently – was striker Arturo Lupoli who found a new home at Sheffield United.
He has travelled south to team-up with his new employers ahead of their game at Southampton tonight. Boss Kevin Blackwell is clearly a fan.
“Lupoli has a decent scoring record, he became available and I think he is worth pursuing,” he told United's official website overnight.
“He is quick, loves running the channels and has an eye for goal.”
Whether he is the man for a relegation crisis is, you suspect, another matter. Top six, he could be fine. Up there the trench warfare tends to be a little less intense.
“He was a big favourite at Norwich and I am surprised that we managed to prise him out,” added Blackwell, with the Canaries being forced to cancel his year-long loan contract with Fiorentina before the Serie A giants then immediately agreed a new loan deal with the Blades.
“He came here three weeks ago with Norwich and did very well,” said Blackwell. “Afterwards I was talking to some Unitedites who told me how well they thought he had played, so anyone who saw him on that day shouldn't be surprised.
“He has pace and loves to run the channels – he's still only 21-years-old and this is a great opportunity for the kid.”
Gunn, meanwhile, could hand one of Blackwell's own charges his City debut tonight with Australian winger David Carney in the travelling party.
The trick, as ever, at Molineux is to get the natives restless; to shut up shop for the first half-hour and get the punters fidgety.
“They are a passionate bunch of supporters,” said the City chief. “And if you can keep them quiet, frustrate them it makes it a sort of difficult atmosphere to play in.
“So that will probably be one of our intentions – to try and keep things quiet for the early part of the game.”
McCarthy's hopes of a second, straight home win had also been noted.
“I've been reading his comments and I know Mick is deighted after his victory at the weekend,” added the City boss. “They won their game and the teams below them lost or didn't win in Reading's case.
“So they're in a very strong position. With two home games on the trot, I'm sure that they'll be confident that they'll probably take six points.
“But Mick was at our game on Friday night; he saw the way we play; the way we went about our business and if we play to that level again then we can be dangerous. But it'll be hard.”
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