Wolves will make it this time behind Ipswich

Last updated : 09 August 2002 By Tony Scholes

Ipswich captain Matt Holland
From the eight most likely candidates you have voted on it this week and you were in doubt whatsoever that you expect Ipswich to go straight back up after suffering relegation last May. They polled 40.6% of the vote and were clear leaders.

They have been playing their football at this level since 1989 but as we hit the final straight last season none of us could have expected to be going to Molineux for our first Division One away game of the season. Wolves looked home and dry and as late as March led the table and looked set to hold off Manchester City and clinch the title.

Our bad run was half a season long but their collapse was sudden and certainly unexpected and it cost them an automatic place on the last day of the season. This time round though you think they are going to make it and you gave them 29.5% of the vote.

They were the clear top two with Derby coming third some way behind with 12.4% and then a massive drop to Preston with just 6.7% and free spending Portsmouth with 6%.

The last few just picked up a few pieces with Leicester getting just 2.2% and two of last season’s play off teams fairing even worse with Norwich picking up 1.9% and Millwall just 0.6%.

So it is Ipswich and Wolves for promotion to the Premiership next May – only time will tell.

Look out for next week’s poll when you can choose your first Man of the Match of the 2002/03 season, and remember this all goes to choosing the Clarets Mad Player of the Season. Who will take the crown from King Arthur this year? You can start choosing next week.