The chance is with Wolves

Merson: chances with Wolves

I just think Wolves will get out of it. I know they've had some dodgy results at home, but I fancy them to get out of it.

Paul Merson
Quotes of the week

Also see

• Wolves fightback for KC point

Hull City 2-2 Wolves
Soccer Saturday Analysis

Paul Merson backed Wolves to beat Hull City to Premier League safety after watching them share the error-strewn spoils at the KC Stadium.

Mick McCarthy's side came from behind twice to claim a draw that keeps them one point ahead of the home side, still stuck in the drop zone in 19th place.

Defensive gaffes, not least from Anthony Gardner for Hull and Ronald Zubar for Wolves, may have dominated proceedings, but it is at the other end of the pitch where Merson believes the Midlanders have real hope.

"I fancy Wolves to stay up more than Hull, in my opinion," he told Soccer Saturday.

"They're out of the bottom three for another week, Hull have got Chelsea so they're not going to win that game, then Manchester City. Wolves can nick a result; they've got Birmingham coming up but you'd rather play them than Chelsea or Man City.

"Wolves have got Kevin Doyle, they had (Sylvain) Ebanks-Blake on the bench today, I just think they will get out of it. I know they've had some dodgy results at home, but I fancy them to get out of it.

"I have to say - and I've written it down - (Kevin) Doyle was outstanding. He held the ball up, he caused havoc; he played up front on his own and was the best player on the pitch by a million miles. But Mick will probably say he was crap today!"

It didn't look like that early on as the impressive Jozy Altidore set up Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink for the first goal, only to see Gardner's comical own goal, "an absolute one-in-a-million according to Merson, level matters.

Zubar's rush of blood and rash challenge on Hull's American import allowed Stephen Hunt to restore the lead from the penalty spot but again Wolves bounced back to level through Matt Jarvis.

And while their frontmen impressed, Merson believes Phil Brown's decision to tinker with his own attacking options and bring on recent signing Amir Zaki, actually had an adverse affect on the home side.

"Zaki did alright when he came on," he said.

"I can't believe Phil Brown made the substitution but he knows better than me. Jozy Altidore was a threat, an absolute threat.

"He set up the first, then won the penalty but he had a one-on-one and (Marcus) Hahnemann made the save - but Wolves were relieved to see him go off because he was a big, big threat.

"Zaki came on and did alright but not as well as Altidore. I thought that substitution changed the game."