EFL Championship PREVIEW 14 Aug 2026: Wolves Host Blackburn in Championship Opener at Molineux

Wolves open the Championship season at home to Blackburn Rovers at Molineux on Friday evening, both sides coming into the fixture off wins in the EFL Cup first round last weekend. Cesar Peixoto's Wolves cruised to a 3-0 win over Port Vale, while Blackburn needed a late comeback to beat Burton Albion 2-1 at the Pirelli Stadium, Andri Gudjohnsen levelling on 81 minutes and Jayden Fevrier winning it on 88.

A. Armstrong scored the opening goal in that win over Port Vale, on 14 minutes. “You can only start by winning your first game, I know it's in the cup, but we have to take the positives and the negatives and move forward to Blackburn,” Armstrong said afterwards, adding of the wider task facing Wolves this season: “We owe a lot to the fans this year to give our all and get this club back to the Premier League, which is where everyone wants to be.”

Ladislav Krejci and Raul Jimenez both came off the bench against Port Vale but remain short of full fitness, while new signing Rafiki Said is sidelined by a knee injury; Tommy Doyle is an option in midfield if Marshall Munetsi does not start. For Blackburn, Tony Mowbray added Sam Morsy from Ipswich Town this week to strengthen his midfield, with Jayden Fevrier and Andri Gudjohnsen both in contention after their goals against Burton.