Wolverhampton Wanderers have managed only two points out of a possible 15 so it ought to have been cause for raised eyebrows to see assistant manager Stuart Gray handed pre-match press conference duties at Molineux yesterday in place of the absent Glenn Hoddle.

Today, after all, is November 1, the first anniversary of Dave Jones' sacking by Wolves - the day when his No 2 Gray was handed caretaker control until Hoddle's arrival five weeks later.

Tonight Wolves fans get a further reminder that November has in the past been the sacking month at Molineux when they run into Brighton manager Mark McGhee --sacked by Wolves on Bonfire Night seven years ago.

But anyone looking to read anything more into Gray's rare public appearance than that is wasting their time.

Gray might have been put in the embarrassing position 12 months ago of having to address the press before the following night's match at Sunderland without being told that Jones had just been sacked. But Wolves are, thankfully, a lot better organised these days (apart from when they try to defend set pieces, that is!). Even on Halloween, the only thing that Hoddle has cause to find scary is the length of his side's injury list.

The head count after Saturday's crazy 3-1 defeat at Watford was that Hoddle had 11 players under treatment.

Three of those, Rob Edwards, Lee Naylor and Gabor Gyepes, travelled down to Sussex yesterday morning - and Wolves hope all three will pass fitness tests.

But, already without longterm casualties Paul Ince, Jackie McNamara and Mark Clyde, Hoddle has George Ndah, youngster Mark Davies and Rohan Ricketts on the treatment table too.

When he lost the other half of his first-choice strike pairing Kenny Miller with a hamstring tear at Vicarage Road on Saturday, that put the tin lid on it.

Just like Carl Cort, recuperating after a cartilage operation on his knee, Miller is out for at least a month. Although plans are advanced to bring in a loan striker before Saturday's home date with Norwich, it is a chance at the Withdean Stadium tonight for Hoddle's only two fit strikers, Vio Ganea and Leon Clarke, to stake a claim.

Ganea is a particularly welcome addition as he returns after the one-game ban which came his way as a result of his sending-off against Preston ten days ago.

Hoddle harshly tore a strip off him for the goal celebration that went halfway towards that ridiculous red card when he might have been better off directing his wrath at Uefa for the lack of compassion shown towards a striker who had just scored his first league goal after a year out with injury.

But it did not go unnoticed that the quality of Ganea's finish against Preston was in direct contrast to the wasteful efforts of Clarke at Watford.

"We could have done with Vio on Saturday," Gray said.

"Just look at the chances we created. Pick up the ' Rothmans' and it will say we lost 3-1 but the Wolves fans who travelled down there know how well we played for the first hour."

Although Clarke is the one who stands by to lose his place if Hoddle can pull off the loan deal he wants, Gray does not see tonight as his 'last chance saloon'.

"It's a real blow losing Kenny on top of Carl being out too," Gray said. "But one man's loss is another man's gain. Leon will see this as an opportunity. He's got the shirt and he's got to try to keep hold of it.

"He showed great movement on Saturday and good strength, and the only thing missing was the end product. But, like any forward, he's going to get judged on scoring goals.

"And the problem at the moment is that we're not getting it right in both boxes. Everywhere we go we have other managers telling us we're the best side they've played. But, while at least we're creating chances, we're gifting chances at the other end.

"Last year we didn't ever look like conceding from set pieces, but now we keep doing it. Sheffield United, Preston, two against Watford in the Carling Cup and two more on Saturday.

"It's not as if the players are just thrown out there. They're a big part of the game now and, like any other team, we work very hard on them. But we need players to take more responsibility."