Looking for a miracle
By: DJ |
1 Comment
Wolves go to Stamford Bridge on Saturday at 3:00 for an unenviable first game after dropping into the relegation zone. In this two horse race Wolves are priced at 18/1 for success which gives a scary impression of the task in hand.
Chelsea conceded a goal at home in their first match of the season but since that time have scored 26 without reply at home. When Wolves were last in this division Chelsea scored 5 in both the home and away games. And Chelsea go into the game top of the table and favourites for the title. So a home win would certainly be no surprise. Crumbs of comfort can be drawn from the fact that Chelsea will go into the game without Drogba, Lampard, Deco and Ballack. But Chelsea are title favourites based on the strength of their squad so there will doubtless be 4 more internationals being ready to step into the fray.
Seems like Wolves have chosen to adopt a disguise to confuse their hosts. Despite no colour clash we have chosen this game to give a first outing to the new away strip (modelled by Matt Jarvis). Lets hope that proves to be a lucky choice but it’s one of those games that an honourable defeat almost feels like a success, but in reality points are needed.
Looks like there might be a couple of changes to the line up from the previous game. Ronald Zubar has picked up a strain in training and will have a late test. That might open the door to Kevin Foley to return to the fold. Last season’s player of the season has had his Premier opportunities limited to two part games due to injury. It would be great to see him come back and prove he can make the grade.
And after his 120 minutes against the french on Wednesday, Kevin Doyle may well be rested. The striker drew loads of praise for his performances in both legs of the World Cup play off. But the fact he ran his legs off for 2 hours and then suffered such a cruel loss might see him get a seat on the bench on Saturday.
That being the case I suspect we will be looking to crowd Chelsea out of space in midfield by going for a 4-5-1 line up of;
Hennessey
Foley, Craddock, Berra, Stearman
Kightly, Edwards, Henry, Castillo, Milijas
Ebanks Blake.
So this is a game to watch in hope rather than expectation. If anything there is already more focus on the next two games at home against Birmingham and Bolton – games that are in danger of being built up to epic significance. But lets not be defeatist, and maybe Chelsea will see a blessing in disguise in defeat. When Man Utd came to Molineux in 2004 Wolves were similarly given no chance. Well we won 1-0 that day and it didn’t stop United being champions. Sadly it didn’t stop Wolves going down either but any positive result on Saturday would surely be an enormous tonic for the challenges ahead. Despite the midweek controversies in Paris there will be no video technology to help the ref so maybe Wolves can ‘hand’ Chelsea a surprise.
Category: Team News
Happy Christmas?
By: DJ | 2 Comments
No Premier League games this week due to another international break so time to reflect on what has happened so far this season, where we are, what is going to happen. The fact that Wolves are only one place off the bottom and knowing that the next game is away at the team top of the league means it is uncomfortable to consider the ‘where are we’ question, but I personally have reasonable reflections of what has happened so far and feel positive that it won’t all end in tears.
The season so far has obviously seen some disappointments else we wouldn’t be where we are now in the league. And yet the game away at Blackburn is the only game that was a really poor performance. Even in the home defeats against Portsmouoth, West Ham and Arsenal, and the heavy defeat at Sunderland there was encouragement in the performances. But what cannot be denied is that the opening ten games have largely been against teams in the bottom half of the league and we haven’t accumulated the points we hoped for, and maybe needed, from those games.
There have been a number of positives from individual performances and although some criticised Hennessey after the Arsenal game I think he has been outstanding so far. He has made good saves, his domination of his area has improved, and I don’t think there aren’t many better keepers of his age in the country. Hahnemann provides experienced cover although in the one game he started in the Carling Cup he didn’t impress. Murray sadly had to come off early in his comeback in the reserves this week so it would be wrong to expect any heroic comebck this season, and Ikeme has been loaned to Charlton for experience.
Defensively Wolves have had many changes already. We have already seen Stearman, Foley, Zubar, Mancienne, Craddock, Berra, Ward, Elokobi and Halford. Far too many changes to have a reliable record but most have been enforced through injuries. Foley who was Wolves best player last season, has only played two part games so far and it was encouoraging to see him get some time in the reserves this week. Craddock, Berra, Zubar, Stearman and Ward have all done well. Mancienne has been disappointing after looking a star last season, but he has the ability to play his part in time. But we need a settled back four. In time I would like to see Foley, Craddock (or Zubar), Berra and Ward.
The midfield has been more settled with Henry and Edwards having been regulars and Castillo also a regular since he signed late August. Milijas showed some signs of being a player pre season and in the early games but after struggling with the pace of the games he lost his place. But he is back now and if Wolves are to be more creative then a place has to be found for him. Halford offers the long throw option but his overall game has not been great. Kightly has not found his form at this level yet and he now has something to prove. And the same can be said for Jarvis who has pace to burn and will make his mark at some stage if he can improve his final ball. We have not yet seen the other summer signing, Surman. He was always going to be one for the future but he is a good player and may get a chance at some stage. At the moment my shoice would be Kightly (in the hope he starts making his mark), Henry, Castillo and Milijas.
Up front we did not have the best players available when we had what were on paper the easier games. Doyle was not fit to start the season and SEB was injured first game. Keogh started the season very well but he carries the burden that while talented it is difficult to imagine him ever being a regular scorer. Maierhofer has offered us a different option with his height but he hasn’t actually shown aerial domination when he has played and he looks like being just an option from the bench. SEB and Doyle must be the first choice but they need to show they can get the goals at this level when the easier fixtures come around.
My players of the season so far would be Craddock, Berra, Henry, Hennessey and Doyle with Berra pipping Doyle as the best so far.
So where will we go from here. Between now and xmas it is difficult to see too many away points coming our way with the forthcoming games at Chelsea, Spurs, Man Utd and Liverpool. So the next three home games do look absolutely crucial. Birmingham, Bolton and Burnley come to Molineux in the next month or so and a minimum of two wins will be required there. If we don’t get that we will probably be bottom at xmas and then it becomes a real challenge even though the league is tightly grouped this season and it won’t take many wins to make a significant jump up the table. 6, 7 0r 9 ponts from those three home games and the turkey will taste good and we can hopefully then go on to prove that us matching the likes of Everton, Villa and Stoke recently will reflect where we will end up lying in the table come May.
So I know from the stats that we get thousands of hits on the Wolves pages here from the stats we receive – lets hear your comments on how you think things will pan out. Are we going to be underwater with the sharks at xmas or will we rise from the depths?
Category: Team NewsWolves gunned down
By: DJ | 4 Comments
Wolves went down to the defeat that newly promoted teams are expected to have against one of the top teams in the Premier League. For half an hour they stayed in the game and provided some problems for their opponents but then the Gunners scored three times in 15 minutes to give them a flatterng but game deciding three goal half time lead.
Following his impressive substitute appearance last week Milijas was brought in to the starting line up and it was Michael Kightly who stepped down to the bench. Stearman, who came off the bench at Stoke to replace Elokobi at left back, was given the starting role in that position.
Hennessey, Zubar, Craddock, Berra,Stearman, Edwards, Henry, Castillo, Milijas, SEB, Doyle.
Kightly came on for Castillo and Jarvis for Milijas during the second half.
Wolves started so brightly with Arsenal conceding a host of free kicks and the delivery of Milijas causing plenty of problems for the Arsenal defence. A header from Ebanks Blake flashed past the post for the closest call. After doing so well it was disappointing that the opening Arsenal goal came from a straight forward corner that bounced in off Zubar. Then from a breakaway a chip from Eduardo hit Craddock and looped over Hennessey into the net. Wolves hadn’t deserved to fall behind with two such soft goals but the third goal that put the nail in the coffin was from brilliant inter passing between Sagna, Van Persie and then slotted in by Fabregas.
The second half was largely a non event. Arsenal extended their lead when Hennessey punched a cross out to the edge of the box where Arshavin hit the ball back through a crowded area in to the net. Wolves gained a late consolation when Craddock scored his third goal in 8 days with a header from a Jarvis corner.
In the end you would have to say Wolves were outclassed as the difference between the elite teams and the bottom half of the table was highlighted in the quality of ball control, movement and passing. Possibly more of the same in the next game in two weeks time against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. So Wolves now find themselves in the dreaded bottom three and we have to hope that the heads don’t drop before we come to the end of this difficult run of fixtures and Wolves can meet their seasonal survival target.
Category: Team NewsWelcome to the Premier League
By: DJ | 2 Comments
Arsenal come to Molineux on Saturday at 5:30 for Wolves debut on the newest broadcaster of Premier League football ESPN. And this will be Wolves first game of the season against one of the big guns in the division. In one sense a scary proposition, in another sense an occasion to bring home why we so wanted to get back to playing football at this level. It should be a game to savour but is it one where Wolves can get a result?
Well Arsenal have scored 18 goals in 5 home games in the last few weeks and are being talked about as potential champions. Wenger has been lauding the goal scoring capabilities of his team. And their expectation will be that they will get three more points towards their cause on Saturday. But in their last two away matches they have only managed draws against West Ham and AZ Alkmaar and those teams are no higher rated than the three teams Wolves have secured draws against in the last three games. Clearly Wolves will need to work hard to stop Arsenal settling into their passing game but if we can find a performance to match those against Everton and Villa then an away win is no good thing.
Wolves defence was much maligned in the early part of the season but the form of Henessey in goal and Zubar, Craddock and particularly Berra in defence has given us a much more solid look. They will doubtless retain their places and once more the only question mark remains over the left back position. Elokobi was withdrawn in the second half at Stoke and replaced by Stearman and either he or the fit again Mancienne might be given a chance to start.
The protection that Henry and Castillo give to the defence from the centre of midfield is also a factor in us looking a more difficult team to break down. But while the inclusion of those two plus the hard working Edwards makes us a hard team to play against, it becomes a midfield light on creativity. Kightly is still finding his feet at this level and his fitness, but it wasn’t until Milijas was introduced at Stoke last week that Wolves started making chances. Many Wolves fans are now calling for Milijas (photo above) to start but the gamble is whether that makes Wolves more open a team to play against than we are by having three hard workers in the midfield.
Up front Doyle has been excellent so far and is an automatic choice. Iwelumo was a surprise choice to partner him at Stoke but a recurrence of his metatarsal injury means Big Chris is out of the equation again for a while. This will open the door for Ebanks Blake to return to the fold. McCarthy has in fact revealed that SEB would have returned even if Iwelumo was fit. The 4-4-2 approach is encouraging, in that we are looking to take the game to Arsenal and not just sitting back and waiting for them to take us apart.
This is clearly a game when we hope for a result rather than expect one. Fact is Wolves will be in the bottom 3 going in to the game, Blackburn play Portsmouth earlier so whatever the result there Wolves will drop a place. A result is therefore needed to keep the heads above water, especially with Chelsea away as the next game. But Wolves have not looked like a relegaton team in recent weeks so we can give it a real go on Saturday. Can’t wait.
Category: Team NewsA comeback made in Serbia
By: DJ | 2 Comments
Wolves gained their third successive score draw to add another few ounces of confidence to the belief that they are in this division to stay. The fact they did so after trooping off at half time 2-0 down and looking a beaten side will have done even more for the spirits. By the end of the game Wolves looked the more likely winners in what was very much a game of two halves.
We made only one change from the team that drew with Villa last week and surprisingly that was to replace Ebanks Blake with Iwelumo. SEB was relegated to the bench in what was probably a change to counteract the height advantage that Stoke would hold, but in the first half that hardly seemed to have helped as Big Chris made little impact in attack and was not able to stop Stoke getting a few free headers at the other end that they weren’t able to take advantage of.
Ironically after knowing that there would be a physical battle in store and a test in the air, it was Stoke winger Matthew Etherington that proved the difference between the teams in the first half. He made the first goal after 17 minutes with a pacy break from inside his own half. He left Zubar for dead on the wing before putting in an excellent cross that Beattie was able to turn in on the far post despite the presence of Elokobi. The Wolves full back may even have got the final touch to make it an own goal. The second goal just before half time resulted from a Delap long throw. Although headed clear the ball fell to Etherington who smashed the ball into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.
Wolves had had plenty of the ball in the first half with Henry and Castillo holding their own in midfield and Berra being a rock in defence. But they only once looked like scoring when Berra just failed to get on the end of a Castillo ball into the box. But Stoke had some missed chances and Hennessey made some good catches from crosses and made one superb save from a Beattie header.
McCarthy decided to bring Milijas on at half time to bring some much needed creativity to the midfield and the only surprise was that it was Castillo that made way. With his first touch after a couple of minutes of the 2nd half Milijas curled in a superb inswinging free kick from the right and Craddock turned the ball in on the far post (photo above). Another free kick from a similar position saw Milijas curl one towards the roof of the net but Sorensen saved at the second attempt. It was the Milijas/Craddock combination again for the equaliser after 64 minutes with the Serbian’s corner headed in at the near post.
Wolves introduced Maierhofer for Iwelumo and Stearman for Elokobi as they went looking for the win. Faye missed a good headed chance for Stoke while Berra and Milijas went close for Wolves.
It was a stirring fightback from Wolves who were as worthy of winning the 2nd half 2-0 as Stoke had been the first. Hennessey, Zubar, Craddock, Berra and Henry were all excellent for Wolves, but in the second half the whole team rose to the fight. And it would be a great boost if this proved to be a breakthroiugh performance from the undoubtedly talented Milijas.
This run of four games between international breaks looked a challenging phase for Wolves but they have drawn the first three and moved up to 16th place to keep up the record of not slipping into the relegation zone. Arsenal next week presents the biggest challenge so far at Molineux. The gunners have been playing like potential champions in recent games but Wolves are earning their corn now and an away win is no formality.
Category: Team NewsAiming to Rule Britannia
By: DJ | 1 Comment
Wolves travel the short journey up the M6 on Saturday 3:00 to take on a Stoke team who have done well since joining the Premier League on the back of very good home form. It is set to be a full house for this derby and this will be a battle where Wolves will need to be strong on the ground and particularly in the air defensively but recent performances have increased confidence that this is a game we can get something from.
Stoke won 10 and drew 5 of their 19 games at the Britannia Stadium last season and have won 3 of the 5 played so far this term. They are particularly effective from dead ball situations and Wolves will not be wanting to give away unnecessary free kicks and corners. And we know that that the long throws of Delap have become something of a legend in North Staffordshire. And the signings of Beattie and Etherington have made them a decent attacking unit to add to an already strong defence. But they are not as good as Everton and Villa who Wolves have matched in recent games.
The style of Stoke’s play will be a test for Hennessey who was weak last season coming off his line to deal with crosses. But he has clearly worked on this part of his game and he is developing into the top class keeper we hoped he would be. The back four that have played the last couple of games have done well and will surely be unchanged. Foley remains unavailable and it is unlikley Mancienne will be recalled given how well we have played in his absence.
The partnership of former Stoke midfielder Henry and Castillo (photo above) in central midfield has all the makings of being key to Wolves season. They offer protection to the defence, close down the opposition midfield, and give the security for us to get forward wide to support the strikers. Kightly will be getting closer to full match fitness now and will hopefully start making his impact. But it is the other midfield position that offers the most debate for team selection. David Edwards work rate is unquestionable and he may be asked to continue in this away game despite not playing well last week. Halford is an alternative to give more defensive security. Conversely Milijas or Jarvis offer much more of a creative and attacking threat. And although the recent draws have been encouraging, maybe we need that extra creativity to turn draws to wins. Personally I would like Milijas to be recalled.
Up front Doyle and SEB give Wolves a real threat to any defence and their ability on the ground might give them some joy against a Stoke team more renowned for aerial ability. Plan B could be to call on the likes of Halford, Maierhofer and Iwelumo and take Stoke on at their own game. It might prove to be useful to have that change available from the bench.
With Arsenal and Chelsea on the horizon for the next two games, Wolves will probably need to get something from this game to avoid falling into the bottom 3 in November. It might be daft to feel confident about visiting a team that has such a good home record, but I don’t think we will be losing this one.
Category: Team NewsHalf full or half empty?
By: DJ | 4 Comments
Wolves have just got draws against two of the better teams in the Premier League but here we stand one point and one place above the relegation places. So if we look at where we stand it would be easy to paint a positive or negative stance to the story after 10 games. Which side of the fence paints the truer picture?
THE HALF EMPTY STORY
Wolves started the season with a run of relatively easy games against teams that are struggling in the bottom half of the table. We are currently sitting with only 3 teams below us in the league and we have played those three teams at home already so there are more difficult fixtures to come. Stoke away followed by games against Arsenal and Chelsea. And away games against Spurs, Man Utd, and Liverpool to come before the end of 2009. Looks like xmas in the bottom 3 beckons. Ebanks Blake and Kightly who were thought to be two of our best bets for this season have not started the season well. And what have the summer signings done for us? Halford has got a long throw and not much else. Mancienne has been a major disappointment. Zubar has taken 2 months to get into the team. Milijas looks out of his depth. Hahnemann is cover only and Surman hasn’t played yet. So we are still falling back on the likes of Craddock, Berra, Elokobi, Edwards and Keogh. We just do not have enough quality and by the time the January transfer window comes around we will be half doomed.
THE HALF FULL STORY
Draws against Everton and Villa surely show we are good enough for this division and we deserved those draws and probably deserved to win at Everton, and if we had got the first minute penalty and sending off against Villa then who knows. The much maligned defence has played well in these games despite the continued absence of Foley. Berra has stepped up to the plate excellently, Zubar has come in and done well and Craddock never lets us down. Hennessey looks a top class keeper now. The Henry and Castillo partnership in midfield looks a winner as does the striking partnership of SEB and Doyle. With Foley to come in and Kightly getting more games under his belt and Milijas making an impact on Saturday it augurs well. If we could play that opening run of fixtures again now with this team we would be 4 0r 5 points better off at least.
HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY?
There are truths in both sides of this story. We are precariously placed above the relegation line and have difficult fixtures to come. But we are now looking as good as anyone in the bottom half of the league and as long as the chins stay up if we lose to the top teams we have a chance. We are certainly making a better attempt to stay in the division than we did last time when we never rose above the bottom.
Category: Team NewsWolves match local rivals
By: DJ | Add Comments
Wolves got a deserved point from a keenly contested local derby between two teams that were closely matched on the day. Two successive draws against teams that will be expected to finish in the top half of the table has to be a boost for a Wolves team that are making a much better fist of re-establishing themselves in the top flight than they did on the previous attempt.
There was one change made to the starting line up from last week at Everton with Halford dropped to the bench, Foley and Mancienne still being unfit and Maierhofer suspended. We started with;
Hennessey
Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Elokobi
Edwards, Henry, Castillo, Kightly
Ebanks Blake, Doyle.
Milijas replaced Edwards midway through the 2nd half and Halford and Iwelumo were brought on late to replace Kightly and Ebanks Blake.
The game got off to a lively start with Agbonlohor missing an early chance and within a couple of minutes came a critical incident at the other end. Doyle was put clean through on goal and was clearly pulled back as he entered the area. Should definitely have been a penalty. Possibly a sending off as it was the last defender. The referee waved play on. Doyle possibly too honest as he tried to get his shot away rather than falling over.
Wovles were the better team in the first half and had one effort cleared off the line and Ebanks Blake going close. Villa looked dangerous on the break but had less possession than Wolves. Villa were better 2nd half without creating many chances but they finally split the Wolves defence with 11 minutes to play to give Agbonlohor as easy chance that he took. It was disappointing to see Wolves fall behind and another home defeat looked on the cards but within 4 minutes the equaliser arrived.
A backheel by Milijas in the area wrong footed the Villa defence. Kightly was tripped by Sidwell as he tried to turn and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Ebanks Blake smashed the spot kick in to the roof of the net (photo above). Villa tried to quicken the game to look for the winner but it was Wolves that pressed at the end with a series of Halford long throws needing defending by Villa.
Wolves defence coped well with the Villa offensive threat and all the back line played well. Henry was Wolves best player on the day with Castillo also impressing alongside him. Kightly still looks a bit rusty and although Edwards works hard his distribution is poor. Ebanks Blake and Doyle, who was excellent first half, posed plenty of problems for Villa.
Confidence is growing amongst Wolves fans that we will be good enough to remain in the division as we have matched Everton and Villa in these last two games and now have the best strikers in the team to see off the weaker teams. Another derby at Stoke next week and every chance for Wolves there despite the Potters good home record. Bring it on.
Category: Team NewsDinner with the Villa
By: DJ | 1 Comment
Match 10 of Wolves return to the top flight sees the West Midlands top team visit the Molineux for a 12:45 lunch time game to be screened by Sky. The local rivalry that has always been there with Albion and ha s grown with Blues does not at the moment carry through to the derby game with Villa, probably due to the fact the team from north Brum have been playing at a higher level than Wolves for most of the last 25 years. But if Wolves can do as they wish this season and re-establish themselves as the 2nd best team in the West Midlands then the rivalry will doubtless return to the level it used to be at in the previous generation.
Villa come on the back of an impressive success over Chelsea but Wolves will themselves have been boosted by outplaying Everton at Goodison Park last week and coming so close to gaining 3 points. It wouldn’t be a great surprise if it was the same team that were asked to take on the Villa this week. But in midfield there is the possibility of change. Kightly and Henry will doubtless start but Edwards and Halford will be competing with Castillo and Jarvis for a starting place. Castillo would probably have started last week had he not been returning from World Cup duty with Ecuador. And maybe Jarvis will be given the nod if McCarthy looks for a more positive team to represent us at home.
Defensively there will surely be a starting place for Hennessey, Zubar, Craddock and Berra. Zubar made a good impression on his debut and the Molineux faithful will be keen to get their first look at him, apart from the Carling Cup game against Swindon. The only question mark in the defense is whether Elokobi will continue at left back. McCarthy has been supportive of him in the local press and his general game was good at Goodison although he did lose his man for the late equaliser. Mancienne was left out last week after coming back from England U21 duty with flu and may now return but at full back.
The optimism that Wolves can get something from the game will be largely borne from this being the first Molineux game that the Ebanks Blake and Doyle strike force will be seen together. There was plenty of promise at Everton last week that they can be the exciting pairing that fans were anticipating after Doyle’s signing and if Wolves can get a decent supply to them the goals will surely come. It has been the case since the end of August that Maierhofer has been brought off the bench to offer something different in the closing stages. His sending off last week means that option is ruled out by suspension, but that absence will be offset by a return to the fold of Chris Iwelumo. His timely return from injury will be a boost to the squad especially if he can show the form of the first half of last season.
There will be those that will go to the game thinking a draw will be fine, especially those that remember the 4 goal thumping Wolves received the last time Villa paid a visit. But most Wolves fans have a distinct lack of an inferiority complex for any team coming to Molineux, especially local rivals, and they will be looking for 3 points this weekend and a return of Wolves to their rightful place as the Midlands top club in the not too distant future.
Category: Team News3 into 1 disappointing but ok
By: DJ | 1 Comment
Everton had an 89th minute equaliser to thank for stopping Wolves getting a win they probably deserved after dominating the game for long periods on Saturday. This game more than any other so far this season did much to convince the Wolves faithful that we can still be playing in this division next season and the fact that management, players and supporters trooped out of Goodison Park disappointed to be going home with 1 point rather than 3 was a testament to how well they had played.
With Foley deemed still not ready to return and Mancienne returning ill from England Under 21 duty, Wolves recalled Jody Craddock and gave a debut to Ronald Zubar in defence and started with a line up of;
Hennessey
Zubar, Craddock, Berra, Elokobi
Kightly, Edwards, Henry, Halford
Ebanks Blake, Doyle
During the second half Maierhofer, Castillo and Jarvis replaced Kightly, Ebanks Blake and Halford.
The first half was dominated by Wolves territorially although Everton twice went close to scoring in a five minute spell. Hennessey, Zubar, Craddock and Berra were all excellent in Wolves best defensive performance of the season and the hard working midfield stopped Everton getting any fluency into their game and kept the crowd very quiet. At the other end of the field SEB went closest to scoring with a characteristic shot on the turn.
The expected improvement from Everton in the second half didn’t really happen despite them bringing another striker, Yakubu, on to replace right back Hibbert. Saha looked Everton’s best player but the Wolves defense looked solid. The Wolves midfield were stopping Everton playing but were lacking the creativity to open up the home defense. But Ebanks Blake went even closer with another shot on the turn, and then Wolves went ahead in the 74th minute. A long ball through the middle saw SEB challenge for a ball in the air with the central defender. Both missed the ball and Doyle ran in behind them to slot the ball into the net.
Everton stepped up the urgency but Wolves looked up to retaining their lead until a low cross from the left saw the Russian winger of Everton lose Elokobi on the far post and he slotted in the equaliser. Plenty of action in the 4 minutes of injury time as the home crowd finally came alive. Maierhofer had made a good impact for Wolves as a sub but he had been booked for a late tackle and then after he was harshly judged to have blocked Everton keeper Howards attempt to clear the ball, the big Austrian was sent off. Howard, despite retaliating by felling Maierhofer with a punch to the back of the head was allowed to remain on the field. Despite this setback it was Wolves who came closest to a third goal with Doyle’s shot blocked by Howard.
So a lot to be encouraged about as Wolves deserved at least 1 point. Good defensive performance with a fine debut from Zubar, Craddock again showing he is invaluable, and Hennessey developing into a top keeper. When SEB is fully match fit the partnership of him and Doyle will be a good one.
Next Saturday sees Villa come to Molineux. They will be buoyed by beating Chelsea at the weekend but they will meet a Wolves team that will be ready for the occasion and a raucous West Midlands derby is in prospect.
Category: Team News
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