A comeback made in Serbia

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 News

Tags: Team News

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