Home | Essential Stats | Current Season | Fans | Molineux | Links | News | What's New | Find Wolves home button

wolves_stats_large.gif - 6363 Bytes
You are in: Essential Stats: 2002-03 Season: Match Reports Also available:  Fans
In this section: Match Stats
 
Match Reports
 
MolineuxAtt. 24,625
Ref: P Taylor
Match No.
prev.gif - 147 Bytes
13
next.gif - 120 Bytes
League Division 1
Match Stats05 October 2002
Wolves
1
3
Sheff Utd
Report by Nero Wolf

As someone on the Molineux Mix said "I never asked to be a Wolves fan".

To be honest I've got over my anger and now I am just plain bewildered by what's going on at Wolves. This performance was poor. The players seem to have lost any idea of why they trot out onto a piece of grass once or twice a week. There's no discernable shape and most players look like they haven't got a clue, let alone any passion. After the match Dave Jones said that the reason for Wolves' extremely poor run of form wasn't a hangover from last season and isnt due to bad luck. Then just what is it Dave? I'm still waiting for the reason for last season's collapse, even though this recent run of form makes that series of poor results look like something to aim for.

There were a couple of changes in line-up in this match, which I must admit I was happy about. Miller replaced an out-of-sorts Sturridge, and Edworthy came in allowing Irwin to swap full back positions for a (probably) unlucky Naylor.

My happiness at the change in personnel didn't last long. Wolves looked insipid and nervous right from the kick off. There was little of note, except for a deflected Blake shot until our now notoriously nervous defence allowed Boulding to get a shot in which came off Butler for a corner.

The ref then didn't give a penalty even though Blake was pulled down in the penalty area. The ref then compounded this error by allowing Blake to lie injured on the floor for five minutes before letting the physio on.

Then on 35 minutes our first bit of bright play brought a goal, even though it was yet again an own goal. Rae played Ndah in on the wing, and the surprisingly bright-looking winger/forward beat one of their players and laid in a low cross. The cross was too difficult for the defenders to deal with and Ullathorne played it into the back of his own net. 1-0 .

When Murray made a great double save, when he saved a close range shot and then kept out the Ndlovu follow up. Then the unbelievable (but somehow expected) happened. After conceding two goals in about ten minutes in the cup match midweek Wolves managed to go one better (or worse) by letting in three goals in five minutes of madness.

Deep into first half stoppage time (where did all that time come from?), Sheff Utd pulled level when Tonge lashed a shot into the net. Apologies for the poor pun.

Half-time Wolves 1 Sheff Utd 1

The half-ime cup of tea must have had some sleeping tablets in it, because within a couple of minutes of the restart, a cross from our right back position was headed home by Alison. 1-2

Before I had time to properly digest that goal Tonge lashed another shot from 15 yards into the net. 1-3

Game over. Newton had a shot blocked, Cooper shot just wide and right at the end their keeper saved a Miller header - but to be honest Sheffield United looked just as likely (if not more so) to stretch their lead as we did of pulling one back.

This is the worst run in a very long time, and certainly there is something seriously wrong if a squad of this quality can put in a performance like this. Dave Jones has to do something to stop this slide. Even a 0-0 draw now looks like an attractive result.

Its time to stop the talking and actually do something on the pitch. I've got a sneaky feeling that the start of this poor run coincided with the return of John Ward, but unless it is turned around quickly, I think it will cost Dave Jones his job. It really is looking like three play-off defeats and three managers' jobs, isn't it?

Full-time Wolves 1 Sheff Utd 3

statsicon.gif - 1938 Bytes


Back to the top
http://www.wolves.stats.btinternet.co.ukemail: wolves.stats@btinternet.com   Wolves home button