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You are in: Essential Stats: 2002-03 Season: Match Reports Also available:  Fans
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Match Reports
 
MolineuxAtt. 25, 812
Ref: A Bates
Match No.
27
League Division 1
Match Stats28 December 2002
Wolves
1
2
Bradford
Report by JD Wolf

Oh dear, oh dear,oh dear.

The Christmas panto season has come early to Molineux, this game was a farce from beginning to end. I was expecting an Xmas cracker, but this was one of those cheap tacky ones filled with pathetic plastic pieces that don't fit together properly and an unfunny joke that was not understood by Wolves fans. DJ's bunch of misfits have played santa too many times, but this one was taking the festive spirit way too far.

There is something very, very wrong at Molineux and now the computer system has broken down causing chaos at the ticket office and making me queue for over an hour to pay to see these hopeless bunch of Figgie puddings. Wolves fans flocked yet again to Molineux like so many hapless Xmas turkeys to the dining table. But instead of a feast we were all subjected to left overs and apathy beyond all expectations.

Bradford managed to muster a following of meagre proportions rivalling only Wimbledon's home crowd, even they thought that they would be in for a mauling. The Wolves contingent were strangely quiet, but we have all been here before and so the writing must have been on the wall. No liquidator but surely it shouldn't take a song ridiculing Sandwell Town swampies to liven us up.

Bradford had only scored eight times on their travels this season and not at all in the last five and had lost eight successive times until recently. Where as DJ's pre match words must be choking in his throat. A must win game - ha.

The game started as it would finish, the old gold 'n' black completely dominating play but unable to put the ball into the net. Bradford's tactics were easy to see - much as most that come down here, frustrate the play so as to get the crowd on Wolves back. I've seen some poor teams down here but considering Bradford were in the premiership not so long ago these must have been the worst. The amount of time wasting that went on unpunished was beyond a joke. As usual the referee and linesmen were biased beyond belief. At times Wolves were not only playing against Bradford, but also the ref, linesmen, themselves and the crowd all at the same time. Its hardly surprising that the result turned out how it did. I haven't seen the stats but we must have had dozens of chances and shots, whilst Bradford had two!

As early as nine mins Cole was put through by a superb pass from Ince and with only the keeper to beat, somehow managed to hit the corner flag from 6 yards out. Minutes later a Kennedy cross was tamely hit by Ndah when it would have been easier to score. Cole was looking really lazy (too much xmas booze??) but he woke up on 25 mins with an excellent turn and wicked shot that just scrapped the top of the bar. His loan extension has just been extended but on this performance I wouldn't put him in the reserve side. Shot after shot after header pounded the Bradford goal but most were tame or misplaced. Sturridge did manage to thunder a shot against the post and just before half time some neat play saw Cole's header saved and Ince following through was clearly pushed over, but as usual the bantam coloured ref saw nothing in it.

HT Wolves 0 Bradford 0

I had thought that one goal would see a goal rush, but getting to half time gave this poor, very poor Bradford side some confidence. On 50 mins Sturridge some how missed a glorious chance but fluffed his header when free in the area. Then on 51 mins the obvious happened in probably Bradford's first attack the ball broke free for one of them to tuck home from 4 yards. The crowd and Wolves team were stunned, but just three mins later Ndah showed Wolves how to do it. Grasping the ball he feinted several tackles before letting rip with an absolute screamer from 25 yards. Wolves had spent the whole game trying to walk the ball into the net passing backwards ten times before going one step forwards. You would think that this would have inspired Wolves into something different - but oh no. DJ seems incapable of changing anything, Miller came on for the ineffective Cole (please don't play him again), but I don't think that he touched the ball in 30 mins of play. On 59 mins Bradford scored again and that was game over.

Wolves looked very poor again, we can not play against poor teams, we created boatloads of chances but can't put the ball into the net. Has anyone told DJ that that is the object of the game? Passing the ball back and from side to side may look pretty, but it doesn't win games. To be honest I am sick of writing the same things over and over. Its obvious that DJ hasn't got what it takes, even with probably the best team individually. Wolves can not play together, have no motivation or tactics and no determination to win. On this basis Division two beckons not the premiership.

I would love to eat humble pie and if we do go up I will personally apologise to DJ, however its not going to happen. So I'll say again for the last time. For Sir Jack's sake go and go now. Bring on the monkey head!!

FT Wolves 1 Bradford 2

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