And so to the welcome distraction of the Carling cup, after the stark realities of life in the premiership a morale boosting win was imperative at a cold and empty, 3 sided Molineux (the closed Steve Bull stand bringing back bad memories from the dim and dark past of the Bhatti era).

We decided to watch this game not from our usual southbank seats but up in the "posh bit" of the Billy Quiet. I have only sat there once before and had forgotten what it was like, whilst this was Stuperstitious' first time. Nice clean seats, a clean stand, excellent view, posh toilets with working dryers and pleasant bar staff - oh how the other half live! Maybe Jezzica should rough it in the southbank once in a while.

The teams were announced with no real suprises - Ince, Irwin, Butler and Newton rested, whilst Murray was given a run out to see how his injury fared. Gudjonsson still hasn't got a photo to show on the big screen as the teams are announced - is this an omen?

The game kicked off with no urgency - you can just hear DJ's comments of play your game and be patient, everything will come good!! It was not really to be. Wolves played the game as (in truth what it was) a training game. We showed little incentive or penetration resorting to long range shots (well wide) or, as in the cases of Silas and Iversen, trying to walk the ball into the net.

Darlington played like a team that was 16th in division 3, (which is what they are and some 64 places below Wolves). Wolves played as if it was a Sunday morning kick about.

In fairness to Darlington they tried to play football and bought a few hundred fans down to the golden temple and were very noisey (especially about the thumping given to us by Chelski at the weekend). However their chants of "Darlo, Darlo" made me think I was on a skool pitch in the back end of Wednesbury - at times the players must have thought the same as there was no conviction at all.

With little goal mouth action to speak of, Darlo had the first real chance as a corner swung in was headed narrowly wide and a real chance gone begging. However this must have shook Wolves as only 3 mins later, on 37 mins, the industrious Rae (made captain for the evening) picked up the ball just past the half way line, ran past a couple of static defenders and fired in a rasping low shot into the net. Wolves 1 Darlington 0 and oh how that goal was needed, not only by the players but by the fans. Wolves had gone almost eight and a half hours without a goal and the relief was very apparent. In truth it was difficult to see where a goal was going to come from until this point as Wolves had most of the possession but played with little heart and no confidence.

Was this the sign that would open the flood gates? No - Wolves continued to play as if nothing mattered. The pressure was put back onto Wolves by themselves as just mins later a very bad back pass by Luzhny put Murray in all sorts of bother and he only just managed to hoof the ball clear as an attacker pounced.

The first half fizzled into its conclusion with Wolves content to be prima donna's and Darlo running around like headless chickens.

Half Time Wolves 1 Darlington 0

Oakes replaced Murray for the start of the second half - hope it is not a reaction to his injury and Wolves continued the game as the first half. The game swung from end to end but neither team having any real bite. Thankfully the second and much needed goal came on 53 mins. A hopeful but dangerous Naylor cross was fumbled by their keeper and Gudjonssen (who had seemed to spend more time on his backside - reminiscent of David Connelly a few years ago) was on hand to volley the ball home from 6 yards out. Wolves 2 Darlington 0 and realistically game over.

Wolves huffed and puffed but made no real headroom, whilst Darlo tried but lacked any real skill or knowledge of how to get back in the game. This was almost like Chelski repeated albeit not so many goals and the roles reversed.

Darlo did manage to get close again with 15 mins to go but Kennedy somehow headed off the line from a fine headed effort.

With just minutes to go Newton, who had just come on as sub for Gudjonsson, neatly dribbled through 4 defenders but saw his shot well saved by their keeper. With the keeper stranded the ball hung up in the air 5 yards out and Iversen unchallenged and with a gaping empty net before him somehow headed the rebound a yard over the bar. In truth it was easier to score, in fact he would have had time to allow the ball to drop onto to foot and to poke it in. This was probably the worse miss I have seen at Molineux and shows the lack of confidence and skill emanating through out the team! The exciting new prospect Leon Clarke replaced Kennedy with 1 minute to go and almost immediately caused problems with an electric burst of pace and power. Clarke showed more attacking prowess in 1 minute then Iversen did in 90 minutes.

This was an inept performance by Wolves, it was lucky that we were up against a poor team. True we were probably drawn down to the same standards but being professionals and with what has happened recently this should not have been the case. The play was very disjointed - it is painfully obvious that the players are not playing as a team. Far too many times players were making runs one way only for the ball to be played in the opposite direction. The main culprit for this being Silas, he is so out of his depth that it is embarrassing. Maybe it is a language problem, but I think that it is more down to the coaching side - or lack of it!

Until DJ accepts the error of his ways and brings in an experienced "number 2" then I fear the worst. Bolton on Saturday should be an easier game than the previous couple of Premiership games, but on this performance the best that we can hope for is a defeat by only 3 goals.

It pains me to say it but Wolves are dreadful!!!!!!!

Full Time Wolves 2 Darlington 0