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Gillingham 2 Wolves 3 18/09/2001 |
| Match Report | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Report by Fat Stat
We arrived 10 minutes late due to the ridiculous lack of parking, and my inability to find a decent map on the Internet. Still, we got escorted into the away terrace via the players' entrance, not something that happens every day. I later found out that Gillingham had hit the post during the ten minutes we had missed, but as we arrived Wolves were attacking as they did for the majority of the rest of the half. We were playing some exciting football, with Kennedy and Blake in particular looking lively. Gillingham however were not merely makeweights, and after the debacle last Saturday it was refreshing to play against a team that wanted to play football. There were a few worrying signs, but generally we were defending well and looking dangerous in attack. After about 30 minutes we got our first goal, when a Kennedy cross from the left ricocheted off a Gillingham defender and landed nicely to provide Blake with a simple tap in. Two goals in two games for Blake, when was the last time we could say that about a Wolves forward? 1-0 Wolves. Then what seemed like mere seconds later, we got our second. Another Kennedy cross - this time looping over the goalkeeper (who had been drawn to the near post by a Blake run) and providing Miller with an easy header and his first Wolves goal. Hopefully one of many. 2-0 Wolves. Wolves now started to look dangerous in every attack. I can honestly say that some of the attacking play was some of the best I've ever seen Wolves play. Kennedy, Cameron, Blake, Miller and Newton all looked excellent. One touch football and some of the passing was so good I couldn't believe it - I thought I was in the San Siro! How things changed in the second half. The Gills came out looking for a goal as could be expected, and they were ably backed by the crowd. The noise they made certainly didn't sound like only just over 8,000. Perhaps it was echoing in the San Siro. A quick aside about the Gills fans - I think they were mostly good humoured (in the terraces at least) except for the fan who got ejected for making the usual scurrilous comments about Dave Jones ("bye-bye, bye-bye - bye-bye, bye-bye"). Well done Stewards. But their songs! Singing about us as though we were northerners (but I suppose you have to be understanding about the Kentish country bumpkins), and then singing "no one likes us". No disrespect, but no one cares. Anyway back to the game. Gillingham were more in the game, but we were still looking bright so there seemed to be nothing to worry about. Then the incident which incensed the crowd, and certainly appeared to make it game over. Blake was hacked down from behind when he appeared to be through one-on-one against the keeper. Well, it certainly looked that way to me - but talking to a Gillingham fan afterwards who had a better vantage point than me it could be that there was another defender goal side. Still, after a delay that made me think it was going to be a yellow card, their player was sent off ("bye-bye, bye-bye - bye-bye, bye-bye"). This seemed to galvanise Gillingham, who suddenly seemed more in the game. They brought on a right-winger who seemed to be having more luck against Naylor (could it be because Kennedy is not so keen on dropping back and helping out?). Although not the worst I've seen defensively, I think it could have been a lot better. Lescott didn't seem his usual assured self and Muscat was having an "off" game - now quite a regular occurrence. However we still looked dangerous in attack and one move in particular saw Muscat miss a sitter. Then, with about ten minutes to go Gillingham got a lifeline when Ipoua beat Lescott and sent a fierce shot straight at Oakes who should have done better, but merely punched the ball into a looping arc to the back of the net. 2-1 and signs of nervousness. However nervous we looked in defence, we were still appeared unstoppable in attack. And so it proved about five minutes later. A scuffed clearance by a Gills defender went straight to Kennedy who rode a couple of challenges and sent a superb shot which beat the goalie but rebounded off the post. Fortunately Newton was there to pick up the rebound and coolly slot the ball into the back of the net. 3-1. Surely game over? Gillingham had other ideas and showed admirable spirit, which paid off almost straight away. A high ball into the box and Muscat aimlessly jumped at the player instead of the ball. The ref awarded a penalty, which King slotted home. 3-2. There was still time for the game to get a bit nasty and the final move of the match saw Kennedy tumble over the advertising boards, seemingly pushed by one of their players. I think we were definitely glad to hear the final whistle, even if it meant a five-mile hike to get the car. Overall it was a very exciting game in a good way at first, but in a not so good way at the end. I think we looked excellent in attack, the Blake/Miller partnership certainly looking like it has a lot of promise. However it has to be a worry how we lost confidence at the back when they had only ten men. Perhaps the imminent signing of Rae will shore us up defensively, but I wouldn't be too surprised if a goalkeeper becomes Jones' next transfer target.
Attendance: 8,966
Goals:Gillingham: Ipoua (87 mins), King (90 mins) (pen) Wolves: Blake (37 mins), Miller (39 mins), Newton (90 mins)
Notes: Miller scores his first goal for Wolves. Gillingham lose their 100% home record. Best Player : Kennedy (2 votes); Blake (1 vote)
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