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Wolves 3 Coventry 1 19/01/2002 |
| Match Report | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Report by Stuperstitious Wolf
After a run of only 22 points from the last possible 48 and with Millwall edging Wolves down to fourth place, a win was of utmost importance. Dave Jones had said that the team were buoyant even after that dismal performance last week, afterall confidence means a lot and that is something we seem to be lacking at the moment. A dull and dismal day (befitting the arrival of that effervescent team Coventry), but not too cold in fact except for the rain a perfect day for football. Dave Jones chose not to play Naylor again (injured - yeah) and with Miller on the bench it looked like our strongest team. Wolves kicked off attacking the south bank and immediately the game sprung into life with both teams desperate for a goal. It was a very lively start from both teams but after only 15 mins it was evident that Wolves were up for the game much more than the visiting team apparently missing "Kevin the PG Tips monkey" (see advent calendar day 11 - Fat Stat). Corner after corner after corner for Wolves, something like 10 in the first 40 minutes, but well everyone knows we can't do anything from them. However it showed the amount of pressure we were putting on them - if only this could be turned into goals. Jones must have given them a right kick up the rear, as for a change Wolves showed some of the style that every fan knows (or believes) that we are capable of. More pressure on 25 mins saw Blake put the ball in the net, after neat play from Kennedy only for it to be ruled offside. Then with in the space of 5 minutes Sturridge poked the ball home after scrappy play in their box only again for it to be ruled offside. Even as biased as I am, I must admit that both were offside. However these just seemed to spur us on, with a reasonably healthy crowd (even with the TV Sunday game) roaring out approval. Half time 0.0 The second half started as brightly as the first, with Wolves looking like a promotion chasing team for the first time since the demolition of Birmingham, six weeks ago. Constant pressure from Wolves, gave reward on 50 mins. An innocuous kick up field saw Blake bundle off one of them lot and pass a perfect cross in their box for Sturridge to neatly tuck away his 7th goal. Oh how that was needed but also how well was it deserved. More pressure on 53 mins saw a Kennedy cross superbly headed in by Sturridge. A perfect strikers goal, his 8th for Wolves - and proving a very good buy - nudging his way in before a defender when he had no right to. Wolves were now on song and it seemed as though every time we went forward we were gonna score. Only another 3 mins later, that prophecy came true. More neat play on the left by Kennedy (lets hope he's back to his good old ways) saw him cross in for Cameron to again get in front of one of them lot to toe poke the ball home. 3.0 up and cruising, this was a devasting Wolves performance against a disappointing Coventry side. Only 4 mins later, Blake was somehow bundled off the ball in their box for a penalty (how you could knock a bloke like that off the ball is something most people couldn't do). Blake picked up the ball and despite protests from Sturridge ( who wanted his hat trick) - as the chosen penalty taker decided he wanted to score. Unfortunately for him and Wolves he somehow managed to screw the ball inches wide of the post after sending their keeper the wrong way. I would have loved to be a fly on the wall afterwards with Sturridge having a go. However this time it did not matter that the penalty was missed, it was good that Blake really wanted to take it - he is obviously desperate for a goal. Soon after Blake was subbed for Ndah, who looked lively up front and then Miller was given the last 5 mins for a run around at the expense of Sturridge. Coventry were reduced to 10 men on 81 mins for one of them lunging dangerously at Oakes ( Nice throttle Butler!!). Right on full time, from one of only seemingly 2 corners, a header from one their lot somehow bounced off Lescott's head and then off Muscat's head on the line, for a goal to them. It didn't mean anything other than upsetting our goal difference slightly. Full time 3.1 A much better performance than recent matches, for once we really looked like we wanted to win. The result puts us back to second, a position that at the end of the season I'll settle for. Start polishing those mystic balls we are gonna do it this time!
Attendance: 21,009
Goals: Wolves:Sturridge (50 mins), Sturridge (53 mins) Cameron (56mins)Coventry:Bothroyd (90 mins)
Best Player : Lescott (2 votes) Sturridge (1 vote) Blake (1 vote)
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| Average player ratings are taken from a number of newspapers, magazines and web-sites ...more.... |
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