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Wolves 2 Rotherham 1 02/02/2002 |
| Match Report | ||||||
| Report by Blue and Yellow Purple Wolf
Rotherham set their stall out by opting to play with one player up front. It's a popular strategy nowadays to come to Molineux and try to frustrate and nick one on the break. It's a testimony to our team that so many teams think that that is the only option - but it's also indicative that so many teams are successful with that strategy. Wolves dominated the early play (and in fact the whole match). Blake squandered two early chances, heading wide on two occasions. Firstly a bit of neat play saw Kennedy send a looping cross over from the left wing which Blake headed just wide. Secondly a Newton cross - also from the left wing - found Blake in acres of space with just the goalie to beat. Unfortunately he fluffed his header sending it well wide of the left hand post. Another chance came and went when Newton's cross nearly found Rae, but was knocked out for a corner by their goalie. From the subsequent corner the ball fell to Rae who dragged his shot wide. Then came the moment we were all dreading and Rotherham had planned for. Lescott gave the ball away on the edge of Rotherham's box and the sent a long ball forward. With Lescott and Butler forward, Muscatt was the last man. He tried to shoulder their forward off the ball but the striker kept his balance and - one on one with Oakes - he slotted the ball home. It was a poor challenge from Muscat, and it was very poor of both Lescott and Butler to be caught up field. Half time boos and 0-1 down. Same again at the start of the second half - Wolves possession and dogged Rotherham defending: Butler waltzed across the front of their defence, but his shot was just wide; Cameron had a shot deflected by Sturridge but saved by their goalie; Butler headed just wide - but no Wolves goal. Then - Muscat sent a ball through to Sturridge who exchanged passes with Butler and then sidefooted a perfect shot into the net through a crowd of players and just inside the post.1-1 Ndah and Miller were both on the field (for Newton and Blake respectively) and both looked lively. It was Ndah who, five minutes after the first goal found the vital breakthrough. We did one of those short-corner exchanges that never seems to work and the ball was floated into the box. Ndah, unmarked went up with the keeper and got their first, looping the ball up and over and towards the goal. The goalie scrambled back, and seemed to stop the ball going over the line. However the linesman gave it - 2-1!! From then on Rotherham tried to come back into the game, but quite honestly didn't have the quality. Another important win, without the performance. I'll take the points any day. PS - Looking at the goal on OnDigital it was quite obviously over the line - the goalie's momentum taking him and the ball over the line. Also - no way did Ndah foul the goalie, so it was a fair goal all round (although you might not think so if you read the Sunday papers). Rotherham's manager Ronnie Moore said after the match "If that was a goal I’ll wear a dress next week. That’s how sure I am." All I would ask of him would be to warn me when he's going to put his little black dress on and I'll look the other way.
Attendance: 22,591
Goals: Wolves: Sturridge (69 mins), Ndah (77 mins) Rotherham: Lee (43 mins)
Best Player: Rae (3 votes) Sturridge (2 votes) Camara (2 votes) Miller (1 vote) Notes: Ndah's first goal of the season.
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| Average player ratings are taken from a number of newspapers, magazines and web-sites ...more.... |
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