The Soccer Blog: Striker sub Sylvan seals super comeback

Sunday 28 November 2010

Striker sub Sylvan seals super comeback

By: DJ | November 27th, 2010

sylvan-cele Wolves produced a stirring comeback to secure three oh so vital points on Saturday at Molineux. Wolves were the better team for 50 minutes and got their noses in front, but the goal seemed to inspire Sunderland to find another gear and they looked all over the winners as they turned it round to lead 2-1. But two goals in the last ten minutes secured the win for Wolves that completely changed the whole feeling around the club.

It was never going to be a straight forward team selection with so many players injured and suspended but few would have predicted the line up we saw with Hennessey and Ward recalled, Zubar back from injury, and Elokobi as a centre back the main surprise;

Hennessey

Zubar, Stearman, Elokobi, Ward

Foley, Jones, Mancienne, Milijas, Jarvis

Doyle

Wolves made a positive start and were the better team in the opening exchanges with Elokobi getting in a couple of confidence boosting defensive headers, and thankfully no early goal was conceded with Sunderland not threatening. Wolves had a series of early corners that came to nothing before Bent shot straight at Hennessey from the Mackems first attack after eight minutes. Jarvis and Ward were linking well for Wolves on the left and from one cross Stearman was inches away from connecting on the far post. Wolves were denied a sure fire penalty when Cattermole hampered Milijas after 15 but worse was to come ten minutes later. Elokobi headed the ball goalwards from another corner and Stearman turned the ball into the net from a couple of yards out. He was ruled offside despite there being 2 Sunderland players on the goal line.

Wolves then had an overdue moment of luck when a Kieran Richardson free kick hit the inside of the post and rebounded across the goal and out for a goal kick. No goals at half time as Wolves were again unable to convert their good play into goals but 5 minutes into the second half they got the breakthrough. Milijas won the ball in midfield and released Foley on the right. His long cross picked out Jarvis on the left side of the area. He skipped inside one defender before shooting for the far corner. Gordon saved well but the ball ran out to Foley who hit a well controlled shot into the opposite corner.

Almost immediately after falling behind, Sunderland started to take control of the game and were pinning Wolves back and the introduction of Gyan and Malbranque made them even more positive. Wolves replaced Jones with Hunt and nearly extend the lead from a breakaway as a great Milijas pass released Jarvis on the right but his shot was just too high. Stearman has done well since returning to the team but is prone to daft mistakes and he made two in two minutes midway through the half. The first let Wellbeck in and he fired over, and then he failed to cut out a through ball and Bent was left clean through and equalised. Hennessey then made a good save from a Malbranque effort but the Wolves fans are silenced when a Wellbeck header puts the Mackems in front after 77 minutes.

Ebanks Blake replaced Mancienne who had played well in midfield. From a Jarvis free kick Wolves were to get a vital equaliser. Elokobi’s header was parried by Gordon and Hunt was on hand to turn the ball in. Hennessey then saved Wolves by tipping over a Cattermole effort and in the 89th minute Wolveswere to get the decisive goal. Doyle had been brilliant all game and he attacked Sunderland down the left channel before slipping the ball infield to Ebanks Blake who took one touch before smashing the ball into the roof of the net from 15 yards. A nervous 4 minutes of injury time ended with Hennessey saving a Richardson free kick and Wolves were home.

Hennessey – a good comeback with 2 excellent second half saves and good distribution

Zubar – like he had never been away, one of the stars of the show

Ward – linked well with Jarvis and got some good crosses in. Gives Wolves more going forward that the other left backs at the club

Stearman – generally good but always seems prone to occasional lapses that are often punished

Elokobi – McCarthy has been hinting for a while that George could do a job at centre back and he certainly let nobody down here

Foley – did well on the right of midfield, before moving into the centre when Hunt replaced Mancienne

Jones – did ok and linked well with Milijas when many thought they were too similar to play together

Mancienne – stepped up well the ‘Henry’ role and is playing much better in recent games

Milijas – won his share of tackles and made some superb long passes. Man of the match contender

Jarvis – Assists for the first two goals and always a threat to Sunderland

Doyle – as well as he has played all season, a real pain in the butt to the Sunderland centre backs

Hunt – his goal may help his confidence

SEB – only a late cameo performance but took his goal superbly

Wolves started the day 5 points off the survival mark and ended it 5 points off 14th. Plenty of work to do yet but this will have done morale of players, management and supporters no harm at all. With the injury problems set to ease it could yet be the case that the league table looks a lot better by Boxing Day.

Category: Team News

Tags: Team News
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