The Soccer Blog: Wolves

Showing posts with label Wolves. Show all posts

Monday, 7 November 2011

Premier League: Wolves 3 Wigan 1

Wolverhampton Wanderers ended their eight-game wait for a Premier League win, beating fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic on Sunday.

Goals from Jamie O’Hara, David Edwards and Stephen Ward gave Wolves three points for the first time since August and put more pressure on Latics manager Roberto Martinez.

The visitors looked several yards short of a team worthy of a place in the top flight and barely deserved the goal they scored from the penalty spot by Ben Watson.

The result cemented their place at the foot of the table and launched Wolves into 13th place.

If it had not been for the athleticism of Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi, Wolves would have netted more.

Wolves had conceded 16 goals in their previous seven league games and their defensive problems were highlighted when Adlene Guedioura was played into trouble by a poor pass from left-back Ward.

Again, Wigan failed to take advantage after Mohamed Diame’s tackle and the through ball was wasted by a Hugo Rodallega shot that lacked conviction.

The Colombian then missed a golden opportunity in the 31st minute after Di Santo robbed Richard Stearman on the right.

His inch-perfect long ball looped over Christophe Berra’s head but Rodallega casually sidefooted wide with Wayne Hennessey’s net at his mercy.

Boss Martinez had even more cause to put his head in his hands after the subsequent goal kick led O’Hara to punish Rodallega’s folly.

The clearance was nodded into Doyle’s path by Guedioura and his smart cross was blasted home by the on-rushing midfielder.

Wigan had rarely threatened but their right flank had looked the most likely to reap reward. Full-back Emerson Boyce drove on from deep to produce the penalty slotted home by Watson at the second attempt in the 42nd minute.

The ex-Crystal Palace defender’s charge into the box was ended by a block from Hunt that left referee Lee Probert with no choice but to point to the spot.

Watson’s poor shot was stopped easily by Hennessey, however, he then pushed the ball to the grateful midfielder to complete the job.

Wolves regained the lead 10 minutes after the interval.

Substitute Matt Jarvis drew out Boyce and then played in Henry. The midfield hatchet-man showed surprising grace to dance to the byline and cut back to Hunt.

The Irishman’s shot from point blank range was saved superbly by Al Habsi, but even better was to come, as he somehow clawed away O’Hara’s follow-up when prone on the ground.

Unluckily for the shot stopper, third time was the trick for Wolves as Edwards unleashed an unstoppable half-volley into the net as the stationery Wigan defence watched on.

Ward made the victory safe with Wolves’ third in the 66th minute.

Jarvis was the creator this time as he danced inside Boyce to find Edwards. Edwards’ scuffed effort was deflected into O’Hara’s path and his shot was save brilliantly by Al Habsi again.

Cruelly, history repeated itself and the rebound from Ward was deflected home via Alcaraz.

View the original article here

Monday, 24 October 2011

Wolves skipper blasts ´boo boys´

Wolves captain Roger Johnson has hit back at sections of the club’s supporters, who have been letting their displeasure with recent results known to manager Mick McCarthy.

Molineux has become increasingly hostile in recent weeks as the side have been struggling on the field, with the Wolves boss being on the receiving end of the majority of supporters’ criticisms.

A number of fans have resorted to booing tactical decisions and substitutions, while also chanting “you’re getting sacked in the morning,” – when 2-0 down during Saturday’s match with Swansea City – in the manager’s direction, a game that the Midlands outfit went on to draw 2-2.

Speaking to Wolves’ official website, Johnson has leapt to the defence of the former Republic of Ireland and Sunderland boss, saying that it is not the manager, but the players who need to improve.

“We don’t want to hear that at all, but you’ve got to look what happened – we brought two subs on and we drew 2-2,” said Johnson.

“So you tell me who’s right?”

“It’s not nice to hear. I wasn’t here a few years ago when the manager was doing better but I’m sure they were singing his praises then.”

“It’s not good when we go 2-0 down and we’ve lost five games in a row.”

“I’m a football fan myself and at times you do jump on the bandwagon and question decisions. But some of the shouts I heard on Saturday were below the belt. We don’t want to hear that and it’s not on.”

“The fans have got short memories – they can have a pop at me for saying it, but we don’t need that.”

“It’s not the manager; if you brought someone else in here, what’s going to change? The players will still be here, and so will the fans.”

“He’s a good manager and what he’s done for this club speaks for itself.”

“I know what football’s like and the first person people look to criticise is the manager. He’s by himself and you can’t sack a whole football team.”

“So I’m telling you now, the only people to blame right now are the players, not the manager.”

Johnson, a summer signing from Birmingham City, is confident that having halted a run of five straight defeats, Wolves have put in place the foundations for a run of improved form, but he feels that a more united atmosphere is needed around Molineux.

“We’d lost five games on the spin, confidence is low and we went 2-0 down again, so we thought we were heading for a sixth successive loss,” continued the 28-year-old.

“So we were pleased to have got a point out of it.”

“It’s very hostile – we were trying to keep the ball, playing from side to side and you’re being booed for it.”

“Yet that’s good enough for Chelsea and Man United, then they play the ball when they think it’s right.”