The Soccer Blog: Flop on the Tyne for Wolves

Sunday, 3 April 2011

Flop on the Tyne for Wolves

By: DJ | April 2nd, 2011
Tweet

ameobi goal I said in my preview to this game that a defeat wouldn’t spell the end of the world and the fact that Wolves remain only 4 points off 12th emphasises that point but of course any defeat at this stage of the season is damaging and to lose 4-1 to an unexceptional Newcastle team has to be a big disappointment. Wolves were second best for the vast majority of the game and deserved to lose even though at 3-0 down they suddenly completely dominated the game and could have produced an unlikely comeback.

As had been announced well before the game there was just the one change for Wolves with Ebanks Blake replacing the injured Doyle and as has been the case in all the away games he has played we saw O’Hara play deep.

Referee Mike Dean set the tone for his display with two unnecessary bookings early on for Elokobi and Milijas and then there were appeals for a penalty as Elokobi charged into Lovenkrands resulting in a clash of heads but the ref gave nothing. But Newcastle were ahead midway through the half as a flick on by Ameobi saw Nolan run through a static defence to score.

Wolves were trying to play the same style as when Doyle in playing but SEB is a very different player and it just wasn’t working. No criticism of SEB there who was having a decent game but he cannot do the link up play as well as Doyle and the ball just kept coming back at Wolves. McCarthy recognised this and withdrew Milijas after 30 minutes to bring Fletcher on to partner SEB up front. And there was almost a quick benefit as SEB got through on the right of the area but his effort was blocked.

Ameobi had been pushing and diving all afternoon and he finally went in the book for leading with his arm against Berra. Then two minutes before the break came the most controversial moment of the game as Hamill broke clear and was through on goal but Nolan deliberately tripped him from behind but was awarded only a yellow card.

The game was settled in a 5 minute spell either side of half time. Good work by Gutierrez set Lovenkrands away on the left and his cross was headed in by Ameobi. Hneessey made a good save at the start of the second half from Barton and then Lovenkrands hit the post from a tight angle. But it was Lovenkrands who netted the third from a Barton cross.

McCarthy decided to reintroduce Michael Kightly and he got a huge reception from the travelling fans when he came on although Hamill was unlucky to be the man replaced. But by now Wolves were suddenly completely dominating the game and it was no surprise when they pulled one back when SEB turned in Jarvis’s cross. And an unlikely comeback was foiled when an O’Hara free kick picked out Fletcher far post who hit the outside of the post when he should have scored. And then an Elokobi header was cleared off the line. Newcastle gave themselves a flattering scoreline when Gutierrez added an injury time fourth.

Defensively Wolves were not as good as in recent games with Berra and Stearman ruffled by Ameobi and Gutierrez causing plenty of problems on the left. O’Hara again failed to shine from this deeper role but Hamill, Jarvis and later Kightly all looked threatening. SEB took his goal well but the main positive for me was the second half showing of Fletcher who showed excellent control and he was a real handful for the Geordie’s defence.

Home games against Everton and Fulham to come now for Wolves and points are needed from those with at least one win. No surprise if it’s 4-4-2 from the beginning in those games. It was a nice sunny day for a lunch time drink by the Tyne but that apart this is a day Wolves will need to forget and try to continue their excellent home record through April and May.

Category: Team News

Tags: Team News
Tweet « Geordies next in Wolves survival battle | Home | Comments | Add your comment Nick | April 2nd, 2011 at 4:37 pm

You are the anti football. best thing you could do is get rid of mccarthy. Persistant fouling will see u relegated.

DJ | April 2nd, 2011 at 4:47 pm

Today’s match stats. Yellow Cards – Newcastle 5 Wolves 3. Fouls conceded – Newcastle 18 Wolves 10.

Lozzie | April 2nd, 2011 at 4:54 pm

Would you like to watch the football first and match of the day highlights and then re-write your article?! Definate bookings from Wolves players on Barton, definite penalty on lovenkrands, definite yellow for Nolan, not a yellow for Ameobi and numerous other ridiculous decisions from the ref! Wolves are a dirty team and deserve to go down. (except for O’hara, like him).

DJ | April 2nd, 2011 at 5:07 pm

If poor disciplinary records are your measure of who should go down then you should be careful what you wish for. Wolves have the 8th best disciplinary record in the Premier League this season. The three teams that would be relegated based on poor discipline would be Arsenal, Man City and NEWCASTLE.

Friendlybadger | April 2nd, 2011 at 8:50 pm

Mike Dean showed incredible leniency to Wolves today I thought. The constant holding and shoving endured by Ameobi should rightly have been punished with myriad free kicks. Wolves, for the second time against Newcastle this season, played a very cynical game, and though admittedly 4-1 flattered Newcastle, Wolves deserved the scoreline for the manner in which they acquitted themselves

DJ | April 3rd, 2011 at 3:02 am

I know Newcastle fans got excited about the Match of the Dat feature about the tackles that Barton was on the receiving end of at Molineux but the reality is Newcastle conceded more free kicks and had more bookings than Wolves on Saturday and that has been the case throughout the season.

Leave a ReplyIf you have not commented here before, please take a moment to peruse our
Commenting Guidelines. -->

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website

Harry Redknapp, England manager? (Awful writing) Is It Too Early to Get Excited About Sturridge? Denmark 1 - 2 England (Via Hamlet) more news...

Search The Offside

Archives

Select Archive Month April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 May 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008

EuropeEngland: PremiershipEngland: ChampionshipEngland: League One England: League Two FranceGermanyGreeceHollandItalyPolandPortugalRussiaScotlandSpainTurkeyAfricaEgyptTunisiaAustraliaSouth AmericaArgentinaBrazilColombia North AmericaMexicoMLSNPSLUSLWomen's SoccerCup CompetitionsChampions LeagueEuropa LeagueCopa LibertadoresCopa SudamericanaPlayersDidier DrogbaLionel MessiMesut OzilArjen RobbenCristiano RonaldoLigue 1 ProspectsSoccer Betting | World Cup 2010
Plan Your Soccer Travels | Soccer TicketsClose X

Home

World

Europe

English Premier League

Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.

StoreTravelScores

England: PremiershipEngland: ChampionshipEngland: League OneEngland: League TwoEngland: ConferenceFranceGermanyGreeceHollandItaly PolandPortugalRomaniaRussiaScotlandSpainTurkeyUkraineChampions League | Europa LeagueClose X

The Soccer Blog

Pages

Sunday, 3 April 2011

Flop on the Tyne for Wolves

No comments:

Post a Comment