The Soccer Blog: A point on the road for Wolves

Monday, 2 May 2011

A point on the road for Wolves

By: DJ | May 1st, 2011
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10630410 Wolves secured the point that they would have probably settled for before the game but maybe this was a game where three points were there for the taking. Blues were reduced to ten men for the last hour of the game and were clearly happy to settle for a point from that time onwards and were able to do so with Wolves dominating play but not creating openings.

McCarthy decided to leave Berra out of his starting line up as he reverted to the 4-4-2 formation against a Birmingham team similarly set up;

Hennessey

Stearman, Craddock, Mancienne, Elokobi

Foley, Henry, O’Hara, Jarvis

Ward, Fletcher

Wolves made a bright start and in their first attack Foley and Ward both had shots blocked before O’Hara shot wide. But within 7 minutes Wolves were ahead. Foster’s kick clear was miscued and went straight to Jarvis and he took a couple of strides forward before playing a through ball to Ward who was felled by the keeper. Fletcher calmly placed his penalty into the corner of the net.

In a fractious first half O’Hara and Gardner were booked after squaring up to each other. Wolves were giving away some unnecessary free kicks in dangerous areas and from one Larsson smacked a shot against the bar. But as the game settled down Wolves were looking comfortable in their lead but typically of their season they gifted Blues an equaliser. A long kick upfield saw Mancienne head the ball into the path of Larsson who steered the ball past Hennessey. Shortly afterwards Blues were down to ten men as Gardner received a 2nd yellow card for diving.

Stearman picked up an injury in the first half and didn’t appear for the second half. Foley went to rigth back and Hamill came on to the right wing. Wolves dominated the 2nd half as Blues wasted time and were clearly happy to settle for a point. But the best chance they created was when Jarvis dispossed Beausejour but then hurried his shot when he had more time than he realised. Hunt for Jarvis and Vokes for Ward were further changes as Wolves pushed for the winner but apart from a couple of goalmouth scrambles they were held up by the Blues back line.

So with just 3 games to go Wolves lie in 19th place just one point away from the vital 17th slot. It is looking increasingly likely that 39 points will be the survival target and Blues looked happy to get to that point today. With their win on Saturday, Blackburn got to within one point of there but they are by no means certain to get the final point they need with trips to West Ham and Wolves to come and a home game to Man Utd. Blackpool’s last two away games are at Spurs and Man Utd so even if they win their last home game against Bolton they look like getting 38 max. While West Ham will need to win two of their last three and draw the other to get to 39 but with home games against Blackburn and Sunderland and a trip to Wigan that isn’t impossible. While Wigan need to get 4 points from trips to Villa and Stoke and the home game to West Ham. The key fixtures there will be next weekend’s West Ham v Blackburn then the following week Wigan v West Ham.

So Wolves look likely to need 5 points from the last 3 games at home to Albion, away at Sunderland and home to Blackburn. That would likely put them above Blackpool and also West Ham unless they get 7 points from their last 3 games. If they did get 7 then that means they would have beaten Blackburn and/or Wigan which would restrict their totals. Sunderland have no strikers fit and will not have for the rest of the season so there is at least one point on offer there and a home draw at least against Albion is needed. Then it’s a final day cup final against Blackburn for survival.

Wolves were better today. They played with more fight and with more cohesion. Craddock did well as did Mancienne except for one crucial error. Hunt and Hamill looked lively when they came on and Stephen Ward made a good fist of his striker role. But Fletcher was again Wolves best player and he is at last looking more like a £6.5m man. It’s going to be mighty tight but if they can just win one of the next two games it will all be alright in the end.

Category: Team News

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Monday, 2 May 2011

A point on the road for Wolves

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