Brendan ‘Kingy’ King is almost beside himself with joy at Wolves win over Man U.
Wolves turned out to be giant, giant, giant, giant killers — once again, again, again, again!
Not only have Wolves beaten Liverpool at Anfield this season, but, at Molineux, they’ve also beaten Manchester City, Chelsea and now, the mighty Manchester United, who fielded their strongest team available!
And, on this momentous occasion, Wolves didn’t merely hang on to an early goal for a 1-0 victory, as with Man City, but they had to come back from an early goal scored by the ever nagging Nanni, who slipped past a hapless George Elokobi, not once but twice, before unleashing an unstoppable shot through Hennesey’s near post.
However, as in the classic Roy of the Rovers sagas, it was the irrepressible George himself who equalised 20 or so minutes later (his first Premiership goal and first for Wolves) with a superb long range header from a cross by Matt Jarvis (who else?). This followed a quickly taken Jarvo short corner and which caught the whole of the United defence completely cold.
And, unbelievably, Wolves scored a second set-piecer just before half time as Doyle (or was it Elokobi?) bundled a header in, following a savagely lashed in free kick from the lethal left foot of Nenad Milijas.
So Wolves went in at half time leading 2-1 and the near 30,000 spectators pinching themselves in disbelief!
Wolves fans were praying for a boring goalless second half as the final 45 minutes (50 as it turned out) got under way. These prayers were partly rewarded, as neither side was able to score again — but it was far from boring!
Inevitably, Rooney, Berbatov, Giggs, Scholes and the nagging Nanni attacked ceaselessly — but the Wolves defence held up magnificently, with Elokobi redeeming his early error tenfold and Stearman and Berra blocking everything that came towards Hennessey’s goal area.
The stadium was packed to capacity on every side, but the Wolves fans didn’t generate an endless chorus of noise and chants. For several minutes at a time, tense silences descended upon Molineux, such was the drama of the many situations that unravelled on the sticky, recently relaid, turf.
But, other times, the chants were full of levity, with strains of “We support our local club” and “We live just around the corner” emanating from all sides.
The roars of celebration that greeted the final whistle, however, must have echoed all the way to Manchester itself, as the Wolves fans stayed to applaud the individual players as they walked the touchline paying tribute to their fans.
Who was man of the match out of this heroic Wolves band of golden clad warriors? I’d like to give it to the magnificent front man, Kevin Doyle, who harried and buffeted the Man U defenders ceasely (Vidic in particular). He tormented the champions to such an extent that even Ryan Giggs was reduced to whipping Doyler’s feet from under him as he waltzed around with the ball in contemptuous fashion towards the end of the 95 minutes.
Even worse was to come for Deadly Doyle as the sub, Chris Smalling, punched him heavily in the nose with his elbow, as Kev’ buffeted him in a challenge that reminded me of the Steve Bull tackling forward play of old.
Doyler had to be carried and pushed back on the field, hardly conscious, to assist the last few minutes of defending the priceless 2-1 lead.
But to give the magnificent Kevin Doyle man of the match would be grossly unfair on goalscorer and final tamer of Nanni, George Elokobi; or the lightning attacking full back, Ronald Zubar; or the the skilful playmaker, who’s now developed a rugged defensive style as well, Nenad Milijas and every other Wolves player and slayer of the mighty Manchester United.
They were all men of the match and were the real “united” team last Saturday evening.
Now Wolves have to get results at Arsenal next Saturday and against West Brom on the Sunday after, to raise themselves, phoenix fashion, out of the relegation zone and towards Premiership safety for next season.
Wolves, also, have to learn how to beat those teams around themselves as well as those well above! Easier said than done — but — Come on you Wolves!
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