Another brilliant game of football at Molineux on Sunday!
Could this pulsating 3-3 draw outdo the recent wins over Manchester United and Blackpool? I wouldn’t have believed it could as the game kicked off, after a moving tribute to the much admired (by both sets of fans) Dean Richards, our past defender, who’s just died aged 36. DEANO-oo!
This was the sort of game you see rarely today. Both teams attacking down either wing – raid after raid, cross upon cross, shot upon shot on goal too numerous to count. No wonder the pundits on BBC and Sky were raving about this match as the game of the month, far out-entertaining the other Sunday game between Liverpool and Man Utd.
Wolves fans had much to be delighted with and quite a lot to be angry about as well. One delight was that the superbly skilled and hard-working Kevin Doyle was rewarded by two rare goals so very richly deserved. His goal tally has crept to a still modest five in the league. I hope Kev doubles this before the season ends.
‘Doyler the toiler’ scored first with a glancing header from a deft cross by Nenad Milijas. The second was a penalty, following a foul by Hutton on the vastly improved Milijas, for which the Spurs defender should have been red carded, but wasn’t and was one good reason for Wolves fans’ annoyance with Mark Halsey the referee.
But, in between these excellent goals were two world class strikes from an on fire Defoe who unfortunately decided to break a long barren streak at Molineux. Defoe took advantage of a Wolves defence that kept backing off his constant advances, instead of daring to tackle, with the obvious consequence of him striking two spectacular shots from outside the goal area, past the hapless Wayne Hennessey, making it 2-1 to Spurs midway through the first half. A penalty for Wolves came at the end of the first period, fired in well by Kevin Doyle making it 2-2 at the break.
The attacking spirit of both teams increased rather than quelled during the second half, so that every time either team attacked it looked as though a goal would result. It was exciting stuff as this brilliant battle wore on and the spectacle contained everything a good game should and shouldn’t have.
There were great strikes on goal, great saves and crass errors from both keepers (Gomez in particular). Shots were hitting the goal stanchions on a regular basis, a last minute point winning goal from a late Wolves substitute occurred and, naturally, there were controversial poor refereeing decisions that particularly angered the home crowd.
One decision that did Spurs a great favour and robbed Wolves of the three points they richly deserved, was the disallowing of a goal headed in by Richard Stearman near the end, following a fair challenge on a fumbling, grappling, Gomez, who fouled Stears while letting in the goal. The decision, that Stears had fouled Gomez (not the other way as was the case) angered the home supporters to unrestrained fury — out of their seats and venting oaths at the hapless Halsey.
The late sub who scored was Stephen Fletcher, a centre forward who hasn’t had a look in recently (or hardly ever since he arrived at Wolves at the start of the season). His well taken looped headed goal in the 86th minute saved the day for all at the ground — except for those fans from north London. Well done Fletch — we love you and want to see more of you!
Despite the, no doubt, reflected upon contentedness that many a fair minded fan may have felt about a well battled out draw in an entertaining high scoring contest, the result did little to allow either team to gain the ground that they sought from the game. Wolves (amazingly) remain in the drop zone and the excellent Spurs remain outside of top four place they so wantonly desire.
Of course, Wolves’ man of the match was Kevin Doyle, who constantly won the ball and passed it to comrades for 94 minutes and scoring two to boot, without seeming to take breath.
The most improved Wolves player this season, Nenad Milijas, was great support to the lone front man and our two brilliant wingers Jarvis and Hamill appeared everywhere where it hurts (up front) with shots on goal, hitting the woodwork and drawing excellent saves from Gomez. In the past the burly Serb has been mostly anonymous — showing his superb left footed passing skills only in flashes, but on Sunday he was on the ball almost as much a Doyle — defending and creating as the mainstay of Wolves excellent midfield attack.
Nenad was replaced, last match, by O’Hara who was ineligible against his parent club on this occasion. Both must be accommodated in centre midfield for the next match somehow. I would have said drop the more negative Carl Henry, but he had his best game for Wolves on Sunday, passing the ball forward far more readily than in the past, whereby he’s always opted for sideways or backward moves.
Considering that all of the current Wolves squad, those who start and who make the bench, are playing in the form of their lives and have been hugely entertaining for several home matches now, it’s beyond belief that Wolves are still in the bottom three. This shows just how good the current teams are outside of the top six or so big spenders in the current Premier League. We can moan about the finances and structure of the Premier League with some justification, but the superb fair being offered up at Molineux this season cannot be denied. It’s the best I’ve seen in 30 years.
It’s a month now until another home match at Molineux, what with the FA cup quarter finals next week and the following two Premier Leauge matches against Villa and Newcastle being away fixtures. With little prospect of getting a disabled supporter ticket for the Villa, how’s a poor old Black Country footie fan going to hold out until well into April to see a live game during the season?
The organisation of fixtures in woeful. So, until April 9th and the arrival of Everton I’ll just have to: