Wolves:2 U's:1
I may have suggested in this blog in the past that the Magic of the Cup™ is in fact a load of bollocks. However, I can now confirm that it does exist. There were magical moments aplenty on Saturday, notably the sight of a convoy of 20-odd coaches negotiating the mean streets of Wolverhampton, and ticker-tape welcome that accompanied the players entrance onto the pitch. Unfortunately the magic ran out about three minutes from the end of the match.
There was also nothing magical about the particular coach we travelled on, which broke down en route to the match meaning we had an unexpected 45 minute stop at Brampton Hut services. It was coach number 13, so I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.
Nevertheless, we made it to Molineux intact and on time. The stadium itself isn’t as big as I imagined, but nevertheless it is a proper ground in a proper location (ie in the town centre not in the middle of nowhere by a motorway). The match hadn’t particularly captured the imagination of the Wolves public, with the fans that filled the whole of the lower tier of the Steve Bull Stand and a bit of the stand behind the goal making up almost a third of the 15,000 strong crowd.
When the teams came out it seemed like every midfielder ever associated with United had been included in the team line up. I was half expecting to see the gold-toothed grin of Terry Fleming, the blonde mullet of Justin W*lk*r, or the gangly legs of Kingsley Mbome emerge from the Molineux tunnel. In the event JQ had settled for just the six, with Gleeson, Brown, Carden, and Reed sitting in front of the back three, and Wolleaston and Convery supporting loan front man Rendell.
Our great plan was obviously to frustrate Wolves, but this almost came unstuck inside the first couple of minutes when Albrighton had to charge down a goalbound shot from Jay Bothroyd. Going forward we were looking to get the ball down and pass more than we have in recent games, with Convery in particular revelling in the kind space he is not usually afforded by the kick-and-rush merchants of the BSP.
The ex-York midfielder had a header cleared off the line following a good cross from Stephen Reed, and also drew a save from Wayne Hennessey after latching onto a Rendell back heel. Wolves applied more and more pressure as the half progressed, although they were mostly restricted to long range efforts that Potter fielded comfortably. The home side were being given a helping hand by referee Mr Friend, who seemed happy to give free kicks out to anyone prepared to throw themselves to the ground. From one such set piece, won in dubious fashion by Michael Gray, Darren Ward got a header in which forced Potter into a marvellous leaping save.
But when a goal did come, it was at the end. The lively Convery latched onto a poor clearance from the lumbering Neill Collins, and looped in a cross which the aforementioned defender blocked with his arm, penalty! It looked liked a soft decision, but as the Wolves players protested and the amber nation held its breath, Scott Rendell kept his cool, shooting into the roof of the net as Hennessey helpfully dived out of the way. Cue delirium in the Steve Bull Stand, and a 4,000 strong bounce, the like of which Wolverhampton probably hasn’t seen since, er, West Brom’s last visit.
Wolves could’ve equalised before half time, but the inspirational Albrighton somehow managed to get his knee to Stephen Ward’s goalbound effort and clear it to safety.
It was obvious that it was going to be a long second half, and sure enough United were under the cosh for much of it. The only break out of note came from Rob Wolleaston, who muscled his way past a couple of players on the left flank, but put his cross just too close to Hennessey, who snatched it ahead of the onrushing Rendell.
Once more Wolves weren’t doing a lot with their possession, and it is easy to see why they have struggled in the Championship of late. When they did get near the goal, Reed was on hand to clear Jarvis’ cross/shot off the line.
But Mick McCarthy had an ace up his sleeve in the form of Michael Kightly. The ex-Grays winger entered the field to rapturous applause from the nervous home crowd, and immediately displayed the kind of pace and skill that have seen him take to Championship football like a chavvy little duck to water. He got the equaliser on 69 minutes, nipping in ahead of Reed and Morrison to convert Jarvis’ cross.
United looked like they were running on empty now, and Potter stood up well to block Bothroyd’s shot when the striker looked set to make it 2-1. The same player was booked for an awful penalty-seeking dive moments later, and United looked set to hold on for a replay until the killer blow came in the 87th minute. Kightly brought a free kick from Gleeson, and sent over a fantastic cross which Collins glanced past Potter.
JQ threw on LFW and Boylan, but it was too late for either of the experienced strikers to have any impact, and we were left to reflect on what might have been.
You certainly couldn’t fault any of the players for effort, and it was pleasing to see us trying to play football rather than always taking the direct approach. Hopefully we can see off the villagers this weekend and then get back to the competition that really matters - the league.
Man of the Match: Mark Convery – Probably the most disappointing of all our summer signings enjoyed by far his best game for the club, displaying plenty of decent passing and movement throughout. Now he has to prove he is capable of reproducing this kind of form in less salubrious surroundings.
There was also nothing magical about the particular coach we travelled on, which broke down en route to the match meaning we had an unexpected 45 minute stop at Brampton Hut services. It was coach number 13, so I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.
Nevertheless, we made it to Molineux intact and on time. The stadium itself isn’t as big as I imagined, but nevertheless it is a proper ground in a proper location (ie in the town centre not in the middle of nowhere by a motorway). The match hadn’t particularly captured the imagination of the Wolves public, with the fans that filled the whole of the lower tier of the Steve Bull Stand and a bit of the stand behind the goal making up almost a third of the 15,000 strong crowd.
When the teams came out it seemed like every midfielder ever associated with United had been included in the team line up. I was half expecting to see the gold-toothed grin of Terry Fleming, the blonde mullet of Justin W*lk*r, or the gangly legs of Kingsley Mbome emerge from the Molineux tunnel. In the event JQ had settled for just the six, with Gleeson, Brown, Carden, and Reed sitting in front of the back three, and Wolleaston and Convery supporting loan front man Rendell.
Our great plan was obviously to frustrate Wolves, but this almost came unstuck inside the first couple of minutes when Albrighton had to charge down a goalbound shot from Jay Bothroyd. Going forward we were looking to get the ball down and pass more than we have in recent games, with Convery in particular revelling in the kind space he is not usually afforded by the kick-and-rush merchants of the BSP.
The ex-York midfielder had a header cleared off the line following a good cross from Stephen Reed, and also drew a save from Wayne Hennessey after latching onto a Rendell back heel. Wolves applied more and more pressure as the half progressed, although they were mostly restricted to long range efforts that Potter fielded comfortably. The home side were being given a helping hand by referee Mr Friend, who seemed happy to give free kicks out to anyone prepared to throw themselves to the ground. From one such set piece, won in dubious fashion by Michael Gray, Darren Ward got a header in which forced Potter into a marvellous leaping save.
But when a goal did come, it was at the end. The lively Convery latched onto a poor clearance from the lumbering Neill Collins, and looped in a cross which the aforementioned defender blocked with his arm, penalty! It looked liked a soft decision, but as the Wolves players protested and the amber nation held its breath, Scott Rendell kept his cool, shooting into the roof of the net as Hennessey helpfully dived out of the way. Cue delirium in the Steve Bull Stand, and a 4,000 strong bounce, the like of which Wolverhampton probably hasn’t seen since, er, West Brom’s last visit.
Wolves could’ve equalised before half time, but the inspirational Albrighton somehow managed to get his knee to Stephen Ward’s goalbound effort and clear it to safety.
It was obvious that it was going to be a long second half, and sure enough United were under the cosh for much of it. The only break out of note came from Rob Wolleaston, who muscled his way past a couple of players on the left flank, but put his cross just too close to Hennessey, who snatched it ahead of the onrushing Rendell.
Once more Wolves weren’t doing a lot with their possession, and it is easy to see why they have struggled in the Championship of late. When they did get near the goal, Reed was on hand to clear Jarvis’ cross/shot off the line.
But Mick McCarthy had an ace up his sleeve in the form of Michael Kightly. The ex-Grays winger entered the field to rapturous applause from the nervous home crowd, and immediately displayed the kind of pace and skill that have seen him take to Championship football like a chavvy little duck to water. He got the equaliser on 69 minutes, nipping in ahead of Reed and Morrison to convert Jarvis’ cross.
United looked like they were running on empty now, and Potter stood up well to block Bothroyd’s shot when the striker looked set to make it 2-1. The same player was booked for an awful penalty-seeking dive moments later, and United looked set to hold on for a replay until the killer blow came in the 87th minute. Kightly brought a free kick from Gleeson, and sent over a fantastic cross which Collins glanced past Potter.
JQ threw on LFW and Boylan, but it was too late for either of the experienced strikers to have any impact, and we were left to reflect on what might have been.
You certainly couldn’t fault any of the players for effort, and it was pleasing to see us trying to play football rather than always taking the direct approach. Hopefully we can see off the villagers this weekend and then get back to the competition that really matters - the league.
Man of the Match: Mark Convery – Probably the most disappointing of all our summer signings enjoyed by far his best game for the club, displaying plenty of decent passing and movement throughout. Now he has to prove he is capable of reproducing this kind of form in less salubrious surroundings.
Moron(s) of the Match: The handful of people behind the goal who wanted to pick a fight with anything that moved. Just go away, we don’t need people like you associated with this club.
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