It says much about the progress of this defiant Wolves side that we came away from Villa Park feeling disappointed we didn’t take all three points.
Had it not been for a moment of slack defending, allowing a long punt down field to cause mayhem inside our penalty area, we probably would have secured a famous victory. After all, we’d dealt with pretty much everything else Villa threw at us, with Marcus Hahnemann never really having to exert himself.
Jody Craddock smashes home the equaliser
Still, a very useful point and in light of Burnley and Hull both falling to painful, last-gasp defeats, a good weekend all round. Those two sides both appear to be crumbling on and off the pitch where as Wolves just have the look of a side that are coming good at the most crucial point in the season.
Long may that continue.
Yesterday, every player contributed to a strong team performance, with David Jones perhaps most impressive. His close control and ability to pick out a killer pass in the final third is giving us a vital dimension to our attacking play and the former Derby midfielder is thriving more than anyone in this 4-5-1 system.
Kevin Doyle was right up there again too. Villa had only conceded ten goals at home prior to this match, but were ran ragged by Wolves record signing. He played a vital role in the build-up to both our goals, then gave us much needed respite when our backs were firmly planted against the wall in the second half.
View from the Away End
I doubt whether Mick will change it. He’s probably right not to.
In fact, I hope this starting eleven is preserved at all costs for the next eight games, as we attempt to navigate ourselves to safety. There’s a cohesion to the side at the moment, which we haven’t seen since the glorious opening games of last season, so rocking the boat now would probably be a costly mistake.
It’s quickly onto West Ham now, where avoiding defeat would surely be a wonderful achievement. That being said, I feel we’re in strong enough shape to win at Upton Park and not consider it a giant-killing. We are after all, above them in the table.
What the Papers Say
For Wolves, that there will be a tinge of disappointment that they did not take three points is a compliment to the way they went about their business.
Having been comprehensively outplayed as Villa made a flying start, Mick McCarthy’s team were well worth their point in the end.
APPEARANCES can be deceptive. A glance at this morning’s Premier League table will show Aston Villa still very much in contention for a place in next season’s Champions League but on the evidence of the full 90 minutes rather than just a sprightly start, they look no more a top four team than Wolverhampton Wanderers appear in danger of relegation.
Pompey winning was more important than us drawing. Excellent.
Great results all round yesterday. Disappointing that we had 2 offside goals awarded against us, however both were examples of shocking defending that has been our problem all season. Stephen Ward just left Carew all alone for the first and letting the ball bounce from Friedels punt is just criminal.
Other than that I thought we were good. Special praise for Big George, as I feared the worst when he came on, but I’m pleased to say he proved me wrong with a solid display.
All in all a great and unexpected point, now for the next installment of the claret and blue and hopefully the stats won’t read won one drawn one lost one for the trio of games!
UTW
UTW
Jed im not one to be picky but from the highlights the second goal was definitely on side or am i just seeing something else?
I wonder how different our league position would be if we could hold onto leads or even draws. Oh well, would have taken a point and i loved pompey for the last minute goal.
UTW
It was 2 pieces of bad defending. Unfotunately George got too deep for the 2nd goal. Either way – a magnificent point. How good was Zubar’s assist. BRILLIANT.
Gutted when the equaliser went in, but afterwards on reflection it was a great point. We’ve gone to White Hart Lane, Goodison and now Villa Park unbeaten. Can you imagine if we’d sorted our home form out? We could be challenging for Europe!
I’d stick with Berra over Mancienne, though he did look shaky at times, not to mention that push on Milner at the end!! Felt for sure the ref would give it. Criminal.
Jed, i think both Villa goals were onside. You can’t give offside for a stray foot, though i was claiming it at the time.
Oh and for a giggle, i found this http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=29qmrko&s=5
Good link Rich.
I can probably think of a few other good captions to go with it.
hahaha. Very good.
great performance and feel a little robbed that we didn’t get more! The offsides were so close it’s no wonder the ref/linesman didn’t call them though.
I feared the worst when the first Villa goal went in, as it looked like we could be in for a stuffing! If we can defend the likes of Young and Downing then we might just have enough.
With the goal difference how it is, we are as good as five points above relegation!
The West Ham game is going to be interesting – another draw would be a great result!
That’s right Stourbridge, but can we imagine the benefits of winning. We’d see clear daylight.
That would be amazing! We could dare to dream about staying up perhaps!
T’om… I’d blame the backwards running and header by Berra (why does he always do this?) for Villa’s second offside effort
It wasn’t offside – and perhaps you’re right. TBH I was perhaps a bit lazy with my analysis.
I didn’t realise how lucky we were not to concede a last gasp penalty when Berra threw Milner into the area. Lucky boy! Great result, and the Hull defeat just made it better.
If we could just sneak a win tomorrow night, it would bring West Ham, Wigan and Bolton all into the mix.
BTW: Anyone else not renewed their S/T? I didn’t, and I just know I’m going to end up getting one for next season, whether its the Premier or the Leccy League! (Or Pylon Prem)
It was a clear foul by Berra and in that sense it sounds silly to say this, but he would have been desperately unlucky to have been penalised.
There was no way Milner was getting there ahead of Hahnemann and defenders do that kind of thing all the time, running across the path of the attacker to block them off. Probably happens once a game, but more often than not goes unnoticed.
As you know Ben, I’ve renewed. It will be interesting to see the prices next season either way. I’d expect a freeze if we go down and a decent increase if we survive. I imagine neither will be greeted particularly well.
I didnt see the game, only the highlights.
What is damning as far as Ward is concerned is the only time he was on display in the few minutes I saw, he was no where near Carew for their first goal. He was more interested in making sure the corner flag didnt sneak up on him.
Can someone who saw the whole match please tell me why he was substituted. Please tell me he’s got twisted blood and is out for the season, his career, for ever!!!!
Apart from that, a brilliant result and hugely disappointed we came away with only a draw, yet before the game we would all have been happy for a point.
Still, we won the first half!!
Watch out Zola Budd and Wenger, we are coming, and aint afeard of no one…………….away from home.
I get to goof off work tomorrow coz the only Prem game on TV is us!!
We are DEFINITELY gonna win at the Ammers.
FOWB
Ward has struggled recently and he does look a weak link. Don’t believe we’ve got anyone better though.
Personally, I thought Berra was to blame for not picking up Carew for the first goal. He’s a serial ball watcher.
Yeah spot on CFH. I’d say Ward was at fault for the 2nd goal too as, though he was no longer on the field, he was obviously supposed to be marking the big Norwegian.
Berra and Ward are weak links. Can you imagine if someone had done the same thing to Doyle in the 90th min – we would all be moaning (and rightly so!)
I would still move Zubar in the middle with Craddock and foley back to right back.
Still lets not detract from a very good point earned against a quality team
Hi Stourbridge. I think Zubar is quite a way away from being a Barclays Premier League centre back. Having watched him a bit for Marseille last year – he is very error prone. This can be excused at right back, but at centre back he will give away goals and penalties.
I’d say by the 2nd half of next season he’ll be ready, until then, he’s good cover if Craddock/Berra get injured.
By the way, who is our 3rd choice centre back in everyone’s opinion?
The way Mick picks his team it could be SEB!
Mancienne probably, but I think he is too small for centre half personally.
I think it would have to be Zubar for me – he is prone to the odd gaff, but at least he is strong enough to cope!
I’ve always thought Stearman is a good centre back, much better than Mancienne, but he seems to have disappeared off the scene
Jesus – totally forgot about Stearman! He’s obviously had a falling out with Mick!
Put me down for him too! Especially as he has scored as many goals as SEB has managed this season!
Yeah, and he’s responsible for all the goals we’ve let in………….ever!!!!
No one has yet told me why he was taken off…..time of the month, maybe???
FOWB
I have renewed but that was always gonna happen.
Can anyone enlighten me as to alternative ways of spending a Saturday afternoon
Spearmint Rhino?
Good battling performance, disappointed in the defending for the last goal but very pleased with a point.
great instinct by zubar to knock it down for Jody though…
What is crazy, really crazy, is he did seem to know what he was doing. He was celebrating before the ball went over the line. Brilliant.
How come we get castigated from all corners of the Prem and beyond, and fined, for our team selection at Old Trafford, yet there is not a word said about Zola Budd and his team selection against Arsenal?
In this morning’s rag, it states no fewer than eight players are now back in contention for tonights match.
Who is this Hammers magical physio/doctor?
Can we borrow him for Kightly?
Is anyone in authority going to say anything about fielding weakened teams, or is it that they only watch games from OT?
What is the difference?
Oh, I forgot, West Ham are a London team, and therefore, like Man U, totally untouchable.
It’s gonna backfire tonight coz MM is firing up the troops by telling them we are thought of as an easy touch, so they will raise their game.
Not sure if this will have any noticible affect on players such as Keogh, Berra and Back off, though.
Still predicting a win for the Wufflers tonight.
FOWB