There’s character and belief in this Wolves side that we’ve not witnessed since the peak days of Nuno.
Having not looked like scoring in a month of Sundays as the game moved into stoppage time, they kept on going and found a way to win.
Where once there was only hope, now there is expectation that such feats are possible and that owes to this close-knit squad and a refreshingly straight-talking head coach.
I feared the worst when Spurs came out of the blocks fast, getting the goal and playing through and around us at will.
But as we moved towards the interval, the visitors were pushed back and boxed in. The pressure was building through constant Wolves attacks, and the former league leaders looked vulnerable.
In an infuriating nod to seasons gone by, only the final ball and composure in the final third were lacking.
But it was admirable how the lads kept driving, getting their reward at the exact moment you thought it wouldn’t be their day.
And when your best player is missing, it’s on others to step up. We just didn’t expect it to be Pablo Sarabia!
The technique he showed to dispatch the equaliser and then set-up Lemina for the winner was the clinical touch we’d been missing.
It would have been easy for the former PSG man to down tools after barely featuring under O’Neil, so it says a lot about the Spaniard’s character that he delivered in such fashion.
As for Mario, he’s fast becoming the heartbeat of this team. The lad’s a Duracell bunny in midfield – either breaking up play or laying the ball off for others to express themselves. The amount of work the Gabon international gets through is astonishing and the goals are just the cherry on top.
The final word has to go to our head coach.
O’Neil picked us up off the floor on the eve of the season and has united a fanbase, who now hang on his every word, especially after results and moments like these.
Onwards and upwards.
Great win, Gomes was excellent too.
A well deserved victory. After the early minutes we were the better team throughout. Had our perennial failure to score when excellent chances presented themselves been overcome, the margin of victory would have properly reflected our superiority.
Congrats to GON for his team selection and tactics –the introduction of Gomez gave much added extra steel to our midfield in support of the magnificent Lemino.
But perhaps the most important feature of the day was the magnificent team spirit which prevailed throughout the game. Heads never dropped, there being total belief in our combined ability to get a result.
This is why we love this game, I was screaming at TV for early subs, what a finish, there is a player in Paula, the TV was bouncing, wife thought world war 3 had started, God bless u all, where’s that whisky, let’s all have a disco, let’s all go mental, wolves aie we!
I’m not sure who Paula is or who the player is but our win was certainly cause for celebration.
Great words Paddy ! And spot on
What I loved about this game besides the magnificent goal for the equaliser and the fabulous winner by a future legend was that there was no VAR involved in the entire game
Maybe the powers to be were told to pull the plug out today as the persecution was getting too obvious… who knows ?
Nevertheless … no Var involved… Remember how good the game can be without its involvement? Well it was like that !
Get rid of it !
Oh …and I think we’ve struck gold with Gary o neil
Out of darkness cometh light “as they say in a very special part of England
I thought it was a very well refereed game, which might be the most unlikely of all the things that happened today.
Quite right on the refereeing, London. I said at the end what a good game I thought the ref had had.
He was sensible from the beginning (shown when he had a word with Hwang and the Spurs player after their early tangle), was happy for 50/50 challenges to be made and really let the game flow.
The result? An entertaining game with plenty of drama without the artificial drama of poor officiating decisions and VAR! Long may it continue.
…oh, and the team in gold weren’t too bad either
Nice summary from Paddy but maybe a little understated. He quite rightly alludes to our ongoing shortcomings which almost continued to haunt us.
BUT
In 64 years supporting Wolves I have witnessed some astonishing games at Molineux and elsewhere so 0n the 92 minute mark it was just another of those bad days at the office and a familiar story of great till we get to the final third. And then out of nowhere came one of the greatest finishes I have ever seen – by anyone, anywhere not just by one of our own. And what happened a few minutes later wasn’t shoddy either.
Well done today one and all, a fully deserved case of snatching a deserved victory from the jaws of defeat not least down to Gary’s inspired substitutions. To borrow a Blues anthem a perfect demonstration of what can happen if you “Keep right on to the End of the Road”.
Still too much Jeckyll and Hyde but improve our firepower in January and the world could become our oyster again, because it’s becoming increasingly clear this squad has a lot of talent and plenty of character with a manager who is turning out to be refreshingly different. We just need a real striker. Inspiration in the recruitment team backed by Jeff could put Nuno’s show right back on the road under Gary O’Neil. Whatever it costs find the final piece of the jigsaw and who knows how far this might go. Fabio seems to prefer European football – what about a Mendes coordinated exchange deal? Come on get creative!
Have to say I’ve even surprised myself by this volley of positivity but absolutely brilliant today.
And not a refereeing controversy in sight. Perhaps that also had it’s effect so let’s see plenty more of that too,
‘Volley of positivity’. Nice one
Well said PJB. I agree with you.
You’re right Paddy, we haven’t seen this character and belief since the peak days of Nuno. And all instilled by an actual rookie coach in the form of Gary. Very unusually Gary started at the top, in the PL, with none of the lowly stuff that normally happens, like coaching Swindon or something. And his coaching career in the PL is virtually just a season and a bit. Remarkable. Is there a precedent for this? Has any decent former player ever achieved this much as a coach?
The Sarabia goal is likely a strong contender for goal of the month. And what an assist for the winner. Could well have been 3-1 or 4-1 today.
Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic!
What a goal from Pablo! And to snatch a win in the last six minutes, when it looked like all that hard work was almost for nothing.
Mario deserved his man of the match award too.
Well done to everyone… a fully deserved win!
Nice to see Pedro have a word at half time… get fit soon!
COYW
Absolutely Fabulous!
Pass the brandy…
The lack of sloppy defending in the box was noticeable. Credit to GON?
Dreams are for free.
DSW
I think I’ll carry on giving negative predictions as I think it works didn’t think we’d come out with a point let alone 3 ,times are a changing
Also well done the ref
Spurs were decimated to be fair
That’s a little like my feelings at the moment, Pos. I was ill for both the Man City game and the Spurs and couldn’t travel across from Suffolk for the games. It’s somewhat of a dilemma, but not being of a superstitious nature I’ll not let the results affect my attendance ; I think… ?
It was nice to see a properly refereed game whether by design or accident.
Media coverage in the week leading up to this match was nauseating in the extreme.
Typically, half an hour about spurs followed by “Oh and Wolves will be without Neto”. As if we are just a one-man team.
Plus, I never heard a single prediction that gave us more than a point.
On that showing, if there’s a better all round midfielder than Mario Lemina, I’d like to see him.
He has an engine on him like a Supermarine Spitfire, he’s almost impossible to knock off the ball, he has the same awareness as Ruben Neves, when he receives a pass, to look up and find a player in old gold, he defends like a lion, sorry I mean a wolf.
He can also score goals.
A great, gutsy performance by a team who seem to have found in Gary O’Neill, a coach who can instil the spirit of Nuno into a pack of players who were deemed not good enough by our previous highly rated manager.
And plaudits to Pablo Sarabia for two pieces of magic that made this afternoon at Molineux a truly ‘I was there’ occasion that I’ll never forget.
You’ve got to treasure days like these.
LMFAO.
Cheers Paddy.
From the ridiculous to the sublime. You really couldn’t make this shit up. If you did no one would believe you.
What a goal from Sarabia, I got the impression we’d written him off, however that was reminiscent of vintage Jota / Jiminez.
The never say die attitude, Gazzbo’s pure joy repeated round the Mol. What a finish. Tis a time of miracles after all.
1 lv & COYW
Pablo Sarabia, we need to get rid, as many have said. Looks a pretty good part of our squad to me.
Where is cheese burger?
LOL
Well done to GON , his staff and the team. We were the better team and the goals at the death rewarded a great effort. Sarabia had the best cameo I can remember for many years from any Wolves player! On Cheese’s PPG formula, we may well be tracking as “safe” by Xmas, which will be massively ahead of where I thought we would be.
A quick word on Sarabia. When he was coming on, I said to my son something along the lines of, ‘shows how paper thin our squad is if we are having to use him’, urm……. The guy who sits in front of me got quite feisty with me when he scored and assisted which I guess is far enough. I was absolutely delighted to be proved wrong as you can imagine, but the point I made to him was that Sarabias quality has never been in doubt, it’s his effort level. I reckon he did more chasing and harrying and showed more urgency in that 10mins as he had in 6 months. Not sure if that is a GON thing or he was just proving a point, frankly I don’t really care, but if he can maintain a work ethic that anywhere near matches his ability, we’ve a viable and quality player on our hands and in the squad which is EXACTLY what we need given limitations in the attacking third.
Super post Paddy.
I’m not sure what makes me happier.
The win against the team who were top a week ago?
The pure emotion, the joy and obvious togetherness between the coaches and the players.
The intelligence and discipline to form tactics, communicate them, get the team’s buy-in, and go out there and do it. Relentlessly.
A decent referee and no VAR, penalties or red cards.
It’s the intent and intensity to stick to the plan and believe. Time and again we pressed, drove forward in numbers and created opportunities.
Goals are coming; 17 attempts yesterday. Just need a little more composure.
We miss Neto. If he stays fit, he could and will be one of the league’s stand out performers of the season.
BUT ……
What makes me happier is seeing a coach who not only understands the game and how to adapt to each opponent, but he also appears to be able to get the best from his players. They play for him. They believe in him.
And he’s young. He will only get better.
We could have hit the jackpot with Gary O’Neil.
The future looks bright.
UTW
After the worst possible start, and much huffing and puffing throughout the game, our heroes showed in the end the pure grit we needed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The manner and timing of the goals only served to make the victory taste all the sweeter.
Pablo’s strike was as good as you’ll see. Mario’s winner just reward for his oft delivered tireless performance. The perfect result to lift the team as they head into the break and you have to say, seeing the fixture list before a ball was kicked, who of us wouldn’t have taken 11th place and looking up.
Big congratulations to GON and Matt Hobbs who had the foresight to appoint him in the first place.
Of all the signings we made last January, I was most excited by Pablo Sarabia.
He posted elite goal/assist figures at Sporting, PSG and Spain and seemed like the antidote to our pathetic attacking efforts. Wolves aren’t PSG but I figured even in a worst-case scenario, the numbers practically guaranteed he’d chip in with a few.
He scored a decent goal at Fulham and demonstrated an eye for a pass in the 3-0 win over Liverpool, but otherwise looked weak and off the pace in the Lopetegui era.
I so badly wanted him to hit the ground running this season, but up until yesterday, it was more of the same in the Premier League (he played well against Blackpool in the cup), failing to deliver much of anything with or without the ball. He stunk the place out when he came on at Bournemouth a few weeks ago and after that, I made peace with the fact it wasn’t going to work. Maybe the Premier League just doesn’t suit his game?
He might remain on the periphery and ultimately leave in the coming windows, but whatever happens from this point, whenever his name is mentioned, people will say ‘Remember when he won us that game against Spurs?’.
His magical goal and assist will be Molineux folklore for decades to come.
The technical ability required to collect that Cunha pass on the run and then direct the volley beyond Vicario is considerable. Then to even see that pass to Lemina at the death, let alone execute it, is on another level – a tantalising glimpse of the top-class quality he holds in reserve.
Finding the right position for him in the team is a challenge and I struggle to see where he fits in the starting XI in the current shape, particularly when Pedro is fit again, but this was a timely reminder that he’s a very handy player to have in the squad and deployed correctly, can have a matchwinning impact.
Well done Pablo.
The sheer artistry of the man. That goal rivalled the all-time great Ruben Neves goal against Derby.
Pablo Sarabia? I’m calling him Pablo Picasso from now on.
After 12 games in the Premier League, we have scored 4 more goals than Man Utd. Just think, without VAR, we would actually be above them in the table. Onwards and Upwards
Apart from the result .. which obviously matters most .. was the anonymity of VAR …
Not a “checking for a possible foul” or offside .. whatever .. and how did this go such a long long way to getting back to what we love .. entertainment and totally getting behind the team ..
Fair play to Tim Robinson for a well officiated game , the BBC for showing us first up on MOTD and Jermaine Jenas for correcting Lineacre when he suggested Wolves ‘just about’ deserved to win .. overturned by J.J who forthrightly said no … we definitely deserved to win …
Out of Darkness..
Got to admit Twix. When the Mario goal went in my first thought was ‘oh fuck’ VAR. I could see the lads celebrating down by the corner flag. I was watching the Ref to see if he had got VAR in his ear. Which takes away the spontaneity of it all. Luckily they all went back to the centre circle. Relief. But massive win. The lads obviously are playing for Gaz. Sarabia has given Gaz something to think about. We have a decent squad with decent players. Ange summed it up by talking about Wolves being a tough side and a Molineux a tough place to go. The Nuno factor is back with us! Well done Gaz. Well done Wolves. Lets make Molineux a fortress once again. FWAW.
You and I both Cheesey … I just paused my delight thinking .. “it’ll get chalked off” …
Makes a change ..!!
I thought it was one of those days. The longer it went on I was wondering where our goal was coming from. Then Sarabia with a Brazilian style piece of magic and goal out of nowhere. And Super Mario pops up with a fitting end to his MOTM display. Strange old game football. Robbed in the 97th minute at Sheff Utd and winner in the 97th minute v Spurs. Looking at the table. Imagine VAR getting those 4 decisions right we are now sitting in 6th place on 21 points. And quick update on ppg. Currently none of the bottom 3 will get above 19 points by game 38. So 20 points is our first aim. Then just accumulate as many as possible after that !
COD
If our recruitment people can get their act together and sign a goalscorer in Jan. we should be looking upwards rather than merely avoiding relegation, though agreed the safety line has to be the priority after the turmoil of last summer. And Neto’s hamstring might be a blessing in disguise as he won’t now be goimg anywhere in the winter window.
2024 starting to look promising in WV1.
Dump Guedes at a loss and do a swap deal with Fabio to finance a striker if needs be. Would also like to see a proper back up GK of PL standard, Should have kept Sarkic.
Absolutely PJB. I am more excitednow than at any time since the Nuno revolution. Caution on the January 24 window as restrictions still apply. Lets hope some shrewd business is done. Summer 24 window the brakes are off. I expect another infusion of cash from Fosun.
Lemina ruined my charge up the prediction league but I suppose I’ll forgive him.
Great to read all the positive comments which I endorse entirely. There will be issues to look at , just because we won and it feels great doesn’t mean we can’t learn, improve and move forwards.
Why did we start so slowly and allow Spurs to move us around so easily?
Why did we waste every single corner by hitting the first defender?
As Spurs’ high line had been identified in the national media why didn’t more players run past the line of defenders ( like Sarabia and Lemina did to score goals)?
Final pass and decision making in the final third needs some work.
I stress, this was a great three points and the atmosphere at the end was brilliant, we’ve got our Wolves back.
Your reservations are well founded BG. Think we.ve all been consistent in well justified praise for yesterday but still,plenty of potential improvement before we even think about personnel changes in Jan.
The string of squandered corners throughout was particularly infuriating and the slow start was so bad it looked as some had come straight from the pub to the dressing room.
But don’t let’s be too picky, we won and to quote Del Boy Trotter – “Let’s face it we’ve had worse days.”
And to be positive about the negatives – still leaves Gary with plenty to work on before next time.
We still need a top class number 9 BG
Dear Eds,
Thanks for restoring the thumb of approval / disapproval.
BTW will be watching the Addicts most recent bid for national humiliation on TV Wednesday night. A first round FA cup replay against Cray Valley Papermills. Not as good as Cray Valley Paperclips apparently.
1 lv & COYW
Really gutted that I miss out on my first prediction points of the season at 1-1, dam that Mario fella for sticking his boot out in the final seconds and sending all those SPUD MORONS home unhappy, and as for Pablo and his flick and volley we don’t want anymore of that ,put me off my SPURS CRUMBLE that I order for supper ,
didn’t go to waste as the old dog enjoy it.
If you look at the current premier league table you can see that from postion 9 to postion 20 are all home games to come at Molineux in the final two thirds of the season. Just shows how difficult our home games have been so far. Liverpool. Man City. Brighton. Villa. Newcastle. Spurs. Six of the top 8. To take 8 points from those games is a good achievement. So looking forward potential for a good return of points from these games to come. Just win 6 of those and we are on 33 points and the way it’s looking with the bottom three virtually safe !
……..and just to add some bitterness….. whilst Wolves have played 5 of the top 7 at home… Villa (and their much vaunted home record) have played 0 of the top 7 at home. Not that i’m bitter or anything. Not at all. Honest.
Nice writing Paddy
Given the 430 am start here I maintained media blackout and watched my recording at 8am
By 950 am my neighbors heard screaming
Delirious screaming
It’s the Light everyone … and it’s Coming
This squad, with a fit Neto , is fully capable of 7th or 8 th place and my bet is that GON is plotting just that this season.Why not?
Just how good can Bellegarde be?
Add Ansu Fati and a younger Dawson and who knows?
I am still grinning .
Totally elated after that performance. It was clear for all to see that those players
were playing for each other , the coach , and us.
We are now 8th in the current Form Premier League.
One small point but for me, an irritating one. The harking back references made to Nuno grate on me. He was a fine coach for Wolves and dragged us out of mediocrity.
He will for ever be revered at Wolves, quite rightly. We loved him, but his era has passed.
However, Gary O’Neill is his own man . He is unique. He is his own man.
He is a breath of fresh air and his tv appearances demonstrate this admirably, along of course with Wolves performances.
Whatever good happens this season is down to O’Neill and no one else. He will get the best out of the resources at his disposal through his tactics and the way he treats his staff. This is no less than we have a right to expect.
Also, with regard to the media, the fawning over the top clubs and the anxious hand wringing over their terrible misfortunes facing lesser teams in pre and post match make me smile. These big clubs have massive resources yet the darkest of predictions and commentaries are expounded. Having to reorganise a team
for whatever reason is a weak excuse. These players play with each other every day in training. and should understand what is expected.
So, if the media want to continue focussing on the elite teams let them.
I want Wolves to go under the radar and surprise the media .
If we carry on as we are doing, come the Spring, coverage might be different.
Walkers’ MOTD bloke must have choked on his crisps after seeing Wolves on first this Saturday. Perhaps the reason for that was to highlight Spurs problems.
I agree 100% about Gary and I have been saying the same ever since he was appointed. And yes, whatever good that happens this season will be down to Gary. I disagree though about ‘harking back’ to Nuno. That doesn’t irritate me. Yes, to beat the then table-toppers, Man City and Spurs, brought back comparisons with Nuno at his best, but that is not harking back. In fact I think it’s a compliment to Gary that he has been so quickly aligned with Nuno in our reverence and affections. The sudden departure of Nuno rankled with me and became a festering sore. I was mollified by the appointment of Lopetegui, on the basis that he was Fosun’s original choice , but that appointment was sadly aborted. For Gary to come in and fully make up for those two lost ‘messiahs’ is nothing short of amazing. And I cannot praise Gary highly enough that he has started his coaching career at the very top, in the Premier League. Call me old fashioned, but Gary has me harking back to Stan Cullis…
didn’t realise that Craig Dawson is suspended for the Fulham game .
That’s a bit of a shit
So Everton deducted 10 points for breach of FFP. Jeff/Fosun fully vindicated for their necessary action in summer 2023.
Let’s start looking at Man City and Chelski for their punishment..
Yeah .. as if ..
the more this rolls out the more corrupt it gets ..
BBC Sport Have Your Say is on fire, 4000+ comments already.
Wolves being complimented for anticipating sanctions and taking action to prevent them.
Everton criticised for speculating and breaking rules as a consequence
Chelsea fans “sweating like Lampard outside a cakeshop”
Man City fans hiding from the proverbial s**t storm.
Re Everton 10 point hijack.
This whole affair stinks.
I have no great feelings either way towards Everton, but they are of a similar nature to ourselves and other “mid table” PL clubs.
FFP is just a cover for looking after the “the Big 6/7” with the Saudi Tyneside Royals now included and in any normal business environment would represent “restraint of trade”. Placing limitations on any commercial organization from spending their own money is morally and probably legally wrong – “sustainability” is an EPL smokescreen. Don’t have any problem with points deductions for Administrations which is fine but managing their own affairs etc. should be up to the clubs and their backers and bankers not Masters & co.
This again now has the potential to blow apart the fabric of English football and guess what could emerge – the makings of a European Super League.
Good luck to you Everton who seem to have emerged by default.as the standard bearers for “the best of the rest”
I have always largely dismissed the conspiracy theory allegations but looking back to our treatment when we were snapping at the heels of the cartel and decisions we we have had to endure since I really now have serious reservations.
And all this before we start on VAR etc.
Don’t take it lying down Everton and let’s just watch to see what happens with MCFC and Chelsea. And of course the Ruben Neves proposed “loan” to the Saudi Tyneside Royals.
I would say that football in the EPL currently has about as much credibility and integrity as professional wrestling.
Good post PJB …
I’ve been puzzled for quite sone time now over the time it’s taking to assess Man City’s clear 115 point breaches of FFP.
Maybe there’s some doubt as to whether it’s more or Jess than 100 infringements… yeah of course .. what tosh …
No .. I’m convinced the PL powers are hoping it gets forgotten or missed amongst the media hysteria about Everton.
Chelsea too .. and talk of relegation for both teams is sure to create panic in the PL hierarchy.
This whole thing really does highlight just how biased the whole chabang is .. and then there’s the thought of relegated clubs suing Everton .. goodness knows who’ll be suing who if the two big boys get slapped ..
I think M’Lud, the powers that be would say regarding Citeh that they want to assess all the alleged breaches before handing down a suitable punishment. With so many breaches, this could take forever.
Citeh, of course, will have employed some very expensive lawyers who are only interested in obfuscation rather than facing the music. Consequently, I fear we may never see the punishment they so richly deserve.
Now, if it were us…….
Plus vite que Mme Gillotine ..
Everton deducted 10 points Wolves already deducted 6 points thanks to VAR. Dear Howard. Can we have those points back please ?