Kenny Jackett called it a tale of two corners.
One from Blues that his side couldn’t clear and one for Wolves that resulted in the talented Demarai Gray robbing Scott Golbourne to score the winning goal.
That’s probably a tad unfair on a Birmingham side who out maneuvered Wolves for much of this cagey West Midlands derby.
Much like the game at Molineux earlier in the season, Gary Rowett came up with a strategy that saw the opposition’s supply line cut off at source.
In short, Kevin McDonald wasn’t able to influence the game meaning our front three didn’t see enough of the ball in the right areas.
And however good our star trio might be, if you don’t give them the service, they can’t win you the game.
That said, Nouha Dicko gave it a good go with the opening goal, bursting through several challenges to give Benik Afobe a tap in.
And you sense had Wolves been able to cling onto that lead long enough to draw Birmingham out, the gaps might have started appearing.
But then came the corners.
Rob Kiernan’s equaliser was both avoidable and unfortunate after Batth cleared off the line only for McDonald to smash his clearance against the onrushing Blues defender.
The second was simply a mistake from Scott Golbourne, who did superbly to get his body in front of Gray, but then surrendered the ball to give the young winger a free run on goal.
However poor the overall team performance was, you simply can’t legislate for such fatal individual errors.
Worryingly for Kenny Jackett, Wolves are making them habitual of late, perhaps explaining the head coach’s shorter than usual post match summary.
You can easily understand his frustration.
Gutted.
But we can still make the playoffs
Can you imagine making these types of errors and putting on this type of performance in the EPL? We’ll get mauled like a gazelle in the jaws of a lion. I’m not worried about making the playoffs, and would love to see us go up. I’m worried about what happens after. We’re not ready. And if we don’t go up we’ll lose key players. That’s the conundrum!
Gutted to lose is bad enough but it’s the manner of the defeat that’s worrying sloppyness in defence has replaced confidence and assurity and it couldn’t have happened at a worst time Boro away and them…………I can just about say his name McCarthys in town next week rubbing his hands at the prospect of rubbing our noses in it with ex Wolves players Berra and Hunt no dout upping there game 200 per cent something they new did in a Gold shirt.
McCarthy the best self published since Cloughie will say all the right things no grudge to bear enjoyed his time blar blar blar but what McCarthy never enjoyed was us the fans having an option on his work he was right we were wrong we should just shut up and be gratefully for his presence alone he always thought as the fans as dum inferior and a pain totally the opersite to Kenny who aproiates our backing knowing it can and has drove the team on.
This sum up McCarthy I was watching the game were we we presented with championship trophy the fans were on the pitch celebrating one fan went up to McCarthy to congratulate him and got all angry with him in front of the cameras he didn’t even have the good grace to just let the fan shake his hand or hug him, no always aware of his ego and a chance for some self publicity he had to make an issue of it…….Wanker complete Wanker.
Whilst I respect anyones right to an opinion I am ashamed at the number of likes this comment has received. Whether you like it or not McCarthy delivered, on a shoestring budget, promotion and several years of premiership football for Wolves. Famous wins over Man City, Man Utd, Chelsea, Tottenham, Villa etc etc. It may be a while before we see a Wolves team out play and out fight the likes of these in the EPL again. Some poor signings and a loss of direction saw the wheels come off, but it was a great ride while it lasted. I am now thankful for the work Kenny has done and have enjoyed some stunning performances in the last 2 seasons and this one is not yet finished. I have my Middlesborough ticket for tomorrow full of hope the lads can pull it off before Saturday, but I still remember with appreciation what McCarthy did at Wolves and so should you Paul. UTW
I beg to differ.
I don’t think it was a great ride.
The first season under McCarthy was going down the toilet fast, until he suddenly changed things around somehow, and we survived with a few games left.
The second season in the Prem under McCarthy saw him begin, and continue throughout, with the same tactics as from the start of the previous season, NOT his changed tactics which kept us up.
This resulted in that nail biting final match where we joyously celebrated a home loss to Blackburn, surviving literally by the skin of our teeth.
The third season we all know was a fiasco, and we never looked like avoiding relegation.
My problem with McCarthy, and you will note I have been polite and not referred to him as I usually do as McDickwadhead, is twofold.
First, I am convinced he bottled it, and any respect from me was out the window, when he fielded our reserves at Old Trafford, at a time when United were themselves going through a rough patch, when a more positive approach could have seen us victorious.
My other big bone of contention was his sheer arrogance, especially towards us fans.
That I will never forgive.
No one is bigger than the club, except he thought he was.
Irrespective of where we finish this season, and irrespective of the result against Ipswich, I hope that twat gets the disrespectful welcome his big headedness warrants when he steps onto the hallowed turf of OUR Molineux.
Football can divide opinions and i respect yours (even though I differ) but what we must not do is write McCarthy’s pre-match team talk and put extra pressure on our own team. As Bill Shankly famously said, ‘chuck um some toffee’ before the game. We need to applaud McCarthy’s contribution, praise him to the hilt over and over……then play him off the park and when the final whistle is blown let Kenny shake his hand with a polite smile and a glint in his eye. That is how you win at football. Not by slagging people off with profanities before the game that just plays into the hands of the opposition.
couldn’t agree more with Northern Wolf McCarthy loved Wolves and the fans from the inside out, he said in an interview three years ago “Great club, great people and I’ve no axe to grind with anyone. Are you telling me you didn’t enjoy the years in the premier league under McCarthy where we beat Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham all in the same year and can i remind it was Stephen Hunt who scored that famous goal to keep us up in the league. 5 MILLION well spent because it kept us up in the most expensive league in the world where we earned nearly 40 million in tv money for the year after.
McCarthy is a TOP LAD
And where did it go?
Another year in the premier league
Then a double relegation over paid average players not bothered, yeah thanks Mick.
Perhaps my choice of words at the end were a little on the strong side but as the for the rest of my Blogg I stand by it, as Clive said McCarthy thought he was above criticism espeailly from the fans he was arrogant aloof and abrasive when ever we the fans dear to question him.
And as for his 3 years in charge, the last one espeailly was a fiasco , even Morgan questioned his ability, what’s was it he’d say to Morgan when he wanted to sign a player ” he do a job for us” no wonder Morgan stopped the signing re: the lad from Hull who never kicked a ball in anger.
McCarthys a relic a dinosaur and a self publisted and I know what yor going to say, and yes he might get Ipswich promoted but here’s the thing, he won’t keep them there longer than he did Wolves because he’s a one trick pony.
Defining lost points and time will tell how defining…
Dicko s stregnth unbelievable to assist our first goal..the Alamo again for their first ..Golbourne showing how left footed he is gifting their second..
We can play so well with great individual performances but we just cant seem to do the biz in this league when it’s deadly serious time.
And it’s more serious now..
It looks to me it’s us, Brentford or Derby..Ipswich the outsider …even the Millwall game at home assuming a win could be negated by Brentfords last game against Wigan at home too..
So..it’s down to Boro Ipshit and Wigan to put us in the Play offs or not give or take the others slipping up..
Our goal difference is significant..
I’ve said here that destiny is the phrase this season perhaps we need some luck too…
We can still do this as we know but what a way of having to do it..
COYW
We “can” still make the playoffs… However not entirely in our own control now… We have rely on Derby and Brentford dropping a bollock aswell as beating Ipshit.
Whatever happens… What a season it’s turned out to be! … Still hopeful of making the top 6 though!
It was just like a Phil Tufnell attempt at a catch.
In our hands for a split second.
OOOPS! Out again and spilled on the floor.
A poor performance on the pitch and a less than impressive one on the touchline.
I think Kenny missed a trick in not bringing Edwards on.
We desperately needed some enthusiasm and get-up-and-go.
Let’s hope our playoff chances haven’t got up and gone.
When Tufnell was fielding at Sydney Cricket Ground, a wag from The Hill shouted to him:-
“Hey Tuffers, can we borrow your brain, we’re building an idiot”.
Yesterday we were lacking in ideas.
Let’s hope we prove to be a bit more intelligent next week.
“I think Kenny missed a trick . . . . . . ”
I think you are right.
A goal down and half and hour to go and we didn’t change it and the score didn’t change. Really felt we had to try something different with time running out. We were losing anyway and had 3 strikers on the bench . . . . . . . who could give something a little different.
When McD is man marked the option of having Evans next to him is a useful one but he doesn’t even make the bench these days.
It’s all uphill now.
I hope yesterdays match was just a blip,but by all accounts the blouses deserved it.
Don’t know what it is but every time we have a chance to kick on we don’t do it.
We have the forwards to do the business but I fear our midfield are not up to the job.
I just fear that’s our weakness in achieving our goal our midfield are not good enough.
Let hope come Tuesday night we will get back to winning ways.UTW.
If we beat Boro then we can certainly beat Ipshit..Wigan and Millwall goes without saying..
In theory..
I know this is an unpopular thing to say , but if you look back over my posts I ve always said it , with goldbourne in the side we concede goals. We look better going forward but we concede goals . Now we ve got to find a way to keep Bamford quite and take 3 points from boro . Because boro are a one man show . Without Bamford on the ball they re shit . We can still do this , some else is going to slip up .
Oh and fuck off Davis . You were not good enough for wolves .
We weren’t going to win all of the games so I think we just have to put this behind us and start another winning streak.
Slightly different tone in the comments from the post-Leeds blog! What a difference a week makes. From being in our hands with a winnable game ahead, we’re reliant on others with, I reckon, a marginally harder run-in. But then again, anyone can beat anyone in this league so that may be meaningless. Also slightly surprised that Dangerous Dave wasn’t brought on. Boro will be tough, tense and really important now.
Let’s be positive about this defeat.
I’m positive that we have the top Goal scorer in All competitions BA
I’m positive The Brummies were better than us on the day.
I’m positive that SuperMac was right off his game, too many misplaced passes
I’m positive Golbourne Should have passed it back to Ikeme
I’m positve that throughout this game I never once thought we’de win.
I’m positve The best chance of a win was taken off “James Henry”
I’m positive Edwards should have come on
I’m positive our 4000 fans were truly amazing.
I’m trying to remain Positive and will be there Tuesday
I’m positive I must be feckin mad, but I Love the Gold & Black.
Your’s positively StuWolf
Best, most imaginative post so far!! Positive about that.
I am positive I will see you tomorrow.
Fed up but hey we are still in there and gave as good a chance of anyone for the play offs. Things don’t change much a Blues. The walk back to new street was ‘interesting’ and a throw back to the 70’s/80’s. Found a pub round back of Digbeth police station. Full of blues but no bother. Stopped in there for a pint whilst it was all going off by dubliner. Bad result but boro is a chance to go again. I reckon 7 points will do it.
Just goes to prove that statistics don’t prove anything. The season is by no means over, adds some pressure for a result on Tuesday but I’m confident that they’ll give it their all.
Breakfast at Mia Bella.
One mimosa cost $ 3.00
A pitcher cost $ 12.00
A pitcher contains 6 mimosas, so guess who had the pitcher, and is consequently drunk?
The only good thing is that mimosas are gold colored.
I don’t care about being drunk, its not the first time, and I don’t care that we lost, again, its not the first time.
What I will care about is the response on Tuesday, and more importantly, next weekend against that twat and his tractors.
6 points from this coming week and the shit eating grin will be firmly back in place.
Anything less and I hear some fat bitch clearing her throat.
Nice result from sandwell, tho.
Disappointing to say the least. We were never going to win all the remaining games but this was the last one we would have wanted to lose. It makes the Ipswich game massive now but I suppose it always was. Reality has come back to haunt us with a bump but the race is far from over and 4 from the next six will make the world seem a brighter place again.
Anyway, I quite like the championship. 🙁
You’re absolutely right Wolfstroker that we weren’t go to win all the games thro to the end of the season.
Maybe in some ways Blues away was a bigger ask than Middlesbrough on Tues. After all Rowett did his homework feel in the first game and it looks like he copied the profile to good effect yesterday.
HOWEVER … we did beat the Boro at the Mol with a shrewd tactical performance and there’s no reason why we can’t repeat it! For sure a win on Tues will send a shock wave through the Tractor boys this coming Sat.
Football is often about fine margins … let’s go …… oh oh it’s magic …..
That’s what I like Twix, positive thinking. I’m disappointed, yes, but not despondent.
That’s exactly what I was trying to say only more concisely …
We always seem to find these derby games against Blues tough, its an intimidating place St Andrews. Fabrini for them ran the midfield, and was given far too much space.
Our response was summed up by McDonald’s shot wide at the end, it just didn’t go for us yesterday. Blues pressured us and gave no player space to run at them and cause danger.
Maybe like Watford loaning out Fabrini, we should have kept Jacobs at Blackpool so he couldv’e scored an equaliser against Ipswich.
But we’re still in there challenging & it was always going to be a bumpy rather than a smooth ride. Be interesting to see our response at Middlesboro’. Needless to say a win would revive the spirits to last weeks easter high.
Amazing as it was to experience Edward’s header on Monday, it did stop both manager and fans from really addressing the error strewn performance. We all hoped it was just a blip, but it wasn’t – unfortunate issues relating to corners perhaps, but Birmingham were all over us like a rash. Don’t think the small pitch really helped our preferred style of play and somehow it felt like it was not going to be a good afternoon. the 4000 supporters tried their best but couldn’t lift the team – lot of people sat down towards the end rubbing their brows!
What we saw on Saturday was not a play-off winning team and definitely not a team who would survive in the EPL. Got to miss Boro, too far to go – lets hope its not a step to far for the team.
We were leggy and tired and needed fresh legs for this one… A competitive Local Derby which was never going to be easy
That’s Kenny’s mistake..
We never really turned up and got going and one thing it wasn’t was Magic…
Ipswich and Brentford will both win Tuesday against inferior teams which means if we don’t beat Boro our season is over…
Blues of all the clubs to wreck our dream…
Championship again next year..
How many players will we lose and the rebuilding Process starts again…
I have to lay the blame at Morgan and Moxey …
We won promotion last April and Everyone knew we needed another Striker..
It took until January of this year to get him..
Too little too late..
I think that this squad has actually overperformed. To be real promotion contenders I felt we needed strengthening in at least 3 positions at the end of last season. Afobe has been a brilliant aquisition but we needed him in August / September. That would have meant an extra few points in the bag now. The transfer windows rolled by as usual. If we don’t go up I too feel we will lose players and I am dreading the rebuilding process. I’m not happy unless we are in the Prem – we may never be able to compete with the likes of Man U and Chelsea but at least we’ll be playing them and hoping to pull off a shock.
Do I want us the the EPL a big yes, do I want to see us loosing every week a big NO. That’s the dilemma we are all in. The players getting beaten week after week just get down and heavy hearted and lose interest, it’s not their fault it’s just human nature.
M & M have set their stall out over the last few seasons and it seems that buying players is not in their remit. So how are we as a club supposed to compete? We can’t keep them coming from the academy it’s just not feasible. Anyone who can answer that should apply for the next vacant managers job, seriously.
Yes, I agree. If there had been realistic investment in the summer or even later in the year we might be looking at automatic promotion now.
As Corporal Jones would have said, ‘Don’t panic !’ It was unrealistic to expect the team to keep winning ad infinitum, tho’ a point would have been nice on Saturday. A tough couple of games coming up but neither Ipswich nor Brentford’s matches look easy tomorrow. I guess we’ll still be checking other scores come 2 o’clock on May 2nd.
When you’re in the promotion mix, there ain’t no easy games. For any of us.
Being positive, I’d rather take points off Boro and Ipswich anyway.
Unfortunately on the negative side, I can’t see Ipswich, Derby or Brentford failing to get 3 points tomorrow night which makes the result against Boro pretty darn important to our chances of getting back into the playoffs.
We beat them back in October, we can do it again.
UTW!
By and large, we’ve been lodged around 7th/8th this season. Notwithstanding the winning runs we’ve had and the euphoria after Leeds, that feels about right. Despite the real quality in the squad, not least in the youngsters who have delighted us this season, the unexpected defeats and dismal periods like November suggest ‘not quite ready yet’. And like others, if it’s this league again next season, I wonder what will the ‘rebuilding’ process will bring? Kenny has shown he can do that successfully, but always fighting against the lack of investment. He’s shown that he can buy wisely so the M&Ms should trust him more. Swansea seem a model of judicious investment.
But that’s not to say we can’t do it, because the team also has immense capacity to spring wonderful surprises and score goals. And who’s to say that Brentford, Derby or Ipswich won’t get the yips in the run-in? So tomorrow evening is definitely SB time, but where there’s (abundant!) life…….
UTW.
Cracking post Peakwolf…
We may have had a bad result Saturday but I’ve just been to the Molineux and tickets for Wigan away are selling like cip final tickets.
They’ve ask Jenny & I to be Stewards as they have11 Coaches going so far and tickets don’t go on General sale until Wednesday morning. So if anyone’s intending travelling get on online / on the phone fast on Wednesday 9am. Looks like another Wolves away sellout with 4600 fans, best since MK Dons.
Well come on Wolves we’re doing our bit.
COMB’s
Sorry, make that 4500 tickets.
Fat Fingers
🙂
Well Stu, you’ll be sort of correct… 4,500 tickets for the travelling Wolves … and “at least” 100 extra fans in with the Wigan fans.