Whatever happens in the final round of fixtures, one thing is certain.
Wolves are the best team in this group.
Sure, Braga are a resilient, competent outfit as showcased by a gutsy second-half comeback tonight.
But when Wolves turned it on, the gulf in class was immediately evident.
All three goals were a thing of beauty, in particular, the Doherty header from a sumptuous Jimenez pass to turn the game on its head.
Then Traore roaring through and finishing in the manner you always hope he will. That one felt the knockout blow.
Much like Sunday, we should have been over the hills and far away before even the prospect of a comeback was possible.
It was training ground stuff once their fortuitous opener had been cancelled out and Wolves had marched into the ascendency.
Even after the interval when you expected Braga to burst out the blocks, it was the away side piling forward and looking the more likely.
Had Jota’s header not been turned away following more Traore magic – that would have been that.
The game drifted for a 15-minute spell though and the disappointment is that Braga didn’t really have to do much to get back on level terms.
With the front three all sacrificed at this point, the prospect of a winner was fanciful, but credit to the lads who came on, in particular Neto who looked very sharp and probably should have been given a penalty.
I still believe we’ll win the group if we can grind out the win against Besiktas, but if we don’t so what?
We’re through already – another milestone for this wonderful team – and have nothing to fear in the knockout stages.
We’ll take anyone on and on current form, nobody will want to play Wolves.
Cup half empty: we tied a game after we were in complete control.
Cup half full: we’ve gone from the championship to the knockout rounds of Europe in two years.
It’s thanksgiving here in the States. I’ll opt for the latter.
I actually have a pet peeve about saying “we” when referring to a team I’m not on (or live in the city). This squad has changed me!!
We were the better side this match will us the world of good first half goals brilliant jota was unlucky great save by the keeper but true to the knockout stages with a match in hand first time back in Europe very proud to be a Wolverhampton wanderers fan
We were the better team true to knock out stages brilliant
Raul Jiminez MUST be the best striker anywhere at this time. His all round game is just magnificent. Great vision. A huge amount of ball skills. Genuine pace. And the ability to put the ball in the net with great regularity
To put this in perspective, Raul`s scoring rate is now at the Steve Bull level — but he is doing it week in and week out in the Premiership and Europe, and not in the lower leagues. The best part is that he seems to be getting even better !! And he plays for us.
It may have felt like a defeat after our complete, earlier dominance, but to dictate in such a fluent manner In filthy conditions on a very poor pitch made us proud to be Wolves fans. Great coverage on BT, 12th man were unbelievable the more so against the background of the reported abuse from opposing ‘fans’ and the local police. Hope you’re all safe tonight.
Yes, we should have beaten Villa by three or four goals.
Yes, we should have beaten Bournemouth by three or four goals.
Yes, we should have beaten Braga by three or four goals.
But what a position to be in.
A couple of seasons ago we were scraping points against the likes of Nochance United.
I think that we are coming of age this season – but this Sunday will be one of our biggest tests so far.
CAN’T WAIT!
Are you travelling up for the Sunday match? I am travelling down.
Happy, very much, with our first half performance, but a tad miffed that we let them back in it.
Still, qualifed for the next phase, before playing our final match is so pleasing.
Yes mate, we’ll be there.
Wouldn’t miss it for all the tea in China.
Hang on a bit, there is no ‘t’ in China.
See you in the cafe around 11 ish?
Great comments from the Messiah after the game. Speaking of how proud he was to have his team backed by 6000 fans. He said this is what makes him ‘really really happy’. I think we can put the Arsenal speculation to bed. Europa league last 32 draw is Monday 16 December at 12 noon. Roll on Sunday.
Hearing bad shit from relatives in Porto about behavior of Wolves fans.
This is an update I have seen
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/10439115/wolves-fans-belgian-hooligans-violence-europa-league-porto/amp/
That’s what I had heard as well. I’m guessing people in Porto aren’t distinguishing. They saw foreign soccer fans acting up and Wolves fans probably made up the biggest group – so, they drew the conclusion that it was wolves fans.
That said. My relatives are unequivocal that Wolves fans were starting fights and breaking stuff
I think they’re confused
We are here lou, 3 sets of fans here in Porto, Leipzig, Standard Liege and Wolves.
Wolves fans were not looking for trouble, just looking for Lager.
Standard Liege fans kicked off all round the city, Porto fans were defending the Wolves lads. An unsavoury incident on the train from Porto to Braga, Wolves fan glassed another Wolves fan, apart from that light hearted and jovial considering the 8 hours non stop rain.
Good to hear. I’ll clear things up with the good folks of Porto.
A remarkable experience to add to all the others these past 2.5 seasons with the terrible weather ,the ridiculous need to collect tickets here ,the huge police presence ,the unique stadium and an incredible game .These are the days my friends .Lap them up while we can .
I think those Portuguese will have trouble with a rainy November day in Braga.
I was thinking we can’t win every game so maybe a tie in this one will allow us to go on a winning streak again starting this Sunday.
Just got into the hotel in Porto from Braga.
Will give some feedback tomorrow about the game but my first thought was to condemn the utter chaos caused by the riot police before the game. Arrived at ground at 5:30…. got into stadium at 6:20.
I’ve seen riot police hit females to get the crowd in order and to funnel us through about 3 barriers 2ft wide…… disgrace… even Lady Twix was pushed out of the way with a baton.
Never once did I show my ticket…. they were taking brollies, bags anything they felt appropriate off you….. utterly disgusting and I for one will make a complaint to wolves and uefa…..
Never saw any trouble around the stadium by wolves fans … friction was totally caused by the heavy handed approach of the police…..
Eleven games in Europe, so far.
Nine wins
One draw
One loss
Unbeaten away from home.
Oh, and fifth in the Prem and unbeaten for eight.
Pray tell me how Arsenal fared tonight?
No wonder the gooners are crying out for a new manager, but they aint getting ours.
We all would have been extremely happy before the game with a point, to qualify with a game in hand.
It will be like a week off when we play the Turks.
Don’t care that we didn’t win, the point was all that was required, and that is what the record books will show.
Bring on Sheffield, we ay skeered!!
Quoted by UEFA-
Wolves allocation 2000,
tickets restricted for Wolves fans,
Passport checks /photo ID at ground
body searches,
ticket collections to be made with photo ID,
strict police presence.
Great ground.
20 minute walk from stadium.
FACT-
6000 + Wolves fans.
Tickets readily available on-line.
No Passport checks.
No Ticket checks. (Mine was too wet)
No ID checks at ground.
Police heavy handed for no apparent reason.
Worst ground in UEFA tournament so far.
Over an hour from city to ground, down hill for about half a mile.
Oh what a night though, absolute deafening noise in the first half, great to be part of the dream.
Another great experience !!
Weird watching on Spanish channel…lots of “Wolverhampton”
and an almost empty ground?
Splendid goals … but my goodness how many times did the team cough up possession ? This trait needs eliminating pronto I mean big time
So lovely to watch Gunners and United throw up afterwards
We have Nothing to fear but … this team Could and should be so much better…
Really looking forward to Boly’s return
OODCL
Not sure how much better a team can possibly be, Marin. 🙂
A positive result in that we have qualified with a game to spare. We showed class and some individual players really shone. Not being negative here, but anyone else wonder why Traore was subbed by Vinagre? (Forward Right by a Left Wing Back) and then Neto replaced Jimmy. I bet that would not have please Cutrone to see two others ahead of him in the forward line. Still we are there and that’s all that matters.
Police hear stories of trouble in Porto involving English fans and completely over react. Love Portugal but in parts they are third world.
Cannot over emphasise the affect that pitch had. So much extra effort to make a pass reach intended target. So much extra effort to retain possession when receiving an underhit pass. So much extra effort to keep running through treacle.
For the first time this season we tired badly at the end. Nuno will need a miracle to get a result on Sunday.
But what a first half performance. Raul and Traore sold as a package are now worth 500 million and rising.
Nuno “very interested” in Arsenal position according to BBC live blog. We need to be very careful with his replacement if he does go, to make sure this whole thing doesn’t unwind.
Yeah just like Jeremy corbin is going to save the nhs and give us all costa coffees money !!
Or Boris Johnson will die in a ditch rather than stay in the E.U. after the 31st Oct, or will lie in front of the bulldozers if they try to expland heathrow?
Exactly !!!! its all a load of cobblers !!
Nuno…if you read this.
Wolves top fan: Robert Plant
Arsenal top fan: Piers Morgan
For the team to play like they did in the first half in a monsoon was extraordinary. Three fabulous goals followed their jammy dodger and we were cruising. I’m not sure why it all went wrong but for sure, a pitch reminiscent of the Baseball Ground in its heyday didn’t help us.
Either way, we’re through the group stage and the dream continues. The benefits of winning the group are there for us to grasp as Slovan away will not be easy for our Portuguese rivals. But first place or second I care not a whit as our forward momentum seems to be gathering pace rather than slowing and no one will want to be drawn against us now.
Golden, golden days indeed!!
Back in the dark days I always tried to find the positives. Now we’re dining on champagne and Caviar I find I only want Crystal and Beluga.
Every week there’s a point in the game where we look like world beaters, then something happens. For the sake of consistency I think we need 3 more players. One defender, one attacking midfielder and another ready to go striker. It’s not my money so I’m not going to worry about how we pay for them but it’s patently obvious as soon as our first choice 11 are replaced we become vulnerable. With a little more depth Watford wouldn’t have broken our hearts at Wembley and Braga wouldn’t have seen us for rain clouds.
I get the small squad but I do think we’re a bit too sparse when it comes to replacements with real quality.
If we continue with our current success the number of games will continue to increase and the squad will become vital.
Prawny,
I’m sure I’m in the minority. But, regarding the “ready to go striker”, I still believe Cutrone can fill that role – he just needs minutes.
I get that he’s two years removed from his best. But, I always get the impression that he needs to get some longer runs to build confidence and his game.
Very true LD. Not many players can sit week after week on the bench then be firing on all cylinders when they do get a chance.
Hopefully young Patrick’s confidence won’t take too much of a knock before he really finds his feet as I, like you, think he has much more in his locker.
LD Cutrone has potential and I love his attitude but he’s currently as good as his scoring record and he’s just not doing it.