It’s tough to know whether this was a valuable point gained or a missed opportunity.
We’ll only know for definite in May.
Still, with Ipswich spanked and Brentford turned over by Cardiff, Wolves have at least scraped back a tiny bit of ground on the two sides they can realistically hope to surpass.
It looked like ground would be lost after Brighton made the seemingly decisive breakthrough in a scrappy old end-to-end affair.
Rajiv van La Parra’s persistence mixed with a dollop of fortune and some questionable goalkeeping tied things up and solely on the basis of clear chances created, Wolves should probably have won.
Had Benik Afobe been as clinical in front of goal as he has been in recent weeks, which is to say scoring every chance he gets, his team would have been ahead in the first half.
Bakary Sako was then denied at the death as David Stockdale sandwiched the error that gifted Wolves an equaliser with two impressive interventions.
Kenny Jackett said afterwards that he thought Nouha Dicko looked back to his best in a second half cameo. I hope that suggests the punchy forward will be back in the side on Tuesday.
The ‘James Henry as Number 10’ experiment was worth investigation but has proved inconclusive at best. If we’re really ‘going for it’ then Dicko must play.
Similar could be said of Scott Golbourne, another forward thinking player capable of building attacks from the back and channeling the ball to Bakary Sako.
Those thoughts will no doubt be at the forefront of the manager’s mind as Sheffield Wednesday, boasting the second best defensive record in the Championship, arrive at Molineux on Tuesday.
I hope they are anyway. With the clock ticking down we don’t to rue any missed opportunities.
Nice ground…Fantastic support.. me and Stu included (!) but I felt a sense of nervousness about the crowd and according to Stu our support was unusually quiet…
It followed also that the team had a really exasperating nervous first 30 mins..
We played shite for most of the first half Brighton could of had 3 and Kuszczak looked very hesitant…
Why o why Dicko didn’t start with Afobe ? where was Golbourne..and I think Iorfa has been abducted by aliens..
K Mac wasn’t playing well and Sako
looked confused as to where he was playing left or right side… poor old Afobe just wanted the ball…
I actually thought that the second half with KJs analysis would be ours and then they bloody scored ..our man giving the goal away under him..
With Dicko now on we started to play
and with RVLP s ‘cross’ that some how got parried in we were in with a shout but it was far too late..
Dicko at the end did his ‘I’m the strongest forward in the league’ ripped the ball away in the box and fed Sako the ball from 10yards…
This is it I thought …all 2200 of us saw the save our end and as far as I was concerned that epitomised this game..
A chance too late.. Dicko on too late..we changed our play too late..our position in this league to be rectified too late……. KJ
A point gained and thank got Brentford and Ipshit lost..
We really do make it difficult for ourselves..
COYW
No Jackett is making difficult by not playing our best players, as you’ve said Steve why was Dicko not on from the start as as far as in concerned RVP is a waste of time runs up down the wing , his crossing is average at best yet Jacckett keeps picking him. The goal was a fluke Jacketts teams Selection will alternately cost us because we have the players RVP apart but Jackets not playing them or in there natural positions.
Same game as against Watford,same result.Our tactics seem to show,in team selection too much respect for the opposition and not on our strengths.Consiquently it effects confidence and Hause,is struggling Henry another Price off the pace.Bathh and Stearman solid,shame Kruscack wasn’t.
I don’t know who submitted the video, but it certainly didn’t show the dominance that Brighton had over us in the first half. Steve was being rather conservative with his potential scoreline as we both agreed Brighton could realistically have been 5-0 up at half time. Doherty is nowhere near the player Golbourne is and it is reflected in the player ratings again as he got less than anyone including Dicko who came on about 10 minutes into the 2nd half.
But….
We did eventually get back into the game and to be honest they got their act together with the inclusion of Dicko and looked as if we could win after riding our luck. Only the superb save by the Brighton goalie denied Sako a gold plated cert in the 5 minutes of added time, it was like a “slow mo” when Dicko recieved the ball and set off to the bye line and stopped dead, looked up and picked out Sako with the gentlest tap, he did absolutely nothing wrong, he picked his spot and hammered it Sako style. The goalie chose right and denied us a three points that we may have possibly earned by then as we were the away team.
Iorfa has been suffering with a stomach bug for a week or so hence the no show, but the highlight of the whole day for me was that my favourite, Conor Hunte from the U21s was there for first team experience as Kortney Hause and Iorfa had been given in the past for their great work in the U21s. Also on the way back I heard our U18s beat Derby 3-0 yesterday, an omen I hope.
A foot note..
I’m now certain Kenny reads this blog, Henry played from the off, and RVLP played the whole game and I can’t recall once when he went down looking for a foul, the result was he scored and earned top spot on the players ratings and to be honest he probably was. More of the same Kenny and RVLP please.
Onwards and onwards
🙂
Must have been at a different game from StuWolf and SteveShowcase ( or maybe it’s something in the Harvey’s Beer from Lewes). Brighton only had two chances in first half and both fell to Mackaill Smith – so find it hard to figure how they could have been 5 up. For the last twenty minutes of the first half Wolves started to run the game (and the Brighton crowd went very quiet), and had their shooting (Afobe, Sako and MacDonald) been as good as their approach play then they should have gone in ahead – and that’s where I think they lost the points.
Some very jittery defending in the first twenty minutes of the second half meant the Brighton team and fans woke up and the first goal was almost inevitable – you could just see it coming. Credit to the Wanderers for getting back into the game and almost nicking it at the death. Had Van La Parra been stood at the eighteenth tee in the Open wanting a 4 to win the title, then his alleged ‘cross’ would have described as a rabbit’s desperate slice (a shot it definitely was not) – having said that you ride your luck and go with it. It could have been a whole lot worse. I wouldn’t quibble with one goal victories in the next few games provided that we get a few clean sheets. Interesting times.
Midfielder.
We were definitely at the same game but absent the beer, had the Brighton team had any clue where the three white posts wete we could have certainly been 5 down for sure.
There was the header 3 metres from the goal in the first 5 minutes.
Followed quickly by the limp shot through the defence.
A howler that nearly took me and Steve Showcase out in row H, I was taking my glasses off ready for a header.
Then the shot to the right of our goal that was sqewed crazily towards the corner.
Finally the one the player slid in for but was embarrassingly late, early or just plain no where near.
These are the ones I’m referring to, with the addition that if Brighton had been on target we were sunk.
Like you I eluded to the fact that we certainly came back into it and were worth a win perhaps.
Hope this does not offend, not my intention, but it’s as I saw it from behind the goal in row H.
🙂
No offence at all. The header by Mackail Smith was outrageously bad marking ( and a tame header). The shot from Mackail Smith was only made possible not by a pass from a teammate but a toe-ender from a Wolves tackle (?Hause). I never thought they were under any serious pressure in the first half (and apart from the Mackaill-Smith header were extremely well organised).
On the other hand when Wanderers got a grip in midfield in the last twenty minutes of the first half I thought that not only they looked good but probably should have put the game out of reach. Momentum was clearly with them and they failed to capitalise.
Having only seen these highlights, it’s difficult to be too analytical but one thing is becoming more and more obvious to me.
We desperately need Ikeme back!
In games that hinge on a miss here or a slice of luck there, it is absolutely VITAL that the goalkeeper stops shots like the one that gave Brighton the lead.
You can argue that Afobe’s miss cost us dear and Sako was desperately unlucky at the end but Brighton’s keeper was out like lightning to stop one and he touched the other on to the post.
Kuszczak went down like a sack of Russets in his feeble effort to keep his goal intact.
I have been critical of Kuszczak before now and I know it’s easy to knock goalkeepers but ultimately he cost us two points and Stockdale saved Brighton their singleton.
Play off places are won and lost on significant moments like these.
Doogooder.
The video wall showed exactly how you see it, take a look at this report, a little bit of finger pointing me thinks.
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/wolverhampton-wanderers-comment-beware-goalkeepers-8843594?
🙂
I honestly thought we would win at BHA considering we played well against Watford.
But I still think KJ is being to cautious in his approach and his team selection for me.
Still think we need a combatant midfielder in our squad if we’re gonna try and get into the lottery of the playoffs.
By all accounts we could have won it at the end if only luck was on our side,but iv’e said you have to make your own luck in this game.
Games now coming thick and fast so with two home games we’ve gotta be looking for a maximum of six points if we truly want the playoffs,but KJ must do his part also in giving us a fighting chance in choosing out BEST SIDE,Gotto play Golburne and Dicko from the start.bar injuries.UTW..
With Brentford and Ipswich losing it turned out to be a good point. I think we may need 75/76 points to sneak in to 6th spot so 5 wins and a draw or 6 wins still required. Looks a tall order but not impossible. The 2 home games in 3 days this week will tell us if we are heading to play offs or the beach.
From the Player commentary, ’cause that’s all I have, it sounded like we certainly gave as good as we got. Not enough for the three points though and before the game, I didn’t think one point would be sufficient to maintain our playoff push. But Ipswich’s trouncing and Cardiff’s heroics make it a pretty good point really so hope springs eternal.
I too am a great admirer of Scot Golbourne and feel he must play if fit. Likewise Nouha, certainly against Sheff Wed as this is the latest in a run of must win games (none of which we’ve actually won, or so it seems). The telepathy between Golbourne and Sako and Sako and Dicko and Dicko and Afobe could be vital in the must win games to come.
You know, it’s not a bad point at Brighton. They’ve been strong at home since Hughton’s arrival and mentally, our boys will be feeling more confident than those at Brentford and Ipswich this morning. And we fans should be too.
COYW
2 things puzzle me, why is Golbourne and Dicko not starting espeailly the latter I’d rather have a off shade Dicko than RVP any day his goal, well an own goal doesn’t change that. Dicko Sako and Afobe should be starting every game now goals win games Kenny and these three are our best at scoring them give RVP the push he’s ineffective at best.
One thing that has got on my nerves this season in Jacketts tinkering espeailly up front he had most of the season now to get his best team in his head so why the tinkering still.
I think we’d be in a better points position if he’d played Golbourne when fit Jacobs and Price Sako Dicko it wasn’t broke so why tinker with it I think Jacketts team selection this season has costs us point I my option we’d be safely tucked in the play offs by now or higher.
We need win Kenny so play the players that give us a better chance of achieving that and in there natural positions sqaure pegs never fit in round holes McCarthy tryed it and failed.
I agree 6 minutes but it’s not all down to KJ’s tinkering.
Certainly, if we have any real intention of making the play offs, we must start with Afobe, Dicko and Sako from the off.
I’m not a KJ fan as , from his team selections alone, he is not a confident man and I do not think he breeds it.
Personally StuWolf, think that getting the team selection correct, is more important than giving young cub stars, a day out with the first team…..
“if we have any real intention of making the play offs”
Robin, if we had any real intention we would have strengthened the squad in a couple of positions some time ago. Its the same old. As it stands 2 points out of the last possible 9 is hardly promotion form and we’ve some difficult games to come. Sad to say I can no longer see it happening this year which is a pity as it has been there for the taking and would mean Sako staying and a massive amount for the coffers with which to strengthen the squad. It has been evident for quite some time that we are not quite good enough but we have done nothing about it.
I’m afraid I can’t buy into this, “best we wait for a year”. The big money is there now and each year it will become more and more difficult to gain promotion as the relegated sides will get more and more money. Burnley are making a fight of it. I am sure we can at least do the same.
Steppenwolf, agree completely with what you say.
The past few weeks have shown our lack of ambition.
Afobe,Sako,Dicko,RVLP, could have been moulded into a force that by now, would have us up with Norwich, especially, if, on loan, we had added that midfielder, we all know is needed. Neither action has taken place. I do not think KJ could instil the belief these four players needed, to have ripped this division apart. However, I think, this ‘lack of ambition’ by KJ suits M&M fine for some reason…
Personally, hope we finish above Ipswich and in the top ten as don’t want my hopes to be higher than the owners!
Midfield Wanderer how dare you contradict me and Stu…are you KJ under a pseudonym ?
Crikey! I’ve been outed. I’ll have to send Joe Gallen on to the site now pretending to be Clive from Houston.
KJ
I’m already blogging Kenny, been here for yonks, refuse to up my standards to Clive’s level, he’s a leg end. No competition.
🙂
Didnt see the game. Have read all the interesting comments and divided opinions of recent weeks..who should be in the team who should be out..is it
best if we go up this season or not ..what is Morgan’s level of ambition ..is KJ the real deal for a big club..are we a big club ?
All i have got this morning is questions and no answers perhaps i will know more after this week -signing off Dazed and Confused.
No confusion Colin, we have to play Middlesborough,Ipshit,Derby,Forest ..yet..what’s the odds? ….
A. Not good even for the optimists…
cont…all those Q will be answered by the Wigan game as in KJ s decisions ..our late purchase (and the lack of investment) the boards decision to gamble the season..
We all know we are a big club..is KJ riding with us or does he want to be a big manager?
Normally I would consider coming back with 20 mins left to get a point at a bogey team as a point gained but given the Ipswich and Brentford defeats I feel it was an opportunity missed. Instead of being within 1 point of the play-offs we are still 3 adrift (4 counting goal difference). We may well look back at the end of the season and realise that our inability to take more than 2 points off an extremely average Brighton side (read their fans comments in the local press) cost us big-time.
As for the ‘tinkering’ comments, I’m with KJ on this one. We live in times when games come so thick and fast that squad rotation, not to mention ‘horses for courses’, is an absolute necessity. Having said that, I’m desperate to see Iorfa back in the team.
It’s plain to see from the bewildering team selections that KJ simply does not want to plAy our best XI and therefore wants to reduce our chances of going up. No Dicko, no Jacobs, no Iorfa, no Golbourne. Crazy. We are being taken for a ride!
Ingocnito.
Well said that man, I think we have been sold a kipper, sold down the river and been the victim of spin.
🙂
If we have any aspirations of the playoffs, WE MUST PLAY OUR BEST PLAYERS for once and for all and see what happens.Its gotta be 6 points if we mean business,still not to late to SIGN some one but make it quick.
2-0 tomorrow, its a must.UTW.
Johnok53
From the molineux Mole on the coach on Saturday,
“Wolves pulled out of the Liecester midfielder Danny Drinkwater deal due to wage demands”.
Kenny has said time and time again “we need a good strong midfielder to compliment MacDonald”.
So with that in mind, there is no commitment or desire to get promoted this season, or they would have bit the bullet at this time of the season, pay the guy for 2 months a decent wage. We are being fed copious amounts of Bullshit and we are swallowing it.
Forever Wolves,
Forever shafted.
🙁
StuWolf,Do you think the two Ms have placed constraints on KJ or do you think he’s spent all the money they wanted to give him, Ofobe has been great but what about Seville and don’t forget Clarke,
Perhaps the two Ms don’t trust KJ.
I think its worth a punt for another Midfielder as you say for a couple of months.
Johnok53.
I really like what Kenny has done with a bunch of nobodys and no hopers, he’s excited us all last season apart from a spell before Christmas. As Steve showcase pointed out, the crowd at Brighton were unusually muted, why???? We had 2260 fans and were up for it, but then the team comes out and a rumble goes around the Wolves end, disbelief, disgust and disappointment. We are not a great team, we are not pacesetters we cannot afford to not play our best 11.
Doherty is not a better player than Golbourne or Iorfa, Price runs his heart out but we need someone solid to play alongside MacDonald.
I see Kenny at the U21s almost every home game, he has a team of scouts, spotters, advisors, spin men, hangers on, cling ons but still that armpole Clarke got through, Danny Graham got through, Sagbo-for Christs sake (how did he get through the net).
IMO the M&M’s are tinkering and feckin it all up. I know you know and every blogger on this site knows this team is better than what we are seeing. We should have beaten Bournemouth, (we didn’t turn up) we should have beaten Watford and we certainly should have beaten Brighton, as I tried unsuccessfully to say to Midfield Wanderer, they had opportunity to score 5 in the first half but couldn’t hit the side of a shithouse, so we were fortunate when we could have won comfortably in the end. Kusczak was certainly at fault for their goal, I could have saved it.
So in a long winded answer to your question, what I’m trying to say is something or someone is intervening in our play, these players are better than what we’re witnessing.
Oh yes and Lee Evans was back on the bench, he’s had howlers whilst playing in the U21s, score a penalty last game and gets back in the squad. What the feck’s that all about.
We’re being fecked about by someone.
Bah feckin Humbugger
🙁
Well stuWolf you certainly answered my question lol,but can’t for the life of me understand why they denigh us the fans the chance of having a good go at getting to the promised land or at least the playoffs,but we never know still plenty to play forif KJ chooses his best side.UTW.
Its as obvious as the wart on Stuwolf’s arse that KJ has been told to play certain players and not others (see Jacobs) by morgan and the fat bastard so we will NOT go up.
Until its a mathmatical certainty that we are not in the playoffs, I will continue to sacrifice a chicken every morning, face East and pray to whichever god is bored enough to listen, that we can do it.
I aint heard no fat lady singing yet
You might be lucky and not get a prediction in the blog if one comes on here before the match tomorrow, but you all know the forecast from sunny Houston/ St Louis dontcha!!!
FO wb
And you you bugga, you promised you wouldn’t tell anyone what you saw on my arse!
Won’t trust you to rub my hammer rod cream in again.
5-1, don’t think that’s in Kenny’s plans for the rest of this season.
🙁
With regards to transfers… )upsetting the dressing room and all the crap that go’s with it)… Just think, we could have had all the players Derby have picked up the last few weeks that we all wanted and gone on a run just like them. 🙂
Shrews.
You bring in a real classy footballer and rather thanupset the dressing room you give the players an icon to bounce off and learn quickly from. Emlyn Huge, Paul Inches, Dennis Irwinner, they brought a wealth of experience that filtered down to the team in the short time they were there.
Robin,
Do Liverpool, Man U, Chelski or Arsenal give a toss about brining young players through, did the feck, if they were good enough they played. Iorfa, & Hause out of the blue and what an impact. Conor Hunte is 6 foot plus with skill, pace and ability to take players on and come back and win the ball. We want a goof Midfielder, if one won’t come to us use the lad, he’s earned it what have we got to lose, trying Edwards or Evans didn’t work and Price as keen as he is he’s too small for the midfield.
Rant over, roll on Tuesday night and Wednesday at Hednesford to see the U21s beat Hednesford.
🙂