Cardiff City

Whisper it quietly, but I feared the worst today.

Though I thought the reaction of some to our defeat on Tuesday was a tad hyperbolic, the result was enough for me to recall the winless run our last game against Cardiff was sandwiched in between.

Thankfully, my fears were unfounded.

Not since West Ham have we been so dominant, save for the first 10 minutes when the visitors started brightly. 

Nuno’s changes may have raised a few eyebrows prior to kick-off but they worked a treat.

Adama Traore was a constant menace down the right hand side, as well as being impressively diligent in his defensive duties. 

The only thing missing from his performance was a goal, which he really ought to have grabbed when moved further upfield in the second half.

Still, today was affirmation of the huge potential this guy has. If the manager can harness it, we have a real player on our hands.

On the opposite flank, Ruben Vinagre turned in his best performance in a Wolves shirt.

I read in the programme at half-time that the Bluebirds’ right back, Lee Peltier, had not played in the Premier League prior to this season.

On today’s evidence he won’t again, so regularly was he beaten by the Portuguese speedster.

The fact we have players of his quality in reserve underlines the excellent recruitment we have undertaken since Nuno’s arrival. 

In midfield, the seldom heralded Romain Saiss did an excellent job of ensuring we won the midfield battle. 

In the reverse fixture, we were often second to the ball and particularly struggled with the aerial bombardment that is so synonymous with Neil Warnock teams.

There was none of that today thanks to Saiss, who to my eye won every ball he contested.

[interaction id=”5c7af330ed16996de1841379″]

Again, that he is only a squad player shows just how much quality exists within our current squad.

John Ruddy and Morgan Gibbs-White had quieter games, but did nothing to contradict the notion that Nuno can rotate his team without fearing a reverse in fortunes. 

Though our wily manager has proven himself a stickler for a winning formula, further experimentation may not go amiss given we have little to play for in the league beyond being the ‘best of the rest’. 

Either way, this game emphasised the vast strides we have made since last season and proved we can indeed beat teams perceived to be lesser than ourselves.

If you want to back Wolves to finish 7th, make it the FA Cup final or take on any other market these free football betting tips provided by experts will come in handy.

One. That’s how many points Wolves have accrued from their four fixtures against the bottom three.

With the possible exception of a purple patch in the Fulham game, they haven’t played well in any of those matches either.

The obvious problem is these teams aren’t so adventurous going forward, thus fewer spaces to exploit in the ‘transitions’, which is where pundits have lauded Nuno’s setup.

I think this can be addressed in the summer by new personnel, namely a more attack minded central midfielder and options up top to supplement – and hopefully not replace – Raul Jimenez.

For the remainder of the season, I think there just needs to be greater pace and intensity to our attacking, particularly at home and particularly against the strugglers.

Cardiff

It’s looking like a tough ask for Cardiff to stay up with the fixtures they have remaining, but I wouldn’t back against them.

I can predict they won’t get to 40 points, so I think they need to hit the mid-30s and hope Southampton or Brighton struggle down the home stretch.

After they saw off Bournemouth and the Saints to get back-to-back wins things were looking good but heavy home defeats against Watford and Everton – games where they would have fancied their chances – have seriously dented confidence and their goal difference.

Neil Warnock said he already knew his team for this game after the 3-0 defeat to the Toffees in midweek, which underlines that he – perhaps better than anyone – knows precisely the approach to take with Wolves.

Hopefully Nuno has something up his sleeve in response as we have allowed them to largely dictate all three fixtures between the teams since he’s been in charge.

The away end

Some comments from the match thread on a popular Cardiff City forum:

The only way we can beat Wolves is to attack them.
If we go there looking for a point and let them control the ball I can see nothing but another 3-0 loss. I think we will get a draw 1-1

I said we’d beat Watford 2-1 and draw with Everton 1-1, but after seeing the last 2 performances I struggle to see us beating Wolves tbh. I reckon it will finish Wolves 2-1 Cardiff.

Can see us playing hard but no goals. Wolves good at home, 2-0 to them.

Wolves

It was pretty limp against Huddersfield and I think maybe a few heads should roll to freshen things up.

Saiss is probably unlucky to find himself outside the starting XI anyway, so giving Dendoncker a breather isn’t a big compromise.

Bringing in Vinagre is just about adding some vibrancy to a team that looked leggy in midweek.

As mentioned post-Huddersfield, Traore isn’t getting enough minutes in my opinion so should be first in line from the bench.

The poll

[interaction id=”5c78fee6c31fa11dd12740a9″]

Predictions

I believe I’m correct in saying not a single person predicted defeat against Huddersfield so it’s as you were in the Prediction League Table with Wolvo Dave leading the way.

As always, if you’d like to join in simply leave your prediction in the comment section below, which is where you’ll also find my best guess.

Up The Wolves!

I don’t begrudge Cardiff the victory.

They battered Wolves into the ground and were good value for their win.

OK, the goals were a consequence of Rui Patricio’s hesitancy and a sublime moment of skill from Junior Hoilett but on the overall balance of play the home side always looked the more likely.

As they did last season, Wolves dropped deep from the off and were content to do aerial battle in the hope of springing a counter attack.

That seemed like a shrewd plan once Matt Doherty had finished superbly after an equally smart Raul Jimenez header was clawed out.

There were chances for a second but for every smart Traore run their was an equally comical slip, trip or poorly executed pass.

But it felt like our record signing was doing it all alone with Jimenez too often gobbled up by Bamba and co and Helder Costa giving the ball away every single time it came near him.

Costa should have been hooked at half time after another 45 of infuriating incompetence and it’s a concern Nuno didn’t reach the same conclusion.

Equally worrying for the head coach is how few passes his team put together with possession routinely turned over all evening.

Having got the foothold with the first goal, the script seemed written for Neves and Moutinho to dictate the tempo of the game and create opportunities.

But again, the game passed both of them by and instead of using the ball intelligently to relieve Cardiff pressure, too often they shellacked it long more in hope than expectation.

Despite the concession of two goals it’s tough to find fault with the defence, particularly Boly who was the outstanding player on the pitch.

But Coady and the returning Saiss were equally faultless in dealing with the predictable barrage from deep.

[interaction id=”5c02acb74e2aed4bf3937450″]

Questions should rightly be asked of Patricio for the equaliser despite the bump he received in the build up. Once a goalkeeper comes for the ball and then hesitates, there’s usually trouble afoot and so it proved.

It’s premature to be calling for the return of Ruddy, but with April’s victory on the same ground still fresh in the memory the Portuguese couldn’t have picked a worse moment to wobble.

Nuno was right to point out his team needed more possession, but it didn’t feel like they went out with the intention of dominating the ball.

It was all too passive, too slow and too deep against a team who thrive on hesitancy and the space to puts balls into the area.

The setup and the execution were both some way off and that is problematic.

Better needed Wolves.

There’s no denying the non-performance against Huddersfield was a worry, but I don’t think we should be too disheartened just yet.

Other than Watford, it was the only game the lads haven’t turned up for this season so we can probably chalk it up to an off day.

Certainly though, teams have figured out that pressing this Wolves team in key areas of the pitch can disrupt their rhythm.

The lack of physical power, particularly in midfield, is also an area the opposition are exploiting, which is a concern given who we’re playing tomorrow.

Cardiff

Prior to last season, whenever someone said ‘Cardiff’, Wolves supporters had one unified thought, which had nothing to do with the Bluebirds.

But that mind boggling finish to the game back in April means we’ve now got two memories to cherish from the Welsh capital. It was little surprise Neil Warnock was so spikey in the aftermath.

Admittedly, I thought they might fall away after that morale sapping loss, so massive credit to them for getting over the line and making a go of it in the Premier League.

It initially looked like being nigh on impossible to survive, but a couple of wins have put them right amongst the pack of five or six teams duking it out at the bottom and a win tomorrow would put them up to 15th.

I’m still intimidated by the raw strength they have with the likes of Bamba, Manga and Morrison at the back, who will ask a lot of questions from set pieces.

Further forward I’m not sure they’ve yet brought in sufficient quality to give them what they need to be truly competitive, but players like Harry Arter and Bobby Reid give them useful options in addition to what they had already.

The home end

Some comments lifted from the match thread on a popular Cardiff City fan forum:

Really want to win this, the feeling when the full time whistle went in the last fixture was up there with the 3-0 defeat to Swansea and play off loss to Blackpool.. don’t think I spoke to anyone in work the next day and didn’t even say a word to my parents the whole weekend.

3 1 to cardiff own goal gift from us,neil to run to the canton at the final whistle after giving nuno a W.nky wanders hand signal and giving the canton end the not so familiar victory salute 3 times.

Going to be tough, and they will have something to prove after the Huddersfield result. I have a feeling this will be a scrappy draw.

Wolves

There must be a temptation to make a change in midfield, particularly with a midweek game to come against Chelsea next Wednesday.

It’s a big call to drop to Moutinho but I’d say there’s a good chance we’ll see Gibbs-White or Saiss either tomorrow or next week.

Up front I think Costa is vulnerable as his wait for a goal or notable assist drags on, so Traore should get a run out in my opinion.

On the other side it’s Cav or Jota and I may gave the latter the edge as every chance he could rediscover some form against a familiar foe.

The poll

[interaction id=”5bffda06ad2c174f51e3027c”]

Predictions

Not many points shared last week in the Prediction League table with most people forecasting a positive result. vicsmith still leads the way with 19 from 13 predictions.

As always if you want to join in the fun simply leave your prediction in the comment section below using the boxes provided, which is where you’ll find my best guess.

Remember, keep a consistent email address to ensure your score is tracked correctly in the table.

Up The Wolves!

Having been awarded not one, but two injury time penalties, I didn’t think Neil Warnock would have anything left to complain about.

Silly me.

Well before the fireworks at the final whistle, both managers had set the tone for a tense contest with cautious team selections.

Neither wanted to lose it in the early exchanges and a cagey first half did little to settle the nerves.

Although it was ultimately the class of Ruben Neves that opened the gates to victory, it’s worth remembering his sumptuous free-kick capped a period of the game in which Wolves were hitting their stride.

Passes were finally penetrating and both Benik Afobe and Diogo Jota were taken out in dangerous positions after Bonatini had already hit the post with the game’s clearest sighter.

The goal was just reward for weathering the expected bombardment and finding some sort of rhythm.

Cardiff were largely predictable and at times effective with their percentage balls forward, but Wolves defended crosses fantastically all night.

In fact, as the clocked ticked into injury time it did appear as if the worst had passed with the only disappointment that Cavaleiro and Costa didn’t take their glaring chances to kill the game.

Cue mayhem.

The first penalty was soft and manufactured, regardless of Conor Coady’s actions.

John Ruddy’s wonder save must rank alongside his heroics at the Madesjski earlier in the season as his finest moment.

Widely criticised of late with confidence and form deteriorating, this was the type of response you’d hope for from a former England international.

One can only imagine his frustration at having made that injury time save only to see the ref pointing to the spot again seconds later.

It’s smart play from Gunnarson when everyone, including Ivan Cavaleiro, was expecting the cross, and the correct decision.

Thankfully Junior Hoilett blinked at the crucial moment and the most remarkable victory of the season was secured.

Yes, Bristol City and Middlesbrough will always be fondly remembered but this must surely eclipse them both?

To emerge victorious after the concession of two stoppage time penalties would be unprecedented in any contest, but in the biggest game of the season it beggars belief.

It’s little wonder Nuno was on the pitch again. He, like the rest of us, had never experienced anything like it before.

As for Warnock’s complaint, there might be an accepted etiquette for handshakes at the whistle, but the Cardiff boss surrendered the moral high ground with his subsequent actions.

Truth be told, his vitriol only made the victory sweeter.

Wolves are going up. On that point, there can no longer be any argument.

Defeat at Villa Park last month felt seminal.

But the gap to third has since increased to 11 points with only 18 left to contest.

Worth remembering then, as Wolves head to Wales for what feels very much like a cup final, that they don’t need to win this game.

Even in the context of the title, another demoralising setback doesn’t spell the end. This group have repeatedly shown they possess the resilience and mental strength to move on quickly.

Victory on the other hand would put an end to any lingering doubts about who is going to finish top of the pile come May.

I just hope then that the players don’t fear the challenge, but instead relish the opportunity and deliver the performance they’ve been building towards all season.

Cardiff

Hats off to Neil Warnock. He would have got my vote for manager of the year too. Cardiff were heading down last season when he took charge and now they look unbeatable.

If they do end up winning the league they’ll have achieved an abnormally high points total and given the advantages Wolves have enjoyed with their recruitment, it would surely rank as his greatest achievement as a manager.

His team are the epitome of Championship football, which is to say big and strong at the back, powerful moving forward and always direct.

They put a lot of balls into the box, recycle the play continuously and are very good at hanging in games when it isn’t going their way.

They showcased all those qualities on Monday when they definitely should have lost at Bramall Lane and somehow escaped with a point.

Wolves were simply overpowered in the reverse fixture at Molineux and can expect more of the same if they don’t come ready to fight tomorrow.

Wolves

It was a pleasant surprise to see Diogo Jota back against Hull and it’s probably only the front three where’s there’s a question mark over the team selection.

I would go with the above, which I think will best suit the game. Afobe up top gives us more power and pace to run in behind. I would have concerns that a combination of Cav, Costa and Jota could be too easily marginalised.

Nuno may decide that N’Diaye is a better bet in midfield and would give us greater protection at set pieces, but if we’re going to win it’ll be through outplaying Cardiff and Saiss is the better technician.

John Ruddy has looked progressively more uncomfortable the longer the season has gone on, but he can atone for recent errors with a big performance tomorrow.

Predictions

I can see Wolves getting a goal, dominating the ball and controlling the entire game. I can also see Cardiff coming out fast and simply overwhelming us.

Therefore, I’m going to perch on the fence and simply hope for the best.

A draw is definitely a better result for us than it is for Cardiff and I wouldn’t be unhappy with that outcome here and now.

1-1.

Up The Wolves!