Five minutes in the welcoming bosom of a cathedral city was all it took to restore the faith.
The senses awoken, another game unbeaten and a Roger Johnson redemption in the heartiest hymn of all.
Stood shoulder–to-shoulder with 3,000 fellow worshipers, our 2-0 procession was virtually secondary to the ethereal experience off it.
From a gloriously humble old terrace, our gold and black choir was in such uplifting voice that last season’s trespasses were completely forgotten, never mind forgiven.
In the best away day experience in many a long year, the only regret was that 20 odd thousand other fans weren’t able to be with us to experience it.
Both on and off the pitch, it genuinely felt like – to quote the old Sherpa Van vinyl record – we’re back!
Unlike our Portman Road success three days before, this triumph was so utterly comprehensive you’d think we were the under-16s to Peterborough’s under-12s.
As we assumed control of the terrace chanting, Solbakken’s Wolves took charge of the game in one of the most dominant 45 minutes I can ever remember.
Suffocating space off the ball, creating vast swathes on it, we looked like virtually every Premier League team to visit Molineux last season when we were the ones marooned at the foot.
We kept it, switched it and operated, almost exclusively, in meaningful areas of the field.
And when presented with a tight, awkward moment in our own third, we played our way out of it with superior speed of thought.
So dominant were we that we dusted out an old song barely sung once in the past four years.
‘Score in a minute, we’re ‘gonna score in a minute.’
And we did! Ebanks Blake, forging an ever threatening partnership with the quite brilliant Doyle, got tripped for a penalty which he duly dispatched.
The man-of-the-match Irishman was back to his sumptuous best and also set-up Sigurdarson for his deft winner in the second half, too.
Henry and Doumbia were too quick, strong and skilful for Peterborough’s central pairing, with the latter running Doyle close for the man-of-the-match award.
Sako was a constant menace while Peszko was arguably more direct up until his substitution, albeit in more modest manner.
Kevin Foley looked like his 2008 vintage in a surprise return to the starting eleven, while Ward exuded all the confidence of a man who’s changed more opinions than the Bishop of Peterborough Cathedral.
Ikeme, too, was impenetrable, suggesting that Hennessey will have to wait a little longer than he thought.
Berra and Johnson were assured and polished, even in a couple of late blocks when the home side occasionally pressed.
When we defended we broke with pace to attack and when the full time whistle sounded we sung like we’d just won the league.
It’s unlikely that we will get anywhere near that summit but for now, that can wait.
Far better to quote our Nordic leader: “For now, we can have a happy bus trip home.”
Great stuff – much more like it. Defence tight, midfield authoritative and creative, attack sharp. A team at last?
And there’s no way that Ikeme can be dropped to make way for Hennesey the way he has performed so far this season.
Oh! Yes – I nearly forgot. A belting bit of writing Ben. Eat your heart out Henry Winter!
Thanks mate. That means a lot. I’d make Henry’s tea for him if he wants!
I like the review but is it really necessary to start a new paragraph for every sentence?
It’s just the online format I prefer mate.
If you go to many sites, including the BBC (for example: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19685249), they do the same.
Although I think it’s accentuated more on this blog, because we use smaller text and a wider body area. I may increase text size to compensate for this.
Overall though, it just breaks it up into digestible chunks. I personally don’t like huge chunky paras, particularly when it comes to reporting/commenting on sport.
Nothing is worse than a wall of text. Breaking it up makes for good reading. As always on the blog 🙂
Agree with you Thomas about the format.
Think a sentence/paragraph is more appropriate for the digital format.
A comfortable win and good blog you convey the apparent atmosphere very well Ben.
Think our new manager is a real find.
The forging of the team is taking place both on and off the pitch.
Also think we are just seeing the first shoots of this process.
Personally believe the transformation from a ‘losing’ mentality to a ‘winning’ mentality will stem from the back four and the others who have had to endure the MM/TC era.
Can we go on an enduring undefeated run?
Am optimistic we will do.
Great win, not 6-0, but hey, I’ll take 2-0 any day of the weekend and may that be the first of many Sigurdarson goals for the mighty Wolves!
Dont wanna get too personal, but there is nothing worse than a grammar/spelling nazi.
This is a Wolves blog, not a school lesson.
I occassionally look at some of the blogs on the Electronic Telegraph, and they pick each other apart for the tiniest, stupidest things, like a bunch of 5 year olds.
We are above stuff like that.
You spelt occasionally wrong mate! lol
exactly my point!!!
Would rather discuss the match than the formatting of the report; which incidently, I really enjoyed reading. Most informative, thanks Ben. Looking forward to a more fancied club testing us.
I have to say I think the grammar and spelling on this blog is good; a cut above the E&S, anyway, which is usually riddled with errors (Martin Swain’s occasional pieces being an exception). I also think it’s better having the text cut up for ease or reading.
Thanks for a great blog – giving us the true club spirit
I’m as happy with the result as any other WW supporter but, given your assessment that we completely dominated the match, why did we only score two goals, one of them from the penalty spot?
Sometimes just doesn’t happen. I think what was pleasing was how we controlled the play even with only one goal dividing the teams for much of the match.
Although granted, if I did have one criticism, it would be that we didn’t create enough clear cut chances inside their penalty area. Much of our best work was just around the outside of the box.
Teams can dominate a match for long periods, get frustrated by the other team and end up conceding at the last minute…
Great summary mate and a superb day out. Even the weather was on our side.
If anyone was looking for a reason to get excited about Solbakken’s Wolves, this was the performance to get excited about.
Back-to-front, every player was superb.
Of course we all know Peterborough have struggled, but the manner in which we took ownership from almost the first kick, never relinquishing our stranglehold was mightily encouraging.
Everything we weren’t last season – organised and assured at the back, strong in the middle of the park, incisive going forward – we were in spades yesterday. 17 shots on goal is a statistic worth highlighting.
If I had to pick three players for individual praise would have to be Foley, Doumbia and Doyle.
Foley was just at his absolute best. Imagine most of his performances as we won the Championship under Mick and I don’t have to say much more. Too composed, too skillful and too clever for the opposition.
Doumbia was just different class. No surprise they started kicking him in the second half as he’d just bossed the midfield throughout, wining countless balls and marauding forward to setup the play.
Doyle, like Foley, was just back to his majestic best. Instant control, always turning away from danger and into space, it was just a pleasure to watch. Yes it was Peterborough, but these are the sorts of games he needs to restore confidence. We know he can do it against the very best because he has done it against the very best.
I know we’re getting a bit carried away, but why not I say.
So, talking about getting carried away: did you take your shoes off?
!7 shots on goal is definitely worth highlighting, Thomas, considering we were managing just one or two in a lot of games last year.
And for me, Foley’s return to his rightful position of LB is long overdue. Player of the year in the championship winning side and a far better footballer than Zubar imo. In fact, probably a better footballer than any other defender at the club.
Sorry to dominate the conversation but couldn’t resist posting this from the Peterborough Telegraph:
“But had Posh found an equaliser, you suspected the visitors had plenty more still in their locker.
They controlled this match from midfield where four players who could easily have passed as a rugby pack could be found.
Mali international Tongo Doumbia was the most emphatic of the golden-shirted men. The Yaya Toure play-a-like patrolled the park as he pleased, venturing forward when the mood took him, dropping back whenever required,
He appeared unlucky not to earn a second penalty soon after the first when going down under a Kgosi Ntlhe challenge while Ebanks-Blake should have doubled his account before the break when steering a Bakary Sako free-kick straight at Bobby Olejnik.
And even when Polish winger Slawomir Peszko was withdrawn after getting little joy out of Ntlhe, Wolves were able to send on another international player snapped up from the French top-flight.
In fact all three of their replacements boasted top-level experience in European football.”
Fantastc report Ben from a huge fan in Toronto.
Sounded like a brilliant away day!!
WHY YOU NEED TO EXPLAIN YOUR PARAGRAPH FORMAT IS BEYOND ME???
Thanks for the great report.I have been impressed with Stale Solbakken from day one.As our new manager he has gone under the radar of the national media somewhat which maybe no bad thing – think we can look forward to an exciting season of there or there abouts.
Out of the darkness…………………..yes this is fun again.
No reason we cant keep this up, interesting games ahead. They deserve a big welcome back at the Mol and just a little time. They are going to be a bit nervous.
So good to hear Doyle and Foley had good games. Like several other good guys Foley was unsettled by MM and TC playing him out of position, They just could never ever let players alone to play their best positions. Good to hear we dusted of the old songs and could sing em.
On the personal front. Gransons team lost, he didnt score, I wasnt there due to very sick dog and emergency vet visits. So all in all we are all blaming the bloody dog!!!!
Fantastic articles or blogs from both of you, especially love the Cathedral references & the opinion of the opposition paper.
Can it just be a question of confidence? On TV Sigurdarson’s goal looked brill. Great to hear all the positives, there is a very tough run of games around the corner notably Blackburn & Huddersfield away, we will need this upturn in performance to maintain our challenge for promotion.
The latter is now more credible than once it seemed after the Derby & Cardiff games.
Excellent blog as always Ben. And you can have as many paragraphs as you like mate imo.
I have to say i told you all about Doumbia after the Shrewsbury game. He’s a cracker!
But for me, the MOST exciting thing was Siggy’s goal.
If he gets the right service, this guy is going to be dynamite.
I saw him at Southampton and on one occasion he gave a pacy LB five yards start and got to the ball first.
I think he’s very much a Torres type player. Tall, fast down the middle and a great finisher. An absolute snip.
And how much did they sell Torres for?!!
How do you like the lay out btw?
Loving that layout Martin. At my work I stipulate in some of my contracts with clients that I will be paid by the sentence.
You. Should. Read. My. Reports. Awesome. They. Are.
Loving that Kowloon.
Chelsky on tuesday. Maybe it’s to early for us to give them match till the end. It depends on which team they line up. Hopefully it’s televised.
Guys the report was brilliant, I could feel the atmosphere. Mid the result it reported helped to.
I always found it hard to write really objective reports. Always very one sided, You know the kind of thing, “We dominated throughout the game, and would have won if they hadn’t scored 6 lucky goals”
2-0 is fine for me, the score very oftne does not reflect the match, how often do you see very one sided draws. happens all the time.
I think the Chelsea challenge comes at the perfect time, I didnt expect miracles but will be good for the guys to measure themselves.
Am really pleased for Doyley, always kept his head up even when Mad Mick was virtually destroying his career and confidence. You can only ask a creative “sniffer” to play up front alone so many times without blunting his edge.
It is difficult
to get the views from blogs
yet men live miserably every day
for lack
of what is found there
Great report
but it should have
been 4 0
The team has gradually gelled and is now functioning as a unit also in attack. The question is how our relatively new team is gonna cope with world class Chelsky. Wolves could surprise in a game where no one believes we stand a chance and the players have absolutely now pressure.
cracking report + pics ben
Very nice and spirited writing and reporting, Ben!
UP THE WOLVES!!!
Ah great atmosphere I’d say, old school ground , old school atmosphere ,new school philosophy!just nice to feel good about wolves againwhen I’m daydreaming . Let’s stuff Chelsea and go on an amazing league and cup run . Promotion and European football back at the molineux with a cup win:)))). “Dreeeeeeam, dream dream dream, dreeeeeeeam when I want you, all I have to do is dream”!
Excellent report, nicelly summing up the feelgood factor we’ve all been enjoying this week. Hope the trend continues, great to hear finally it’s not only gloom and doom when Wolves come into question. Cheers, everyone!
While I’d love to see upsetting Chelsea away, which, fingers crossed, MIGHT happen, I’d rather take another win in the league the coming weekend. I have always rated Dave Jones and all but now is now ;).
Thanks for all the lovely comments everyone! Makes blogging worthwhile!
For me living away here in ny the blogs make me feel so close to the action and the feel around the club.you both are doin top work boys. Real love buzz goin on today on this thread ,we’re all high on away wins!!
Have the rules changed or are you still not supposed to take pix at a footie match?
If so, I’m tellin’ on ya, Benny Boy!!!
Can we now keep this winning trend going ,just like wot we did with our losing trends of the last 3 seasons?
Mehopes so, coz it’s great to have the buzz back, watching the ‘puter,and listening to the commentary, fingernails rapidly disappearing down to the quick.
Fabulous result, it dont matter who we beat, as long as we beat ’em. Other teams will come a cropper at the lower placed team’s expense, as we know from experience. We gotta keep plugging away and winning everything that is thrown at us.
I will be more than happy winning every game 2 – 0.
Excitin’ thymes ahead!!!
On a sadder note, what a shame poor old “We have the best supporters in the land” Liverpool languishing in the Prem relegation spots.
We can wave to the arrogant bastards as we pass them in the other direction at the end of the season!!
FOwb
Possibly the wrong time to be mentioning Liverpool supporters as ‘arrogant bastards’ Clive, and if you really think we’ll be passing them in the other direction at the end of the season you’ve obviously been on the whacky baccy!
i would just like to say short sentences with full stops are the way to go and if any one has a problem with that they should complain about this awfully long sentence and i would just like to say 3 on the bounce up the wolves with no full stops
I is spelt with a capital I.
My tongue was in my cheek by the way when I wrote that!!!
i can live with it clive, wolves 3 on the bounce. if we had lost 3 on the bounce it would have hurt so much more.
Great post ben as always,Did’nt get get to hear the match i was at a wedding in tewkesbury so it was great to find out later on in the evening that we had won,it topped off a wonderful day,
glad to see the side starting to gel just hope we can keep the run going.it would be great if we can stay in touch within the top six.and as for Ikeme i think he is a better keeper than Hennessey..imo.UTW
Totally agree with Ray de Wolf, its reports and blogs that really keep us in touch. The reason i like this one so much is we have some constructive discussion and grrod reports. No one can properly report a Wolves again unless they are a fan. I can read all that clinical supposedly unbiased crap anywhere.
I am really not seeing ant disasters in the next three league games. We are the Wolves and we are coming back.
Apart from the win a draw against Chelsea would be a dream, give the boys a lift and bring back to Mol for the coup de grace as Del boy would say.
Bad news is when my dog was at vets yesterday morning they some how managed to buggar her Wolves collar, hope the shop still has some extra large left. Bet it was a Tesco fan. Mind you cant keep saying that now they dont look quite Tescoy any more. Have be the Sh**e again.
We’ll all have to do a whip round for a new dog collar mate! The new club megastore is so vast I’m sure it will stock one!
It will be interesting to see what sort of a side Chelsea put out against us. It’s quite likely to be a weakened one knowing how little the bigger Prem clubs fancy the cup.
Could be a good game.
Fancy a draw anyone?
Or are we all getting a little too carried away.
good reports I mean
One thing I take away from the beginning of the season is that our new guys CAN PLAY. Too many times MM would buy a player and he would never make an impact. SS doesn’t look like he has made one poor signing (albeit it’s still early) which bodes well for the future.
Also, thinking too far ahead. I believe Berra, Elokobi, Zubar, Hunt and SEB all have their contracts up at the end of the season. Come January, who do you want to sell, re-sign, or just play out the season and see what happens out of this group?
Out of all those, SEB is the only one likely to be retained I would have thought and is really the only one I’m bothered about.
Personally I’d look to keep SEB, Berra & Hunt.
The other 2 just arn’t up to it, Elokobi being the worst player to wear the shirt IMO!!
I’d sell Zubar in Jan & look to start intergrating Doherty into the first team squad I think its fair to say the glimpse we saw of him last season was encouraging.
Would be good to get Berra and SEB re-sign. I will hold judgment on Hunt, if he too could manage to find his form again then I would be happy to see him re-sign…but as he currently stands I`d much rather he didn’t…but here`s hoping…just look at Doyle!
Would be happy to see Zubes and Elokobi sold off come January…
Great blog, summed up the day it becane fun again. I took my nephew it was his first time on real terraces unless you count Stourbridge. And how he enjoyed it now he wants all the seats taken out of the south bank , to me for a couple of hours I felt 20 odd years younger.
I know these days because of the cash you have to be in the prem, but money don’t buy fun like yesterday.
Oh yeah and we played well, roll on next saturday and waching footy with a smile again ,
Great blog Ben. Inspiring me to try and get to some away games this season.
Great report Ben – sounds like FINALLY… It’s good to be a Wolves fan again! Yes it was only Peterborough, but it could have easily been the banana skin most thought it would be. Encouraging to hear from outside sources that we were as good as you report – as some have already pointed out, now we are gaining some confidence and gelling in our play; it will be good to see us tested against some better opposition. UP THE WOLVES! Btw – where did the shoes-off salute come from?! Very original!
I dread to think what the smell from the great unwashed was like with all those shoes off!!!
A very good blog and a very good atmosphere yesterday to go with the result. But does anyone else think that the answer to any lack of depth in the striker department can already be found at Tranmere ?
Yeah, would be interesting to see Cassidy play. He is banging them in at the moment!
Just read nigel reo-coker is available on a free. He would be perfect. A midfield three of henry, doumbia and him, would make us very strong, and i would fancy us for promotion. Come on the board. This is the signing that would make tge difference
Not for me 4ever. I looking for more inspirational signings from Stale, like Doumbia and Siggy for example. Young lads who are going places not Villa giveaways. Hopefully we can do better than that.
Beg your pardon. Forgot he went to Bolton.
Great win and really got the sense of occasion from the report Ben. I’m hoping for an equally awesome away day experience when I see us play Chelsea tomorrow.
As long as we put in a good performance and have a laugh as the away fans I’ll be happy. Anyone else going?
Completely off topic but does anyone know whether the Chelski cup game is on TV tomorrow night? Gutted I can’t make Stamford Bridge. I’m predicting big things against a Chelsea team who aren’t that impressive right now. UTW!
http://www.wiziwig.tv/broadcast.php?matchid=171969&part=sports
No links up yet but if anything becomes available 1hr before the game it’ll be there hopefully
Cheers Kford. I usually use livesportsonweb.com – Never seen this one before so a good alternative. Muchos Gracias.
The thing I shall take from these three games, is that Ståle Solbakken has made it ‘fun’ to be a Wolves fan again and I also I think, he has made it ‘fun’ for the players to play for Wolves.
This is in stark contrast to the MM/TC era of ‘put in a shift’.
I always believed that the players we have could perform better with a different attitude.
Certainly. Johnson, Berra, Henry and Doyle fall into this category from what I’ve seen.
Like Martin says who wants Premiership cast offs like Reo Coker when Ståle has introduced us to players we have never heard of, who have real class.
Onwards and upwards.
Our new lads, especially, I think will be up for playing a Premiership team tomorrow…
To be honest, win, (love it if we did), lose or draw I don’t mind, as long as we keep our ‘championship unbeaten run going….
I always said we should give everyone a second chance, and see how they perform under new direction.
Short term at least, it seems to be paying off, except for Ward, he’ll never be any good as long as he’s got a hole up his arse.
Now come the comments about how well he’s playing!!!
Bring ’em on, I got broad shoulders, Ward is, as ever, crap with a capital S.
FOwb
Thanks a lot guys . I live in India and since the relegation , its been quite tough to follow the matches. These reports really bring me close to the club.
Welcome Dhruv, great to know Wolves fans are India too.
I’ve no doubt our two leaders, Thomas and Ben will be delighted to have you on board.
Indeed we are delighted!! Thanks for checking us out Dhruv and the kind words. If we could afford every away game (and had the requisite green lights from our other halves) we would be filing blogs like this all the time! Radio WM is my source of information when I can’t make a game!!
Interesting to see that SS looks like he’s resting key players against Chelsea with an obvious focus on the league.
Boss has named squad for Chelsea game: De Vries, Ikeme, Stearman, Zubar, Foley, Margreitter, Batth, Davis, Edwards, Jonsson, Price, Forde, Peszko, Ismail, Hunt, Boukari, Nouble, Sigurdarson.
No SEB, Doyle, Sako, Ward, Johnson, Berra, Henry, Doumbia, Elokobi…
Would like to see more of Boukari as well as Ismail getting some minutes at last?!?!
Looks like we’ll lose the centre midfield battle at the bridge though 🙁
Good to see players responding to the new system. Robin makes a great point bout the fun back in our style. Read Edwards saying there is a lot less running involved for the midfield especially. This is good for long term burnout over 46 games, plus it seems more simple and organized . Mm had a bit of a headless chicken style seemed to me at times.would like to have seen a stronger squad at the bridge, But hopefully the fringe players can show what their worth and impress.
No Ward OR Elokobi in squad for Chelsea. So who will play LB and is Elokobi injured or just out of favour? Anyone know?
Who cares?
With those two clowns out, anyone is better.
We seem to be doing okay so far without Terence Connor.
Three wolves players made the sun championship team of the week. Foley, doumbia and WARD. Wot you sayin about that Clive? You cant disagree with the fountain of honesty, truth and knowledge that is the sun
What a lovely way to describe that wonderful institution which does so much good in the world.
Proves the old saying that you can fool some of the people all of the time.
I dont care if Ward scores a hat trick in every game for the rest of the season, he will still be shit!!!!
Great piece! Almost felt like I was there myself. Particularly liked the piece from the Posh’s rag.
Wish the Depress and Slur could be as complimentary in their writings.
And whatever joker commented on the line spacing should have better things to be doing with his time.
Saw the highlights on WolvesPlayer, and Siggo’s goal was class. Reminiscent of a young Irish lad now playing out in Los Angeles.
Plenty more wher that came from me thinks.
And as for the loan players, sign them up now! If the big fish begin to spot the potential we have with these players, the lure of Premiership football could be way to big to keep them at the Mol.
Keep up the good work, both STS and the writers / contributors to this site.
And one last thing…..For anyone not going to Chelsea tonight, check out “firstrowsports” Their website is “thefirstrow.eu” and appear to be streaming the match. I have had good experience with their coverage when Wolves games are televised by somebody.
Come on me Babbies!