Knowing that the winners would face Coventry at home in the quarter finals, the chance to return to Wembley and avenge 2019 was staring us in the face.
Pressure, maybe?
You wouldn’t guess it with the belief running through this team. No matter the opposition, O’Neil has us perfectly set-up to compete in every game.
I’ve read a few grumblings online in regard to the defensive nature of the performance, which I’m baffled by.
Brighton were always going to dominate the ball. We took an early lead, caused them issues in the first-half with the press then managed the game superbly in the second period.
Yes, we could have taken better care of the ball at times, which O’Neil addressed post-match. There’s many things to like about Gary, not least his tactical acumen and communicating the areas we need to improve in.
The whole defence was superb in repelling the Seagulls, but Santi Bueno and Doc deserve special praise.
Santi grows with every performance and last night was the best of the lot. His positioning ensured that he easily dealt with everything in front on him, while Doc mopped up everything with aplomb on the right.
As for the other two changes, Doyle is a joy to watch on the ball and isn’t afraid of the physical stuff. Meanwhile, Bellegarde’s first-half performance is exactly what we want to see from him.
He caused the Brighton defence all sorts of problems with his direct running and did superbly to create the winner for Mario, who has found an appetite this season for joining attacks.
It’s disappointing to lose Hwang for Newcastle but he’s miles off the pace and a short period out of the firing line might not be a bad thing.
As displayed by the four changes tonight, every member of the squad is stepping up and taking their chance under Gary.
Yes, we’re short up front, but O’Neil has to take a lot of credit for finding ways around this and coaxing performances out of the likes of Sarabia, who is now instrumental to the front line.
Fighting for the European places in the Premier League and tantalisingly close to Wembley in the FA Cup – pinch me.
All true and a special mention for the crowd in the last 15 minutes. We were so noisy and helped drag the team over the line. Will Newcastle be a step too far? Last season without a doubt but despite a wafer- thin squad and being dead on their feet I anticipate a close game and possibly a share of the spoils.
Saw the game on tv and the noise and support of the Wolves fans towards the end of the game was fabulous! The lads had to be inspired beyond their dreams!
Two games in a row we have held strong in defence and as a former center back from years gone by, the performance was much appreciated! However, against a team like Man C. or Liverpool, don’t think we will hold out for so long, but am resting assured that GON will have a plan!
Coventry next, and without being overconfident, believe it is very winnable! As Nuno once said, “Dreams are for free!” , and I for one, am already dreaming!!
Very excited about the result and a potential cup run! However, I’m coming over from the US in two weeks with my family specifically to see the Bournemouth match scheduled for 16/3. This would be our first trip to Molineux. Am I correct in understanding that only a tie against Coventry beforehand, and therefore a re-play, would postpone the Bournemouth match? Thanks!
The Bournemouth game is postponed . The Coventry game will be played instead over the same weekend
Thanks for the response! I guess I’ll get in touch with fan services to see if they can facilitate some sort of exchange.
A master class by GON in my view . I certainly worried when I saw the line up but the use of three in midfield which I am not sure he has used before this season or if so rarely was a clear plan to stop Brighton playing and keep it tight with Sarabia and Neto to come on later and maybe win the match .
The early goal was a huge help but GON is going to be a truly top manager in the years ahead in my view .
Hwang was very poor so not a loss when he went off . The line up for Newcastle will be fascinating but I am confident that whatever it is will have been well thought about .
In the end
Living in Wiltshire (and being ancient) means that it’s difficult for us to attend evening matches but I was a bit disappointed to see that Molineux was by no means full for this game.
However, the noise emanating from the fans, especially in the final 20 minutes or so, was enough to send shivers down my spine even though I was sat in front of the wood burner with a warming glass of Hennessy in my grubby mitt.
It was truly a great evening, great atmosphere, great show of grit and great tactical awareness demonstrated. (And that was just at DOOGooder Towers, the family seat.)
I’m still not sure how we got away with it after the way Brighton dominated possession; but they didn’t really create too many clear cut chances and our defence was superb.
I hope that the injury to Hwang and Mario are not serious, but Hwang has been right off it since he came back from International duty, so perhaps he needs a rest.
Coventry next… and then Wemberleee?
If you’d said a few weeks ago we’d start this game without Neto, Cunha, Sarabia, Dawson and Semedo I wouldn’t have felt buoyant about our prospects.
But Gary found a way to get it done again with a team selection not many would have opted for, particularly with a route to the semi-final opening up ahead of kick-off.
I was pleased for Bellegarde because I think he’s been unfairly maligned having been asked to play up front. Much like Hwang last night, he’s never looked comfortable in that position. When he’s facing the play with the ball at his feet, it’s a different story and he made the goal and another great chance later on. He’s a very useful player.
As you say Paddy, Doyle and Santi were very tidy as well in a game where they were asked a lot of questions positionally with Brighton moving us all over the pitch.
Yes, they had loads out too, but they have depth and quality so it was still a tough assignment. Credit to them for maintaining such a high standard of football without eight or nine key players. But they lacked cutting edge and Sa didn’t make a save all evening, so they can’t begrudge us the win, even with their lofty possession stats.
I won’t be taking Coventry for granted. They’ll come with an army of supporters and a huge hunger for the result. But, at the same time, they’re a Championship team and we have a coach I believe in to do the preparation right. If we play to our maximum, we’ll win the game.
What a season this has been already. Let’s keep it going.
Well done to the squad and the fans, both providing the necessary attitude and endeavour.
All played well apart from Changy who gave the ball away numerous times in dangerous positions. He’ll come back to form though. Probably missing Cunha…
I am impressed by Bueno who performed excellently with little game time previously. Doc filled in seemlessly for Semedo who is having the season of his life. Doyle remains an artist in formation; so quick thinking and creative. Again there could be no complaints if the admirable Brighton had succeeded, but learning to win ugly in such circumstances is something new for us and another string to our bow.
Again we face the next game with another day’s less recovery time and another striker down. It’s going to be very difficult and may require more of the same…
COYW
Who does Bellegarde think he is? Bloody Pedro Neto? The way he was rampaging down that left wing looked positively Neto-ish. And Sarabia is reminding me of Jota’s early promise. In spite of the absence of key players, and the fact that we were up against a very good and bogey team in Brighton, we showed tremendous character. There’s obviously a great team spirit running though this squad. That’s mainly down to GON, who apart from his very obvious talents, is showing that he and Lady Luck are not strangers. GON is also gaining the respect of the key stakeholders in football by the way he has conducted himself in the face of extreme VAR bias. We are now getting the points we deserve on the field.
I am still buzzing after witnessing the victory at Spurs albeit sitting in the home end! (Although it did give me a great view of the Gomes winner on that stunning counter attack.) Getting to a FA Cup quarter final with a favourable draw is an added bonus.
While we are missing Cuhna and Hwang for potentially the next few weeks l suspect we may see 5-3-2 as our formation simply because we are running out of forwards. We have strength in depth in central midfield with Doyle showing he is more than up to the job.
Like everyone agrees GON is very tactically astute and will manage the resources he has available. I love listening to his press conferences as he is very open about tactics and honest about the performances. Exciting times ahead!
Hope he gives young Fraser a run-out against Newcastle if Hwang is still unfit – he must be bursting at the seams to come on – I’m sure there’s plenty of goals in him – if just given a chance..
Having just seen and read Liam Kean’s (E&S) critique of Matt Docherty.. it makes me wonder if he was at the game .. giving a score of 6 …
I thought he was a rock at Right Wing back, heading away and clearing dangerous box situations.. then when we did get forward .. he was running into space in their box looking for a return pass from Neto, which didn’t come …. no, I thought Doc was immense .. strangely, as did Lady Twix ..
Tommy Doyle impressed too with his terrier attitude and Bueno too was pretty formidable… and apart from Hwang , who clearly wasn’t on his game , I thought we were well worth the win.. there were the expected powerhouse performances too from, Kilman, Lemina and Toti
All in All a deserved and ground out result..
As previously stated .. another 1-0 shut out against a very good team .. I’ll take three more of those before seeing us lifting the Cup at Wembley…
I’ll be there to see us lift that cup too twix
Come on you wolves
You can get me that drink you’ve always promised me .. lol
Reflecting on yesterday’s result , we should not forget how devastating Brighton have been against us in recent fixtures, 14 goals in 3 matches before the last two games against us, where in contrast they haven’t scored against us in over 3 hours of football. That hasn’t happened by chance and GON, his staff and the team should take enormous credit for that. I’d love to see Fraser start at Newcastle and I will travel there with optimism even though our squad is absolutely threadbare at the moment.
They worked their socks off.
Great result, but I think there is even more to this result than first meets the eye.
In particular, the acknowledgement that the team were on pretty low energy levels, recognition of an opposition that thrives on high ball retention and the matching of tactics to selection.
It was clear (again) that the team were well briefed and motivated to follow instructions.
Not sure you can ask much more of a coach, nursed a small squad carrying injuries through to a cup quarter-final.
Finally a quick shout out to Boubacar who seems to generally go under the radar. Not sure we’ve fielded a team with so many people who love to tackle in quite a while.
Greetings,
You’ve got to feel for George Elokobi, one match and 5 goals away from the dream ticket to the Golden Fortress.
None the less he will be backing us to avenge that disappointment by putting the Cov contingent to the sword.
Just the small matter of the Geordies to put to bed before then, in the ex-Cherries Boss derby.
Great to see the unit putting in a shift despite being worn down to the knuckle. Trust Gazzbo can get a tune out of what’s left.
1 lv & COYW
Was able to watch live on nz tv ,I think the only other thing that could hold Brighton out for that long would have been Hadrians wall, but a few of the boys looked leggy hope this is levelled up by the fact that Newcastle played extra time in their match
Has anyone else noticed are refs have been pretty good lately
Whilst there is much to admire in Brighton’s inventive passing and movement, they never worked a clear cut opening to trouble Sa.
Our covering and anticipation was excellent and Brighton clearly miss a PL quality No. 9 as much as we do.
I never thought they would score and we never looked like getting a second goal either.
Pleased to see Sarabia and JRB have better games as both have unfairly been made scapegoats, by some, for poor results.
Onwards now to Coventry, who we of course respect in getting to this stage, but no mercy to be shown as they denied George bringing his heroes to the Molineux for a warm welcome.
If we can get Cunha back fit and firing, we should fear no-one.
If Maidstone aren’t playing, we should get George back to take a bow.
Agree with all the comments so far, the Steve Bull Upper was bouncing and hasn’t been that loud and active since the Nuno era. Credit again to GO’N for building a team that responds to crowd noise and also acknowledging the impact it had on that defensive barricade.
The squad is thin and players are carrying knocks. It must be annoying and frustrating for the staff knowing that European football and a Wembley appearance is feasible but might not happen because of lack of fit bodies.
I didn’t see the match, so it was good to read the comments here of those that did.
Thanks for that guys! I’m pleased that our boys did good in the face of 70% possession from our bogey team.
I wasn’t expecting too much to be honest and to see Mario’s name come up after 2minutes in FotMob was the icing on the cake!
What a great season it’s been so far and there could be more to come!
COYW!!!