This probably wasn’t what Amazon Prime had in mind to launch the first round of their Yuletide festival of football.
There was more than a touch of midweek Championship football about this forgettable fixture, which saw Wolves conspire to win despite being well off the pace for the most part.
Still, winning when you haven’t played well isn’t a bad habit to master and is in stark contrast to what we’ve gotten used to in seasons gone by.
I was initially surprised by how effusive O’Neil was about his player’s efforts at full-time, especially given his agitated touchline antics throughout the game.
However, in hindsight, I can understand why the gaffer was pleased to get through this one unscathed. Burnley had their tails up after routing Sheffield United last time around, meaning this bout had ‘potential banana skin’ written all over it.
Indeed, the script may have read differently at full-time were it not for a solid performance from the Wolves rearguard.
Bentley deserves credit for the terrific double save that prevented the Clarets from opening the scoring, and Dawson and Kilman were both terrific throughout.
We were less impressive in midfield, where both Gomes and Lemina were both well below their usual standards. Although both improved after the interval, they were completely overrun in the first 45.
Up top, I thought Sarabia was mightily impressive. The Spaniard is definitely one to file under the ‘luxury player’ moniker but made the most of his opportunity last night.
Cunha and Hwang were less inspiring but still combined well for the winner, further underlying the burgeoning potency of their partnership.
All in all, we got the job done and are a tidy 11 points clear of the drop zone heading into the congested festive period which, given the gloomy pre-season forecast, isn’t to be sniffed at.
It wasn’t pretty, but who cares?
It’s three valuable points in the bag with no real dodgy decisions apart from a couple of dubious bookings.
Onwards and upwards with Forest next.
COYW
I was nervous about Burnley after they just thrashed the Blades 5-0. We’ve played better and lost, Ben. I’ll take rubbish wins all day long at the moment. My pre-match prediction was a 2-0 win with Hwang scoring, so I was at least partially right. I was willing the team on to get that crucial second goal though. Santa will being us more points this month!
Let’s face it, it was a pretty awful game but that doesn’t matter a jot because last night the result was all that mattered – this really was a MUST WIN, so mission accomplished, but can well understand why Gary was prancing around in such an animated fashion.
Job done so on to Saturday which probably won’t be any easier.
Neatly summed up Ben. It was, for the most part, an atrocious game of football. We were so lacklustre in the first half but, for once, got a slice of luck and managed to get a goal we perhaps didn’t deserve.
We were better in the second half. While we didn’t have many chances, I felt we were in control. We limited them to any meaningful chances after that double save and bar a few hairy moments saw it out pretty comfortably. If we were poor, they were poorer, certainly in the second half when they should have been really pushing for the equaliser.
How often in the past would we have failed to win those games? In fact, we’ve barely beaten Burnley in the last decade at all.
This one was always going to be about winning. What was Mick McCarthy’s phrase – wipe your gob and move on to the next one. It was always going to be a flat atmosphere, with the small number of away fans tucked away in the North Bank, and games like these often fall flat as a result. Burnley, to their credit, made it difficult to play through them too.
But this home match was just about winning, putting crucial daylight between ourselves and the bottom 3. Another win on Saturday and we really can start looking upwards. That probably would be too much to ask as a Wolves fan, though.
I had to laugh when I got home and caught the end of the Luton-Arsenal match. There were probably more goals in that one than shots on target in ours. No two games are the same, right? I guess that’s why we love it.
A vanilla performance for me, everyone worked hard for this vital victory without being standout .
I was initially impressed with Burnley’s desire to press high and take the game to us, we never really worked the ball forward with any comfort and was pleased to see us go long albeit we don’t have a forward who is able to win and protect high balls.
Pleased to see their tricky left winger go off early allowing Nelson to have one of his better days foraging up the wing.
Not memorable but we pocketed the points, same again Saturday will be welcome.
I said in the pre match blog this would be one that was on a knife edge. I said a 2-1 win. But will take the 1-0 and three vital points. Forest will be a better game. Saturday. 3pm. Full away contingent. A bit of spice left over from last season. MGW getting a nice ‘welcome’. Interesting stat . Going back our last 12 premier league games ( including a lot of very tough fixtures) we have W 7 / D 3/ L 2. That is 24 points from 12. Fortress Molineux !!
I should have of course said last 12 ‘home’ games !!!
An excellent summary Ben. Just one further thought from me. I can’t remember seeing Toti Gomes ever having a bad game. Is he the new Dennis Irwin?
He’s had the odd dodgy one if you go well back but he was excellent on Tuesday and his performances probably ensure O’Neil will be sticking with a central back three for the foreseeable future.
Preferring to focus on the positives, Bentley was good in goal, making 2 good saves and giving us our first clean sheet since August.
Hwang showed great composure for his goal. Cunha covered every blade of grass, as did Lemina.
Kilman pinged some good long passes cross field, reminiscent of a previous Captain.
Dawson and Toti had decent games. The former in particular.
Sarabia showed subtle skill and was pumped and animated during the game.
Gomes got caught in possession in our box, gifting Burnley a chance. Sarabia free kick was decent, but his corners were poor.
Burnley had a tactic, to press high, which is why we started playing long balls.
I think Hugo’s injury was just bad cramp, so we have played a tricky team, who are better than their position suggests, and won.
Not to be sniffed at. Everyone out in a shift, and whilst not total football, we did enough to deserve the win.
UTW
Kudos to that Korean guy for scoring again.
Not a good game to watch never seem able to play decent football against teams down the bottom for rum reason. Plus never seem to play two half’s of football the same but a win is what we wanted and got now NF another three points and flying up the league.
This was a game we would have tended to lose in previous seasons. So we’ll done to all the players who put in a gritty if not outstanding performance. Winningthis game was paramount in my view.
I thought this was Sarabia’s best performance so far though quietly understated. His creativity is there to see but he needs to be more dominant. Maybe, like Hwang, he’s one of those guys who needs a season to really get going.
However, there are other players of stature vying for these positions, which, for us, is good.
It gets no easier with Forest desperate for results coming up at the weekend. If we can get the points from that it will heighten our confidence.
This is another of those types of game we don’t always turn up for so let’s hope we can break the pattern yet again.
It would be good to play well as we can, but I’ll take a win such as last night’s at present after all the poor VAR performances.
A word about Hwang,
In his early days he was a prolific goal scorer, but then seemed to lose his way. During his early time with us, he showed few signs of regaining his old form, But was that due to our coaches [ Bruno and Lop ] playing him out of position ?
But now Hwang is playing in a new role similar to that of his early days, which clearly suits him. He has this priceless ability to arrive in the right place at the right time, and is proving to be a clinical finisher. Eight goals in fifteen games in the Premiership playing in a very moderate team is an outstanding return!
Much credit is due to GON for identifying Hwang`s strengths, and playing him in a role where he can be most effective. Hwang clearly revels in his new role. His confidence, boosted by the unstinting support of his coach, is sky high. He now plays
expecting to score when a half chance come his way.
For us as a team, after the endless months of having no real threat up front, this is a huge development which should not be underestimated
Hats off to Simon the Wolves supporting boss at Wayne’s Bar.
The place was heaving with neutrals but he made them sit through all that and only switched the multiple screens over to Luton v Arsenal when our game was over.
If the team can display Simon’s level of resilience for the rest of the season, I’m not ruling out Europe !
Agreed Ben. It was a horrible game to watch but one you’ll forgive when you get the result.
I could smell danger beforehand so very pleased to pocket the three points, setting us up nicely to attack a favourable run of fixtures between now and the end of December.
Why was it such an ugly contest?
I think Burnley did a good job of making it difficult to play out down the channels and Wolves didn’t have an effective plan B.
Both teams were more interested in basing their game on pressure without the ball to try and create openings and that’s exactly how we got our goal and Burnley, their best chance.
I don’t necessarily subscribe to the idea of just hoofing it up the pitch to overcome a high press, but I do think there’s value in getting defenders running back towards their own goal more often with a measured long pass. Every time we did that, Burnley looked vulnerable.
Tactics aside, personnel came into it too.
Sarabia was probably owed a start after his heroics against Spurs. He also did well when he came on at Arsenal, showing in both games that when he can get turned in the final third he has the quality to unlock deep-lying defences. But his inclusion, combined with what looked like a narrower shape really condensed the game. Still, he did contribute to the goal, tested the keeper with a decent free kick, sent in a great cross for Dawson in the second half and showed the requisite levels of effort. I can’t be too critical individually – it’s more just what his inclusion does to that attacking line. Cunha and Hwang can go past players, but I think we really need that third forward to have the ability too, so while Pedro remains out, I would always be turning to Bellegarde – who I still think is a real find.
I’m not Ait-Nouri’s biggest fan but his ability to manipulate the ball and go past players would also have come in handy last night in those congested areas. He might also have lost the ball and created us problems I suppose, but there’s no doubt we can be more fluid in possession when he’s in the team. I quite like Bueno, but he’s a more direct, knock-and-run type player.
But to only focus on our shortcomings with the ball would be to disregard our very tidy defensive efforts. Many question Bentley’s ability but he kept us level with those two great saves and generally looked secure. Kilman and Toti dominated anyone that came in their vicinity and Dawson was again a colossus in defending his penalty area. Lemina and Gomes have had more effective games, but they do make life difficult for opponents with their pressing and sheer volume of tackles. The grind and hustle of those five players right at the heart of our team is what allows the others to shine, so I don’t underestimate their importance.
Some time since I contributed but both my ‘Apples’ decided to go sour at the same time and I’ve been offline.
We couldn’t make it to Molineux so watched the match on TV, not entirely convinced by the team performance (and the noise and atmosphere came across as very subdued), but there were some stand out individual displays.
Bentley was key to the win and impressively vocal in his command of his penalty box and defence.
Hwang showed a sublime finishing touch from Cunha’s slick assist – they are starting to gell well.
The defence looked solid for the most part and Kilman’s range of passing is improving with every game.
Bueno was frustrating last night. He was so positive when he first got into the side and now he receives the ball, moves forward 5 yards, stops and either passes sideways or back. I hope it’s just a confidence thing, he’s got the potential to be very good.
I’m starting to love Gary O’Neil. He’s so positive, enthusiastic and willing to give time to commentators and pundits. He also knows a thing or two about tactics and strategy.
I think he’s done a lot to raise our profile and get us talked about in the media over the last couple of months.
That can only be a good thing for the club.
The Burnley defenders and goalkeeper should all have red noses and big boots like clowns. From my seat they played nervously every time the Wolves attacked.
In the second half the South Bank picked up on this and jeered every time the Burnley defense touched the ball.
Wolves didn’t need to get out off 1st gear and every time they attacked they could have scored.
Forest will be harder and less errors but with Morgan Gibbs Sh**te overplaying to prove a point I hope for another win.
Are you making fun of Morgan Gives-Shite ? Bit of grandstanding coming?
oh dear … we should have kept Raul
Well done tonight … still proud of him
Can we save up and Bring Ruben home ?
Raul was treated VERY poorly by our previous manager, I forget his name, the one that ran away.
I watched the game and he looked back to his best yesterday. I think GON could have coaxed that out of him given the chance.
A shame.
I was so pleased to see his performance. Hopefully this may give him the confidence to perform well, except against us hopefully. Love the guy… ?
Greetings, Cheers Ben,
Glad to see the back of the Carrots. Far too threatening for my liking. Having VC in your corner doesn’t look bad either. Time we went up Turf Moor and give them a good seeing too in the return.
They tried some ruff stuff, but Hwang He Chan ‘d them.
A bit perplexed at the lack of Papa Doc / Sasa combo’s intimidating visitors for the last quarter. What’s going on? Save them for after Xrimbo and the top 6 push? Maybe games have been too tight for that luxury.
Dan Bentley 160 minute clean sheet. Well done.
Gazzbo seems to be keeping his head and unlikely to be carted off to the psyche ward before March.
Neto should be back to keep his spirits up.
3 points. I’m feeling greedy.
1 lv & COYW
We’ve played better and lost so I’ll take it and move on.
For sure the team seems fully committed to the cause and as a fan, that is so good to see.
Quick PPG update after round 15 games completed. Current bottom 3 Luton, Burnley Sheff Utd. Luton in 18th on target for 23 points by game 38. So as it stands 24 points currently keeps you up. Wolves on target for 45/46 points.