Given the near sub-zero conditions, I think many of us were treating this replay as more of an exercise in duty than anticipation.
And yet, in the latest in their long line of magical acts, Gary O’Neil and his team conspired to deliver an enjoyable FA Cup tie.
Our exploits in football’s most fabled competition have been nothing to write home about since our heartbreaking trip to Wembley in 2019. However, with the team performing above expectations in the league, the magic of the cup has been palpable around Molineux in recent weeks.
Throw in the prospect of a fourth round tie with our old enemy and O’Neil’s charge had all the incentive they needed to put Brentford to the sword.
As is always the case with cup games, it wasn’t that straightforward. Say what you like about Nathan Collins, but he’s usually a talking point whenever he plays. After his kamikaze display in the league game at the Gtech, he profited from some shoddy Wolves defending to bag the Bees an undeserved opener.
The goal disrupted our early rhythm, so credit to the lads for drawing level thanks to Semedo’s Doherty-esque strike. One of the most frustrating things about the Portuguese wing-back has been his lack of attacking output in contrast to his predecessor, so it was great to see him add that to his ever-improving game here.
After that leveller, the stage was set for a routine turnaround victory, so it was unsurprising to see that fail to unfold. I suspected Maupay’s initially cancelled strike was onside, and so wasn’t too incandescent when our old friend VAR intervened in support of the away side. That’s not to say that either the officials or VAR had a good evening, with their frequent dilly-dallying frequently interrupting the flow of the game (although Thomas Frank’s unlikable side were also guilty of that).
To counteract such shenanigans, O’Neil was always going to have to get his substitutions right, so kudos to the gaffer for his decision to throw fledgling striker Nathan Fraser into the mix. His equaliser was one of the moments of the season, and enough to suggest we might have a decent prospect on our hands.
It’s a shame that we couldn’t wrap the game up in normal time, especially given that man of the match Cunha was visibly struggling towards the end of the game. Credit to the Brazilian for soldering on, and his winner from the penalty spot was the icing on the cake of yet another highly influential performance.
The striker is one of many increasingly key players in this Wolves side, and it’s tantalising to think about how the second half of the season might unfurl if we can keep everyone fit.
But first, it’s onto the small matter of ‘The Albions’ Brighton and the B*****s.
How’s everyone’s nerves?
A sure sign and reason that we are undoubtedly and unexpectedly on the up.
Every week seems to unearth another star, gem, hero.
Last night was Nathan Fraser’s turn. Previously Doyle, Cunha, Lemina, Hwang, Gomes, Sarabia,(Collins LOL). The list goes on.
Matt Hobbs and Gary O’Neil are building a team full of spirit, belief and talent, trusting the Gaffer’s tactics. It’s a potent mix, and we are scoring, winning and never giving up.
The future looks bright.
UTW
Great win for the boys! All normal plans cancelled to make way for the fourth round viewing!
Long may our form continue!
Due to a long standing date with Jonathan Pie (a very funny and VERY angry man) at The Cheese and Grain (a very worthy live venue in Frome), I thought I would miss the game.
How surprised was I when, on getting into the Jeep to go home, I heard the match was still in full swing – or should I say full shiver.
It sounded like another battling, if somewhat flawed, performance, but the result is what matters and we’re heading off to Mordor… sorry, sandwell, for the next stage of our quest for the silver grail.
GaryO’Neil continues to go up in my estimation. Quite ordinary players when he first took charge are turning into very good ones and the mental strength and togetherness of the pack shines through with every game they play.
As the great Stephen Stills of Buffalo Springfield once sang:-
“There’s something happening here
What it is ain’t exactly clear”…
But whatever it is,’ I like it!’
(I think Gerry and the Pacemakers did that one).
Sounds a great win against the very unlovely Brentford Nylons. Their keeper was probably starting to think about fiddling with his gloves when 2-1 up at 52 minutes!
Another sign of our steady improvement under GON. This was a match we could easily have lost in the past. I was a fan of Gary from the start. The reason is that I felt that his remarkable achievement, as a rookie coach, in keeping Bournemouth up, outstripped JLo’s achievement in keeping Wolves up. Plus Gary had to start his coaching career from the bloody top, the Premier League. And, he didn’t have a preseason at either club to prepare. Add the fact that VAR has kicked us and Gary in the teeth all season, and we should actually be several points better off. And, nobody is talking about the loss of Ruben Neves anymore. A good night all round for young English coaches, in that ex-Wolf, Rob Edwards, took Luton through a banana-skin fixture against Bolton.
Anyone else fed up of Brentford?
As DWW posted above, this was easily a game we would have lost in the past. A manager shapes his team’s tactics and attitude -yet again Frank’s team lost their discipline with headbutts and time wasting but at least they got their just desserts.
Couple of points from the match- Joe Hodge was tidy and effective but Mario epitomises what i love about this Wolves team. His grabbing the game by the scruff of its neck and driving the team forward at every opportunity made for an exciting match and makes Molineux a fantastic place to go when we are in full attack mode.
Doyle looks undroppable, Nathan has an inherent killer instinct which for all his technical skills, Fabio does not have and I can’t see him making it at PL level.
Cunha is going from strength to strength but we are missing Ait.
Hope the rumours of the latter being pursued by Liverpool are false, we don’t won’t another bum deal like the Jota steal – unless it’s a straight swap?
Santi is settling in well but Dawson’s influence was missed for their goals.
Yes, been fed up with them since their first game at Molineux in the Premier League when they took shithousery and time wasting to new levels and they haven’t been much better since. Sadly we have to play them again soon.
Well, we finally got to the finishing post…
I’m more than happy with that and we are ready to bash the Baggies next…
COYW
How good it was to see a home grown player come on when the tie was delicately balanced and score such a great goal.
Contrast this with the useless Silva. This hugely over-rated young man was given countless chances to impress, but never looked remotely like justifying his massive fee and obscene wage structure.
Fortunately for us Silva will for the next few months be doing his running around like a headless chicken interpretation up in Scotland where, playing in a competition which is of a similar standard to our Division 1, he likely will still struggle to score.
The expressed intent to send Fraser out on loan must surely be reconsidered. Quite clearly he has real promise and he deserves his chance to continue his development with us. If he is given decent opportunities his confidence can only grow. We`ll never know how good he can be unless he`s given his chance. Since we now have no up front alternatives to the excellent Cunha, this must be the deal time to see just what this boy can do,
Great win, all the right ingredients, a proper cup tie. Bring on the baggies.
People still banging on about Silva zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
I thought our performance was a bit ragged at times I have to say .. sloppy passes, lots of possession but doing nothing with it , and allowing Brentford to come onto us a lot when leading was a bit nerves .. well for me anyway .
Doc, unfortunately looked like a square peg in a round hole, and despite his best efforts, was no replacement for Ait Nouri or Bueno.
HOWEVER .. all the above matters not because history will show that we won and are through to meet our Black Country neighbours in round 4 of the FA Cup ..
Cunha was utterly mesmerising, Lemina provided the steadying nouse, Kilman the solidity in defence and Doyle hardly made an errant pass…
So on to Sandwell and I’m just hoping to bag Two tickets for her ladyship and myself ..
There were a couple of times when I thought my eyes were deceiving me, Maupay looked offside and the AR in front of me flagged but more importantly , Tommy Doyle sprayed a few passes about in Rubenesque fashion. If the club can’t find £5m to buy him, we should have a whip round.
Going a goal down is not a good idea at any level so this needs to be stamped on before it becomes a trend, we’ve done well to rescue points from being down but it’s not something to rely on. I love a clean sheet.
Rubenesque? This used to refer to busty maidens painted in the style of the artist Peter Paul Rubens.
Interesting that you referred to Ruben Neves, albeit obliquely. Just goes to show how far we have come this season when he is so rarely mentioned let alone lamented. He will always have a special place in the Old Gold firmament but we have coped well after his departure.