As far as Christmas presents go, a scrappy home win against a team ranked only marginally higher in the lower echelons of the Championship table is hardly the most grandiose of gestures.
But considering this was our first win at Molineux since September 24, it really did feel like Santa had come to town.
Prior to Tammy Abraham’s equaliser, you’d be forgiven for scoffing at the suggestion that the Robins were capable of causing a swashbuckling home side too many problems.
Another goal from Dave Edwards, his fifth in eight games, gave us a deserved early lead and a second seemed inevitable given the gusto with which we attacked a seemingly overwhelmed opposition.
However, profligacy in front of goal proved our undoing and, in scenes eerily reminiscent of our first half showing against Fulham, we headed in to the break trailing.
The aforementioned Abraham was irrepressible for most of the afternoon so our defence can perhaps be excused for being outdone by City’s first goal but nothing can justify the paucity of their efforts for the second strike; you simply cannot defend set pieces in that way and expect to go unpunished.
One has grown to suspect that Paul Lambert’s remedy for our fragile back four is to simply outscore the opposition and our second half showing enforced that theory resoundingly.
Despite a stuttering start, the players were reinvigorated in their attempts to level things up and, after a series of near misses and questionable oversights by referee and pantomime villain for the day James Adcock, were deservedly rewarded for their efforts.
Helder Costa’s strike was beautiful to behold and offered a glimpse as to how potent an attacking force we could grow to be under Lambert’s stewardship, given a clean bill of health and some wily recruitment in the next transfer window.
Adcock was presumably keen to atone for his prior sins when he awarded a not so blatant penalty in the final ten, one which was dispatched with aplomb by the ever improving Ivan Cavaleiro.
Ours was naturally a lead that was far from easy to defend but retain it we did, though the chagrin of the opposing manager and traveling support suggested that video technology would have deprived us of the three points.
However, given the gratingly bullish demeanour of Lee Johnson, this detail only served to sweeten the taste of victory.
Before signing off, a word on some of the individual performances seen yesterday.
Connor Coady is not so convincing as to suggest he is the long term solution to our right back conundrum but he certainly looks a better immediate fit that Dominic Iorfa.
Danny Batth is in greater need of a fully fit Mike Williamson than anyone else; whether as a defensive partner or much needed competition for a starting berth, our captain is sure to benefit from his presence in the squad.
Jack Price is more crucial to us than any other player barring Costa, such is his ability to calm proceedings around him and more crucially quicken the transition between defence and attack.
Finally and most obviously, Costa and Cavaleiro offer the key to a surge up the league table. When on form, these pair are arguably better than any other winger in the division. Keeping them fit has to be a priority moving forward.
Reasons to be cheerful have been in short supply this season but yesterday offered more signs of life than have been seen at any point since the early throes of the campaign.
Let’s hope they’re not just for Christmas.
Although a “deserved lead” after only 3 minutes is a bit if a stretch i agree with much if this.
Jack Price showed his value to the team today as did Costa and Cavaliero. It’s also great to see Dicko back occupying centre halves in a muscular, intelligent and pestilent way that we’ve so missed for months.
Coady did ok but the back four as a whole are always liable to gift the opposition, season of good will or not.
Having said that it was a must more cohesive team performance and there are signs that PL is beginning to work his Wolves out.
Another excellent analysis. I felt Strawn deserves a mention due to his goal line clearance which from what I saw did not cross the line. Doherty also deserves criedit for his attacking prowess, although he could defend better at times. But all in all there’s real glimmers of hope again from what we’re some dark few weeks.
Well said Kevin, replace hope with light and weeks with Years and it would have been perfect. The only way is up hopefully. Happy New Year.
Great entertainment, and a great comeback from a half time deficit for the second home game in a row. If nothing else Lambert has got his players hungry and motivated, with steely determination to succeed. But, defensively our lack of height again nearly cost us the three points.
When the teams lined up I thought their right back and centre half were from wwf wrestling, not a footballing side. No guesses if any Stoke scouts were at the game, Crouch will be the first name on their team sheet, on current form we just won`t be able to handle his airiel prowess.
However I would question why Ikeme, who must have realised the big centre half would be a target at corners, why the hell wasn`t he coming for the crosses like he dis last week at Forest.
However I drove back north on the A38 a very happy bunny, what a feast of football for me over Christmas, maybe a commanding centre half with height and physical presence on Jan 1st.
You sense something might be building. City were due a better performance and they delivered but we still came out on top. I am sure PL will be looking for additions in January. My verdict so far looks like he will be an up grade.
A very satisfying win, I felt that we would get a little run going over the Christmas period which now seems the case. We now have distance between the bottom 3 and can start looking up the table. I never wanted the Lambert appointment but now I am feeling different and feel that it may be a shrewd move – glad I have been proven wrong. Good old Stearman saved the day, and yet again dangerous Dave answers his critics with another goal – Costa was yet again amazing with another great goal. A few additions January and we will be fine. We are only 9 points from the playoff’s it is a big ask but the unimaginable is always possible. Looking forward to QPR and putting another nail in Holloway’s coffin. Onwards and upwards!!
Seems like I picked the wrong match to watch at the Mol (v Sheff Wed), since then they have been all out action and excitement.
Dangerous Dave struck again with a trademark goal. Opposition managers must pull their hair out when they no doubt warn the players about him.
Cav seems to be adjusting to the Champ and from what I have seen, and read, will be a big player for us.
Costa is a class above in this league and would probably be comfortable in the Prem. Will be a big loss for us as I can’t imagine him staying even with the ‘creative’ ways Wolves are looking into.
So a good xmas for us and hopefully we can get into mid table and build for next season.
🙂
The midfield and the strikeforce are really performing well these days. Would I still resign Sako? Yes I would. I’m sure he would turn out to be an asset. He can play on both wings and as a central attacking midfielder. He knows the club and the league. A no brainer if there’s cleared up space for him.
A poll on the wolvesblog would have been interesting. I think over 90 percent of the fans would have resigned him.
A great relief Wolves Blog it certainly was.
No mention of the half time booing though and as MGD states Icecreamy still dreadful from crosses.
To remind you the Brum and Middlesbrough away, cross failures that he allowed goals to name just two, that cost us the playoffs behind Brentford.
OK so now we know as I did,nt count that their attemps added up to 22,which most as we saw never troubled him.
Danny Batth after lots of being excused and chances, is a liability irrelevant of who plays with him sorry to say.
Now before you get carried away with Lamberetta, yes we have earned some points under him but have been without doubt very very very lucky. Perhaps we deserve such luck.
QPR ten men for most of the game nearly equalising.
Managing to concede 4 goals at home to draw.
A very poor Cardiff beat us then we beat an extraordinarily poor Forest they acknowledge.
And yesterday a debatable penalty and a ball that crossed the line but did,nt count saved us.
Yes I enjoyed the match and the result but have not seen a Reading,Blues,Newcastle or Villa performance from HIS teams, that all Wolves fans know are there, before bringing in any new faces,that his squad have already proven.
We have not been playing the quality teams opf the division so the jury is still out.
At Blackburn over a similar period he did manage to avoid relegation but as we know that was his lot.
Want him to succeed but still not convinced, unlike the very same walking on Walter fans on this forum.
You sometimes wonder whether English is Amanda’s first language
And we don,t have to wonder what your contribution to life is Herbert in the Cotswolds twinned with Billy Bob in the HillBillies.
Sorry Amanda that’s too subtle for me – who is Billy-Bob?
Exactly CotsOLD Wolf your Hillbilly bro.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsC4kf6x_Q0
What do you mean – ‘sometimes’… ?
This result and hopefully a good result should make us more attractive come January window. Defence is still a reall issue who ever seems to play we cannot out score teams every game.
On the plus side I think Lambert has seen the light re: Saville and Wallace……..I hope and with Ziro to come back and Graham the attacking department is looking good……but defence even with a fit Williamson still need urgent attention.
Paul.
Rumour mill has Wallace going to Newcastle for £3.5 million in January.
Saville should be down the job centre, so perhaps you may get your wish.
It’ll be worth it to get rid of him!!!
Stu, have we got to pay £3.5 mil’ to Newcastle, Lol.
It does seem a lot off money for him, though I don’t feel he’s as bad as some on here would seem to think.
We need a commanding centre half.
Williamson is not the answer.
We need a better goalie too.
Not sure about Dicko either.
Still Lambert has got the ‘lads’ into a cohesive force that, despite defensive lapses, never give up.
Tighten the defence, keep hold of Costa and we will definitely stay up.
Team spirit seems good, perhaps we are turning a corner, just need dicko to get a goal and the defense to tighten up i.e. full backs stopping crosses into the box and goalkeepers to command the box.
If we all pull together (no booing please) who knows ?
IF ONLY……..
We could defend
We could score more
Danny Batth could head the ball
Danny Batth could pass to one of our coloured shirts
Dicko could get that confidence goal
Ikeme could catch a ball in the middle of the goal
Ikeme could keep coming when he decides to run at the ball
We could defend set pieces better
Conor Ronan had come om yesterday
Bright had played as well in the first half as he did in the second
The bloke sitting next to my missus didn’t answer me when I talk to her.
IF ONLY the world were round and world peace was a possibility.
I would reply but not sure if you were talking to the Mrs.
This one game very adequately sums up our situation. We desperately need to shore up our pathetic defense with new experienced signings or, irrespective of the quality of the likes of Costa and Cav, we cannot progress. Bristol City are a very modest team, yet our woeful defenders somehow managed to let them back in a game which they looked destined to lose heavily, making then seem far better than they really are.
Unfortunately, it is the case that individually neither Baath nor Stearman are up to the standard needed, being far too error prone. As a unit they are a calamity — always a disaster waiting to happen. The returning Williamson alongside one of these two cannot be the answer. Both of them must surely be replaced.
Credit to Mr Lambert. He is getting results despite the inadequacies of players he inherited. His teams are beginning to play attractive football with some confidence. The recruitment of a quality striker able to convert the chances being created would be icing on the cake. I for one increasingly believe he has the ability to take us all the way to the promised land.
I’d propose Brede Hangeland or Robert Huth as alternative defensive solutions.
Were you at the Reading Brum,Newcastle and Villa games yet you come out with that Mr Lambert nonsense ?
‘He is getting results despite the inadequacies of the players he inherited.’
Yes those very same players that he now has to rely on luck with.
QPR,Fulham,Forest and Bristol. How bad were they at Cardiff ay ?
You want to stop hallucinating mate.
I also remember the farces and disgusting failures at the likes of Wigan, and all the regular pathetic excuses for continued failures which Zenga trotted out every week
Luck or no luck, 10 points from the last 15, is a far better return than we have been used to. Nice to have a manager who`s team actually tries to play attractive attacking football, which results in goals being scored.
I suggest its time for you to put your obvious prejudices behind you, think positive and at least give the guy a chance.
Last season we managed a short winning streak of four matches over the Christmas/New Year period, let’s hope that this is the start of a similar run. Last year we were reliant upon the contributions of Zyro, Graham and a couple of fortuitous own goals to put a run together, this time it’s a totally new set of contributors but good fortune again certainly shone upon us yesterday.
There are many weaknesses that have already been identified in yesterday’s performance but the important feature is that we were certainly entertained and hopefully that will result in improved attendances in the future. One last point, this is our team, they have shown they have the fight to come back when losing so no need for what’s becoming routine halftime booing.
Ledbury.
I honestly believe the fans were booing the ref, (again) he was just pure criminal.
His new Porsche was delivered by those Far East Bookmakers straight after the game.
Three points, never in doubt.
Well, maybe a little bit in doubt.
OK, we were all calling for our brown trousers.
Stearman might be ‘a mistake waiting to happen’ but how many times has he got his body in the way or performed goal line miracles over the years?
That’s a rhetorical question by the way, suffice to say it’s a lot.
And ‘Dangerous Dave’, a liability according to some, once again comes up with the goods.
Do you think if we all clubbed together (I’ll put in a fiver), we could persuade Costa to stay on for a few more years?
What a talent!!!
Another flawed performance but a good show of team spirit after the initial panic caused by their equaliser.
A successful Festive return so far, especially as the PMDG’er bought us tickets to see Bob Dylan in May.
It’s a couple of days before the Ballbash so I might well get over excited and will have to remember to wear the incontinence pads.
Happy New Year everyone!
And now Carrie Fisher just died.
When will it all end?
Toupee from Tombstone does,nt your name answer your question Baldy..
Princess Layre ,may the Force be with you…….R.I.P.
When we went 3-2 up someone near me said ‘this game has got 4-4 written all over it’. Kind of summed it all up. Only the breadth of a pencil stopped it being 3-3. What a change from last seasons bore draw syndrome. A time when we were grateful for a shot in the 78th minute. But I guess we didn’t have Costa Cav Dicko and Bright to worry opposition coaches. So PL is doing the right thing and concentrating on the strengths rather than weakness. More encouraging signs of a ‘team’ emerging. Play offs ? 15 wins from 23 might do it.
Great win, decent performance, 4231 works, Costa and Cavaleiro starting to look the real deal, Enobakhare still shining bright, decent options off the bench in Mason and Bodvarsson, Jordan Graham back soon, new signings imminent – centre half, full back and striker and moving steadily up the table. Bring on 2017!
Meanwhile Amanda Hugandkiss’s ‘wee’ team did their usual at Arsenal, piling bodies behind the ball in an effort not to lose by too many. Ambition? Hope? Optimism? All alien concepts to the Sandwell Shadow Dwellers and their handful of fans. Imagine waking up one morning and realising you support them! It’d almost be enough to force you to crave excitement by becoming a sad little troll on a football blog.
Three more points on Saturday please!
Bedbound Wolf what a pityful old man, mentally disturbed by our Black Country neighbours who are light years ahead of us.
Who have smackeds us from pillar to post over the past 20 years.
Yet your childish hatred of a football team blinds you so much, that you resort to pure stupidity and on this public forum.Have you no sahame and embarrassment grampse.
I for one live to see the day that we play the Albion twice a season in the Premier, its the top game for both sets of fans.
While bozos like you,lifes irrelevants, skulk from the shadows with your silly and nasty schoolboy taunts.
Nothing guaranteed more to draw the venom out of Amanda Hugandkiss than an attack on his beloved Sandwell Shadow Dwellers.
Right up until the late 19th century freak shows were very popular. People would pay money to see weird, sad and often mentally challenged souls and even poke them with sticks to get a reaction. Fortunately they were quite rightly banned. And then along came Amanda Hugandkiss. Poke it with a stick and stand back and watch the reaction for your amusement.
As someone once said – it’s a ‘sahame’ and, like the Sandwell Shadow Dwellers most weekends, pointless.
Bedbound Wolf the schoolboy pensioner ‘Banning Buffoon’ who cannot hold is own s*it.
He clearly needs a napkin but what type, a table or toddler one ?
Mentally disturbed, and pure stupidity on this public forum.
Your very own words, or at least posted with your handle above.
Pot very much calling the kettle black.
I would like to say that once in a blue moon you have something akin, albeit distant, to an original thought.
I would like to say it but……………………….
My old mum told me not to lie.
Cheers Captain America you foul mouthed Bald Eagle.
Don’t waste your time Clive. The shim isn’t worth it.
Bedford. If i woke up one morning in a shirt with that fucking sparrow on it I would probably saw my head off.
How many seasons has it been that we have been talking about Wolves’ fragile defence?! The latest strategy to solve the problem appearing to be waiting for Williamson’s return from injury?!
Is it really too much to expect a group of (allegedly) experienced professionals to know how to play their position, and how to play as a defensive unit?
Just the back four alone would be nice .. getting coverage from defensive midfield would be a bonus .. but probably too much to ask ..
After all, when you are taking baby steps .. it can take a while ..
Something to talk about.
Iv’e just had a call to say Dicko is likely to be off to sunny Brighton.
Opened the Wolvesnewsnow site and it’s plastered all there that a foreign side, Fulham and Brighton are after him. So there may be a ring of truth in it after all.
Personally, I would have stuck with him, but what do I know about football, I’m a Wolves fan.
RIP Carrie Fisher,
Now I’m really worried.
Wouldn’t be surprised to be honest.
Think he has wanted out since his mate left…
He is half the player without Sako..
Let him go..
Tend to agree with nige, but with the proviso that we get Dunk or delany in exchange.
That’s great.
He can not score for them as much as he likes!!
A very good 3 points with the chink of light for the frame still there ..possible?
Prob not ..that’s at least 5 games at Molineux we have given the other team 2 goals..
How we won this was incredible..
I look back on the 2016 part of the season and see it as a total cock up give or take acquiring Costa who is brilliant..
Just think where we would be if we could concede only 1 goal in a match?
So for me the season has been virtually thrown away because of the half backs and Iorfa….(Ikeme on crosses) and to put this right in January even Williamson fit and on form will prove just too much..
So..we have to beat QPR, Sheffield, and Villa
just to keep back on track and then Norwich for good measure or hope that the pack will start loosing points..
In other words cling on to hope ironically with money to spend too..
Why we didn’t buy defensive insurance is completely beyond me and will dominate my thoughts for this season..as will incidentally January to see if PL accepts we stay in this shite league or genuinely goes for it and works a miricle..
I saw the goals for Bristol yesterday on You -tube …..it really was absolutely…..just like ground hog day.
Hear hear. Also a shame we had to wait until we were losing before we started to finish off our chances.
We need a CF who scores for fun as our TOP priority.
Just wandering whether Sako would be off to the Africa cup or whether big Sam would let him come back on loan, it would be great to bolster the team with him . He coordinated the entire left hand side of the park from left back to center forward . Massive void after he went .
Bakary Sako.
While Lamby andThelwelly have scotched rumours today the bookies make us favourite to sign Sako bako.
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2016/12/28/bakary-sako-next-club-odds-promotion-rivals-derby-county-and-she/
It’s all about the points and we got the bastards
Well done lads nice to see some character to come back again
Cav is starting to prove a few people wrong I said a month a go he needed game time and to adjust to our league and it all seems to be falling into place
Costa is magic pure class
Need the,January sales now to shore up defence caus if we do we could surprise a few and go on a lovley run now!!!!
Personally don’t think dicko will be off I’d be surprised someone paying 4 odd mill for him at the mo he,hasn’t started scoring yet and proving his worth
Up the wolves
Another celebrity/pop star/rock star croaks it in 2016. I would imagine all current celebrities/pop stars/rock stars are shitting themselves and just hoping to get through the next 4 days unscathed…….
I think people are too down on our defence sometimes. I mean, I never saw em put a foot wrong against Brizzol, which might have more to do with the fact that I gave the game a miss, but honestly, my heart can’t take this many matches so close together and I’m sure I could watch Charlie Carole’s clowns for free if I could be arsed to flick through a million channels to find Billy Smarts Christmas Extravaganza! So like Captain Kirk and Dr Spock I beamed myself off for some richly deserved r&r. I mean, they don’t come to see me when I’m bad!
So here we go again….nearly. Another new year full of promise and excitement (?)….and pain, no doubt. Who’ll be the signings? Will Dicko Dick-go as some chap on here has mooted? Will Jed hed to Nuke-hassel? I really can’t get too upset to be honest, I know we’ll miss their goals and all….
I’ve enjoyed reading a much more involved Amanda and her Clockwork Orange prose, this issue. But there’s been some interesting stuff too and a couple more wins and we’ll be in the top half of the table where we surely belong.
Anyway, hopefully I’ll have something to say on the game on Sunday and not fill time waffling on about nothing.
UTW
And I know it was Mr Spock! You bloody pedants!
Fantastic game to follow the 4-4. To his credit, Lambert hasn’t taken long to work out our best formation, that the youngsters needed removing from our back four and, even then, that attack is our best form of defence. It may be more by luck than judgment (due to shortcomings of current personnel) that Lambert has had to resort to going on the offensive but let’s hope it continues after reinforcements arrive. This is the sort of Wolves I like to see.
The January 2017 Transfer Window explained.
Who have Wolves already signed ?
Everybody knows the January transfer window opens on January 1 2017 but with games so early in the New Year some early signings may not be eligible to make their competitive debuts straight away.
However given that it’s a weekend, don’t expect too much activity until everyone rolls back into the office on the Monday.
Owing to Premier League and Football League regulations and the way games fall on January 2, 3 and 4, clubs signing new players and wanting them to debut in those games must have the full paperwork and deal done – including registration – by midday on New Year’s Day.
Rules state that registration has to go through before midday on the working day before the match in question and the New Year’s Day deadline is the fudge this year for those hoping to have quick deals in place.
The likes of Joey Barton with Burnley and Gabriel Jesus with Manchester City, having already been announced, will be immediately registered with their new clubs when the window officially opens along with any other already agreed deals by the time January 1 rolls in.
Come the end of the transfer window, the deadline this year for deals is 11pm on January 31 but of course transfers can be completed following 11pm subject to clubs getting in the required ‘deal sheet’ to have them registered as transferred ahead of the deadline even if not all the paperwork has been completed.
With the window closing on January 31 but League games at a few levels scheduled that day and on February 1, it means to come into contention for their debut on January 31 they need to be registered by midday on January 30 and for February 1 debuts registration is required by midday January 31.
Theymake it oh so clear don,t they.
If you didn’t just copy and paste that Amanda, and I’ve no reason to think you did, then I heartily commend your fortitude in taking the trouble to clarify these extremely muddy waters. I still won’t be able to explain it to my buddies down the pub tonight though. 🙂
I did cut and paste it Wolfie and posted as it was a general explanation that was worthy of posting.Thanks.
Ah well. I hereby withdraw my commendation of your fortitude and commend your honesty instead. 🙂 . Still a worthwhile read though.
Yeah I read it earlier on another site, as I do with most of the Shims posts
I wasn’t at the game(still not recovered from Sheff Wed) and unusually,didn’t even take the match commentary. But I’ve seen the highlights and read your musings and these are mine.
The penalty was a bit harsh but the guys reaction forced the ref’s hand. However, there was an earlier in-the-box handball which wasn’t given and that was a dead cert penalty.
Their attempt in the dying seconds was definitely NOT over the line, in my completely unbiased opinion.
Dave Edwards scored another goal. As expected.
Cavaleiro’s penalty was superbly taken, considering the pressure. Completely nerveless.
No wonder we all wonder if Wander will stay after another wonder goal from this wonderful player.
Repetition of ‘wonder’. Repetition of ‘wondergoal’ from Wander Helder Costa. xxxx
It’s hotting up, I bet he will leave us and find his form again. Interesting to read this morning that Sako has only played 87 minutes so far this season. Bloody good wages them.
http://footballleagueworld.co.uk/championship-duo-to-compete-with-turkish-giants-for-wolves-man/
Can’t have done much for Bakary’s confidence. But I reckon he’d come back here in a flash.
Not as good as Williamson’s though!!!
If he comes back tomorrow, it’ll still take him most of the rest of the season to get match fit, and compounded with his being another year older, and mentally worried about getting crocked again…..
No, sorry, he ain’t the defensive answer we need.
Where is another Emlyn Hughes when you need him???
He’s currently part of The Wolves Legends first eleven, partnering Frank Munro for The New Year’s Day visit of Man Utd with George Best & Co.
Just for the record (my record) if Sako goes to Derby or blues or in fact any team in the chumpionship and comes back to haunt us – I’ll need locking away..
It was a travesty to let him go but it would be a Quantum travesty for him to play against us ..and if he scored a goal against us – then….it’s lights out for me..
Mr Lambert.. please…he’s on a plate….
Knock, knock
Who’s there?
A sad little Sandwell Shadow Dweller troll.
Oh it’s you Amanda.
Knock knock
Who’s there
Issac
Issac who
Oh, come in Mr Hunt
(aka Amanda)