News Index

Archived News:

30th November 2008

FA Cup Draw

Wolves have been drawn away at Birmingham City for the third round of the FA Cup.
A date has yet to be confirmed but it will we be the weekend of January 3rd and 4th.

Match Reaction

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy felt it was a fair result overall and he was happy to have taken four points from two tough games following Tuesday's 3-1 win at Sheffield United.
"First half it was fairly even with lots of chances, but maybe they just shaded it," he said.
"Second half, it was a poor goal for us to concede and they had the better of it I thought for 10 minutes or so.
"Once we recovered from that, we started playing and I think we ended up the stronger side and the most likely winner - I'm not saying we deserved it.
"But overall I thought it was a fair point for both sides. We certainly deserved a point.
"I've got a very pragmatic view to life, as I have to football, and if someone had asked whether I would have taken four points from the last two games then the answer to that is quite clearly 'yes'. "

29th November 2008

Wolves 1-1 Birmingham

29mins: Yellow card, Iwelumo.
31mins: Yellow card, Quashie.
44mins: Yellow card, Carsley.
45+2mins: Birmingham substitution, Nafti on for Hunt (injured).
Half Time: Wolves 0-0 Birmingham.
46mins: Birmingham substitution, Jerome on for Phillips.
48mins: Goal, Jerome puts Birmingham ahead.
56mins: Wolves substitution Keogh on for Gray.
62mins: Wolves substitution, Vokes on for Iwelumo.
66mins: Yellow card, Nafti.
72mins: Wolves substitution, Edwards on for Jones.
74mins: GOAL, Ebanks-Blake levels the score.
79mins: Yellow card, Stearman.
82mins: Yellow card, Jerome.
93mins: Birmingham substitution, Owusu-Abeyie on for Bent.
Full Time: Wolves 1-1 Birmingham.

28th November 2008

Team News

Wolves: Wayne Hennessey is back in goal for Carl Ikeme (gashed shin).
Winger Michael Kightly (broken nose) and defender Michael Mancienne (illness) have recovered but David Jones (calf) remains doubtful.

Birmingham: captain Lee Carsley (thigh) and on-loan midfielder Nigel Quashie (heel) have been given the all-clear.
Right-back Stuart Parnaby (hamstring) is back in full training but will need to increase his match fitness before being considered for the first team.

27th November 2008

Loan Deadline Day

Cheltenham goalkeeper Shane Higgs has joined Wolves on a month-long loan deal with a view to a permanent move.
The 31-year-old was made available for transfer earlier this week having been told he was surplus to requirements at Whaddon Road, after nine years with the Robins.
And having lost Matt Murray to injury on Tuesday, Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has opted to draft in extra cover.

Wolves midfielder Mark Davies has joined Leicester City on loan until the 4th January and will be allowed to play in their FA Cup 2nd Round match with Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday.

Murray Injury Update

Wolves keeper Matt Murray will undergo surgery after scans revealed a ruptured patella tendon in his knee, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
He suffered his latest setback on Tuesday night while playing on loan for Hereford where he had gone to get match practise after recently returning from 18 months on the sidelines with a cruciate knee injury.
The signs of a speedy recovery are promising as the injury has been sustained to his right knee, of which he has no history or problems.

Head of medical services at Wolves, Steve Kemp, said on WOW: "Matt has had his scans and will undergo surgery on Friday. He's expected to be out for the rest of the season.
"This is a completely new injury - Matt's left knee is fine and this is an injury to his right knee. It has come completely out of the blue and is not career threatening. Matt will be looking ahead to his recovery in the new year."

Also out on-loan, Darren Ward is not expected to be out for the long-term after scans confirmed he suffered a hairline fracture of a cheekbone while playing for Watford against Bristol City.

26th November 2008

Match Reaction

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was understandably delighted, after the victory maintained his side's six-point lead and extended their winning run to seven matches - although he refused to get carried away.
"The seven wins are nice, of course - if not a bit unexpected here, because we knew it was going to be a tough game," he said.
"The quality of the three goals was excellent, but we needed that platform to play off. They were very resolute in their defending; we did really well and did not given them too many chances.
"It's an understatement (that we're in a nice position), but it means 'diddly squat'. It just means we're in front of people now - there's nothing won at this stage."

McCarthy also revealed the injuries sustained by four of his players are not expected to keep any of them out of Saturday's top-of-the-table clash with nearest rivals Birmingham.
"I've got three injured players - one with concussion, well dizziness [David Edwards], one with a gashed shin [Carl Ikeme] and another with a broken nose [Michael Kightly]," he added.
"Oh, and David Jones has got a calf strain."

25th November 2008

Sheff Utd 1-3 Wolves

5mins: GOAL, Iwelumo gives Wolves the lead.
11mins: Sheff Utd substitution, Spring on for Speed (injured).
16mins: Wolves substitution, Friend on for Edwards (injured).
41mins: Wolves substitution, Hennessey on for Ikeme (injured).
45mins: Yellow card, Foley.
Half Time: Sheff Utd 0-1 Wolves.
46mins: Wolves substitution, Shackell on for Jones.
59mins: GOAL, Iwelumo gets his and Wolves second.
61mins: Sheff Utd substitution, Webber on for Quinn.
63mins: GOAL, Ebanks-Blake gets Wolves third.
65mins: Sheff Utd substitution, Henderson on for Sharp.
75mins: Goal, Spring pulls one back.
79mins: Yellow card, Ebanks-Blake.
80mins: Yellow card, Hennessey.
Full Time: Sheff Utd 1-3 Wolves.

24th November 2008

Team News

Sheff Utd: boss Kevin Blackwell will again be without the suspended Ugo Ehiogu for the visit of leaders Wolves.
Greg Halford returned to the starting line-up at Charlton and is likely to retain his place on the right wing.

Wolves: have been handed a triple boost ahead of the trip to Bramall Lane, with Chris Iwelumo, Richard Stearman and Karl Henry all fit to start the match.
However, on-loan defender Michael Mancienne does not look to have shaken off an illness in time to play.

23rd November 2008

Match Reaction

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy said after the match: "It was a vital victory because we have Sheffield United and Birmingham to play next.
"Yes, we have a big lead but I remember us overturning Wigan's 11-point lead at Sunderland and winning it by eight, so there's no complacency.
"There are a lot of twists and turns ahead."

22nd November 2008

Wolves 2-0 Blackpool

30mins: GOAL, Iwelumo gives Wolves the lead.
44mins: Yellow card, Hendrie.
Half Time: Wolves 1-0 Blackpool.
54mins: Wolves substitution, Shackell on for Stearman (injured).
63mins: Yellow card, D Edwards.
66mins: GOAL, Iwelumo gets his and Wolves second.
67mins: Wolves substitution, Keogh on for Ebanks-Blake.
69mins: Blackpool substitution, Fox on for Southern.
69mins: Blackpool substitution, Burgess on for Kabba.
75mins: Blackpool substitution, McPhee on for Gow.
78mins: Wolves substitution, Vokes on for Iwelumo (injured).
90mins: Yellow card, Evatt.
Full Time: Wolves 2-0 Blackpool.

21st November 2008

Team News

Wolves: will be without captain Karl Henry, who is suspended after picking up five bookings.
Matt Jarvis (hamstring) has returned to training but will not feature and Jody Craddock is still taking his time to fully recover from a broken toe.

Blackpool: boss Simon Grayson hopes to have midfielder David Vaughan and defender Danny Coid available.
Vaughan missed the defeat to Preston with a calf injury and Coid has been nursing a hamstring strain.

PFA 2UP Fans’ Player of the Month Award

Wolves' strikers Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Michael Kightly are both in contention for the PFA 2UP Fans’ Player of the Month Award for November after helping Mick McCarthy's men to the top of the table.

Championship Contenders (in alphabetical order)
James Beattie - Sheff Utd
Kevin Doyle – Reading
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake – Wolverhampton
Michael Kightly - Wolverhampton

Voting for this month’s award closes at midnight on November 30, so fans still have time to vote for their favourite Wolves player - **VOTE HERE**
Every month of the football season, four fans who have voted for the divisional winners get the chance to present the PFA 2UP Fans’ Player of the Month Award to their football hero on the pitch at a home game. One of the yearly fan winners will be invited to the prestigious PFA Player of the Year Awards dinner.

The awards are endorsed by the players and supported by the Premiership, Championship, League One and League Two clubs and The Fans Supporters Federation. The PFA's commitment to this award confirms the organisation's belief that fans, as well as players, are the lifeblood of the game.
www.givemefootball.com

20th November 2008

Sunderland Recall Winger

Sunderland have recalled Trinidad & Tobago winger Carlos Edwards from his loan spell with Wolves.
30 year old Edwards moved to Wolves to gain fitness but manager Roy Keane has opted to terminate the agreement.
Carlos made six appearances during his seven-week spell at Molineux.
Keane is expected to name Edwards in the squad for Sunday's visit of West Ham United to the Stadium of Light.

More Internationals

Striker Chris Iwelumo's first start for Scotland proved something of a tough affair in a friendly against a high-quality Argentina team who won 1-0.
Iwelumo was substituted at half time.

Another striker Andy Keogh played for the first hour as the Republic of Ireland were beaten 3-2 by Poland. Defender Kevin Foley was once again left waiting for his first senior cap.
Keogh played on the wing winning his ninth cap.

Wales produced an impressive performance, winning 1-0 in Denmark with David Edwards producing an impressive display as he turned out for the first half.
Sam Vokes came on as a 60th minute substitute, but keeper Wayne Hennessey was left on the bench.

Carlos Edwards played a full 90 minutes in a crucial World Cup qualifier as Trinidad & Tobago took on Cuba in the Port of Spain.
Three second half goals earned T&T a 3-0 win which takes them into the final 'hexagonal' play-off stage for South Africa in 2010.

19th November 2008

Wolves Internationals
from www.wolves.co.uk

Wolves recorded an historical first in the modern international era last night by having three players on the pitch for England-under-21's win over the Czech Republic.
Michael Kightly and Richard Stearman played the full 90 minutes of the 2-0 win, and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake joined them as a 69th minute substitute to mark a unique Wolves achievement since the formation of the under-21 team in 1976.

Stears certainly caught the eye on his debut at the heart of the defence, drawing praise after the game from under-21 head coach Stuart Pearce.
Kights was also an impressive performer particularly when moved from the left to the right wing in the game's closing stages while Sylvan was also able to enjoy his debut replacing opening goalscorer Frazier Campbell midway through the second half.
With loan defender Michael Mancienne having been switched from the under-21 ranks to the England senior squad for tonight's friendly in Germany, it certainly seems a good time to be a young Englishman around Molineux!

"It was great to see the three players involved last night," said Wolves' CEO Jez Moxey.
"All three are players who have earned their first England-under-21 honours since we brought them to Molineux which ties in with our aim to develop a young and talented squad.
"I think it proves that if young and talented players out there come to Wolves and work under Mick McCarthy, they can develop and improve their game and success will follow.
"And while Michael Mancienne is only on loan to us from Chelsea, I am sure the way he has played since coming to Wolves has contributed to him receiving the senior England call for tonight's international."

Stears, Kights and Sylvan are all now aiming to maintain their place in the squad ahead of next summer's UEFA under-21 European Championships in Sweden.

* The first ever England-under-21 international was played at Molineux, a goalless draw against Wales in 1976. Fixtures have twice been played at Wolves since, including a game with Poland back in March in front of a sell out Molineux crowd.

16th November 2008

Match Reaction

Manager Mick McCarthy had mixed emotions despite his side maintaining their six-point lead at the top of the table.
"I don't know at the end of it whether we're worthy winners or whether we got out of jail a bit in the second half," he said.
"But I do think we should have been 3-0 up before that because I think Michael Kightly had a goal which should have been allowed."

The Wolves boss also reserved special praise for defender Michael Mancienne who he believes is ready to play for England. On-loan Chelsea star Mancienne is reportedly set to be called up by Fabio Capello for next week's friendly in Germany.
McCarthy said: "Under the natural progression Michael has played regularly for the under-21s so this is the next step.
"The England coaches must watch him every game and must like what they see and I think he is ready."

15th November 2008

Mancienne Gets England Call

Twenty-year-old Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne is a surprise name in Fabio Capello's 23-man England squad for Wednesday's friendly with Germany in Berlin.
Mancienne is yet to play a game for the Stamford Bridge club but his performances on loan for Wolves and in Stuart Pearce's under-21 squad have persuaded Capello to draft him into an injury-hit senior squad for the first time.

Southampton 1-2 Wolves

8mins: GOAL, Iwelumo heads Wolves into the lead.
17mins: GOAL, Dave Jones puts Wolves two up.
21mins: Goal, Pearce pulls one back for Southampton.
29mins: Yellow card, Lancashire.
43mins: Red card, Euell.
Half Time: Southampton 1-2 Wolves.
46mins: Southampton substitution, Wright-Phillips on for Gobern.
50mins: Southampton substitution, Perry on for Lancashire.
55mins: Yellow card, Mancienne.
67mins: Wolves substitution, Keogh on for Ebanks-Blake.
71mins: Yellow card, Surman.
76mins: Yellow card, Skacel.
78mins: Yellow card, Henry.
85mins: Wolves substitution, D Edwards on for C Edwards.
85mins: Southampton substitution, Robertson on for Schneirderlin.
91mins: Wolves substitution, Vokes on for Kightly.
Full Time: Southampton 1-2 Wolves.

14th November 2008

Team News

Southampton: Morgan Schneiderlin returns to the squad after a thigh strain but Romain Gasmi (foot) needs another reserve game before being considered.
Striker Jordan Robertson and defender Chris Perry are both fit following a virus but Ryan Smith is still laid low.

Wolves: have no new injury worries ahead of their trip to St Mary's.
Defender Jason Shackell and midfielder Mark Davies should shake off illness in time to stake their claim for a place, but are unlikely to feature.

13th November 2008

Keepers Not For Sale

Manager Mick McCarthy has strongly rejected suggestions one of the Wolves keepers could leave on a permanent basis.
Welsh International Wayne Hennessey and Matt Murray are both trying to wrestle the number one jersey from Carl Ikeme, prompting suggestions their spells on the sidelines could prompt them to seek a move away from Molineux.

But McCarthy said on the club's official website: "Someone might be able to go out on loan but there's no way anyone will be leaving - not a chance.
"I've travelled around the world as a player at club and international level and I've never known a situation yet where everyone's completely happy. But then that's what competition is all about - if you only had 11 players then you'd have 11 happy players.
"But you wouldn't have a very good team once you had injuries and suspensions. When players are out they have to fight tooth and nail to get back in.
"We're trying to get promoted so why would we dilute our squad in any shape or form? We'll be trying to strengthen our squad rather than dilute it."

12th November 2008

Jarvis Injury Update

Wolves have been handed a boost with the news that winger Matt Jarvis is nearing a return to full training.
The winger suffered a hamstring injury in the 3-0 defeat to Reading back in September, but boss Mick McCarthy has revealed he could be back training with the first team in around two weeks.

Murray Goes Out On Loan

Wolves keeper Matt Murray has signed for League One Hereford United on a month's loan.
Former England Under-21 international Murray has been out of the game for 18 months with a cruciate ligament injury.
But Murray, 27, is looking to get back to match fitness following the latest long, frustrating chapter in his injury-ravaged career.
And he is expected to go straight into the United squad for Saturday's home match with Cheltenham Town.

11th November 2008

Friendly Win

Wolves won a hard-fought friendly against Coventry played in blustery conditions at Compton. Having a trial was Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu.

Wolves took the lead in the 24th minute, George Friend won a tackle and the move continued with Sam Vokes eventually finding Keogh who broke the deadlock from close range.
Coventry drew level just after an hour, Matt Hill was adjudged to have tripped substitute Shaun Jeffers and Simpson tucked home the penalty.
Salmon put Wolves back ahead in the 82nd minute, coming in from the right to meet Hill's cross and firing a powerful shot in off the post.

Wolves Team: Hennessey, Melbourne, Collins, Friend, Hill, Gray (Salmon 68), Potter, D. Edwards, Agyemang-Badu, Keogh (Hughes 68), Vokes.

International Call-Ups

Four Wolves players are in the England-under-21 party for next week's friendly with the Czech Republic, on loan-defender Michael Mancienne, Richard Stearman, Michael Kightly and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.
Striker Chris Iwelumo has kept his place in the Scotland squad for their friendly with Argentina at Hampden Park next Wednesday.
Andy Keogh and Kevin Foley are on Republic of Ireland duty and Wayne Hennessey, Dave Edwards and Sam Vokes all picked for Wales.
On-loan winger Carlos Edwards is also likely to be on his travels for Trinidad & Tobago's World Cup qualifier with Cuba.

10th November 2008

Mancienne Might Extend Loan

Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne has hinted he could extend his loan at Molineux.
The 20-year-old joined Wolves in a loan move at the end of October and has since helped open a six-point gap at the top of the Championship.
And while Mancienne admits that he still dreams of playing for Chelsea, he confesses that he may have to put his career first.

"I came here to play football," Mancienne said in The Sun. "I want to play in a team that likes to play football and enjoys it.
"Wolves are right up there with the best.
"I am only here until December. At least that is the deal. I don't have a clue what's happening after that.
"I do still hope about Chelsea but it's about being given a chance.
"There could be a time when I have to think about my career and what is best for me. I'm really enjoying it at Wolves."

9th November 2008

Match Reaction

Mick McCarthy said after the match: "That was maybe as good a performance as we've done because we kept a clean sheet.
"We took the game to them. I think Burnley tried to be solid and we had to be patient at times. It was a lovely result to get.
"You are always worried that someone might nick it, but I think the second goal killed the game.
"We looked a bit more solid - you just keep trying to win games. We work for each other.
"We didn't get carried away when we lost three and we are not getting carried away now we have won a few."

8th November 2008

Wolves 2-0 Burnley

27mins: Yellow card, Jordan.
31mins: GOAL, Kightly gives Wolves the lead.
32mins: Yellow card, Jensen.
Half Time: Wolves 1-0 Burnley.
48mins: Yellow card, Carlisle.
56mins: Yellow card, Blake.
60mins: Yellow card, McCann.
63mins: Burnley substitution, Rodriguez on for Thompson.
67mins: Burnley substitution, Paterson on for Blake.
74mins: Burnley substitution, McDonald on for Gudjonsson.
75mins: GOAL, Kightly get his and Wolves second.
78mins: Wolves substitution, Keogh on for Iwelumo.
80mins: Red card, Carlisle, second bookable offence.
84mins: Wolves substitution, D Edwards on for C Edwards.
87mins: Wolves substitution, Vokes on for Ebanks-Blake.
90mins: Yellow card, McDonald.
Full Time: Wolves 2-0 Burnley.

7th November 2008

Team News

Wolves: have left-back Matt Hill fully fit for the first time since his summer move from Preston.
Sam Vokes should be fit despite hobbling off during a reserve game in the week.

Burnley: are again expected to be without left-back Christian Kalvenes with a leg injury.
Clarke Carlisle, Remco van der Schaaf and Alex MacDonald are also doubtful, having been hit by a virus.

6th November 2008

Craddock Injury Update

Wolves captain Jody Craddock today admitted he is still playing a waiting game as he stands on the brink of a return to full training.
X-rays and scans have shown that the broken metatarsal he sustained in the first home game of the season has now healed, and a specialist again confirmed yesterday that there is no further problem.
But the defender is still suffering intermittent pain as part of the healing process, and so hasn't returned to regular full training.

5th November 2008

Elokobi Injury Update

Wolves defender George Elokobi has shrugged off the cruciate injury which is likely to rule him out for a year is merely a "minor blip" from which he will definitely return.
He has revealed that he is using DVD footage of the incident when he sustained the injury as motivation to boost him on the road to recovery.
Elokobi is now back at Compton and working on his rehabilitation after undergoing a "wash-out" operation a fortnight ago to speed the recovery from the initial surgery.
In between times he had already started off the long haul to recovery by lying on a mobility which gives him the opportunity to watch DVD's

4th November 2008

Friendly Win

Wolves beat a young Birmingham side 4-1 in a behind closed doors friendly this afternoon at City's West Hills training ground.

David Edwards opened the scoring in the tenth minute with a hard low shot.
Wolves second goal came in the 22nd minute when Vokes forced the ball home after a scramble in the Blues box.
After just two minutes of the second half, Denes Rosa, an interval substitute for Carlos Edwards, added a third goal when he converted from close range after taking a pass from Keogh.
Then Davies added a fourth for Wolves when he finished well after a build up involving Keogh and Ashley Hemmings.
On the hour mark City pulled one back from a free-kick 22-yards out, McPike's free-kick flew past the wall and beat Murray.

Wolves Team: Hennessey (Murray 45), Melbourne, Friend, Hill, Williams (Batth 78), Potter, C. Edwards (Rosa 45), D. Edwards (Dunleavy 70), Keogh (Hughes 66), Vokes (Hemmings 32), M. Davies.

Fixture Update

Wolves match at Bristol City on 17th January 2009 has been selected to be shown live on Sky.
This means the usual 3.00pm kick off has been moved to 5.20pm.

Boss Has Op

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy is away from the training ground having undergone a clean-up operation on an old ankle injury.
He is keeping in touch with training events at Compton during his absence and is due back later in the week.

3rd November 2008

SEB Nominated For Award

Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has been nominated for the Powerade Player of the Month award for October in the Championship.
He scored his tenth goal of the season in Saturday's win at Cardiff, adding to the four he'd already scored during the four games in October.
He's up against two fellow strikers, Cardiff's Ross McCormack and Derby's Rob Hulse as well as Barnsley winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce.
The winner will be revealed on Friday night at 6pm on the Big League Weekend 1 programme on Sky Sports One.

Jones Extends Loan

Oldham have extended the loan of Wolves left-sided player Daniel Jones until 3rd January.
The 21-year-old, who can play both in defence and midfield, started all seven games of his first month at Boundary Park, scoring once.
Wolves have also given the Latics permission to play Jones in the FA Cup.

2nd November 2008

Match Reaction

Boss Mick McCarthy said after the match: "I was shocked by our start and it is a pleasant change as usually we find ourselves a goal down.
"It was a very tough game and I bet Dave Jones is fuming at the two goals his defence has let in.
"My two centre-backs, Richard Stearman and Michael Mancienne, were immense at the back and while we didn't sit back and defend after going ahead we still had plenty to do.
"Up front we probably have the best strike force in the Championship and they are scoring goals regularly."

1st November 2008

Cardiff 1-2 Wolves

4mins: GOAL, Iwelumo gives Wolves the lead.
8mins: GOAL, Ebanks-Blake gets Wolves second.
13mins: Cardiff substitution, Comminges on for Bothroyd (injured).
19mins: Goal, McCormack pulls one back.
Half Time: Cardiff 1-2 Wolves.
55mins: Cardiff substitution, Johnson on for McCormack (injured).
78mins: Wolves substitution, Keogh on for Ebanks-Blake.
85mins: Wolves substitution, Collins on Gray.
89mins: Wolves substitution, D Edwards on for Kightly.
Full Time: Cardiff 1-2 Wolves.