Fixtures/ Results

Match Report
by Tom Sperrink

Another season is upon us again and all Wolves fans must be wondering whether there will be heartbreak again. After Wolves were thwarted on Sunday only by the reflex saves of Bradford keeper Gary Walsh it must have put doubt into the minds of the Wolves players but that doubt was dispelled when Wolves tore apart Colin lees Walsall infatically in the first home game of the season. At the start of the game I did wonder whether Wolves whould see the same Walsall all that put up a real fight last year and were unlucky to be defeated 3-0. Instead I witnessed a team destined for relagation.

The game started quite brightly with chances at either end but nothing very clear cut. Both defences were making the same mistake and when Alex Rae was allowed to trot up to the edge of the Saddlers area he really should have done more than fire his left foot strike high over the bar. Wolves new formation of using Cameron and Newton as tucked in wingers with full backs Irwin and Naylor racing around the outside was working well. Naylor had already started testing ex wolves man Darren Bazeley but it was Irwin that really forced the breakthrough. Some neat passing between himself Rae and Newton left him a little bit of space for a cross, but with nobody in the area he was forced to play a little chip over his marker for Newton. When the defender swung and missed Newton had his chance to cross and insinctively volleyed it into the area without looking, fortunately Colin Cameron came racing into the area to tap into an almost empty net from 6 yards. Walsall then had some attacking play but after every thwarted attempt Wolves put their foot on the ball and were happy to 
keep possession. Steve Corica was probly Walsalls biggest threat and although Paul Butler looks as fat and unfit as last season Joleon Lescott seems to continue improving and there are still signs of his lessons from curle such as using his arms as much as possible.

When the teams emerged from the tunnel it was all very much the same with Wolves playing some swift neat passing moves and Walsall running round like headless chickens. On the 55th minute Wanderers got what they deserved a second goal to have one foot firmly in the door of victory. A pinpoint accurate pass from Blake found Miller on the left who managed to head the ball into space for Cameron to run onto, the little scotsman burst through with a new found pace and rounded Walker to roll it into an empty goal from a very tight angle. Wolves then made two or three vital mistakes. It was evident that Walsall were only going to get a goal if it was gifted to them and 68th minute that was exactly what happened when Walsall latched onto a weak throw out from Oakes to Naylor and had Butler not been appealing for offside when Corica picked up a pass he may have stopped the Walsall striker from squaring the ball to Herivelto who fired past the helpless keeper. Wolves then started to sit back and allowed Walsall to get back in the game but Jones made to substitions that may have saved the wolves victory by bringing on two new strikers which meant that wolves could use these fresh legs to punish the tiring Walsall defence, and although Miller went off shaking his head he cannot dispute the fact that he has not scored once again. Wolves threw everything at Walsall and it worked so that when Proudlock ignored the Walsall screams for offside and went down the left he had acres and was able to fire a low cross into the area, Sturridge stepped over it and Newton followed up to drive into the bottom corner.

When the final whistle blew most of the 27,904 fans left happy even though it had not been the most convincing performance it was still 3 points. A better team probably would have and will punish Butlers lack of agility and the lapses in concetration by the almost the whole team. The two players who were outstanding though were the two full backs, Irwin showed his experience and Naylor showed how much he has matured during pre season. Overall I still think that we are looking at playoffs but if the players we have play to their full potential then maybe they will prove me wrong.