Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 v Manchester United 4

Close on five weeks have passed since Wolverhampton Wanderers reached heights last seen during the Nuno years, when they outplayed Everton to record a year ending 3-0 victory. Since when Brentford FC and West Bromwich Albion have been despatched from the FA Cup and in the Premier League a creditable 0-0 draw away at Brighton was also achieved. Evident in all these performances has been a level of confidence that was clearly missing during the opening twenty minutes of the game v Chelsea. Indeed, so poor were those opening minutes that I started to fret that if we didn’t turn things around defeat would ensue and the Club would be back in the mire of relegation. Seventy minutes later and the tide had been duly turned. Where once Matheus Cunha was inept in front of goal, he now looks a constant threat. Pedro Neto is fit once again and back to...

Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 v Everton 0

If the character of a side is a reflection of the man at the helm then one might assume Everton, led by the gravel voiced Sean Dyche, place gritty function ahead of aesthetics. Having been docked 10 points by the iniquities of ‘Fair Play’ – an oxymoron if ever there were one – one would need a modicum of grit to park it to one side, roll up one’s sleeves and just get on with the matter in hand. Which, in fairness to Dyche, is what he has done, thereby avoiding a descent into victimhood and prospering for having done so. Prior to the recent twin defeats away at Tottenham and Manchester City, Everton had been on a tremendous run of four successive wins. And with Wolves also enjoying a recent resurgence the prospects for an engaging game to close out 2023 were undoubtedly high.

But if they were, then Wolves were the only one of the two to have read...

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 v Chelsea 1

Described by the Football Supporters Association as “the Christmas present that nobody wanted”, Wolverhampton Wanderers v Chelsea 2023 was the first occasion, since 1995, that a top-flight football fixture has been played on Christmas Eve. Despite the FSA’s protestations not all will have nodded in sage agreement, spared as we were from that stress induced traipse around a soulless shopping mall in search of a last-minute stocking filler. And the sight of a full Molineux added credence to the claim that there were probably more in opposition then in agreement with their proclamation. Furthermore, come the game’s end the home support had the added benefit of departing Molineux in good cheer having triumphed over a Chelsea side full of expensive and anonymous misfits.

But that outcome was not readily evident during an opening first half when Chelsea...

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Nottingham Forest 1

Though Tuesday’s win against Burnley lacked the unalloyed joy of that against Tottenham Hotspur three weeks earlier, it was no less important, ensuring that nine points remains the gap between Wolves and the bottom three. You could see from Gary O’Neill’s pitch side reaction how much the win meant, with the added bonus that confidence within his squad can be maintained. For once it starts to slip, it is hard to regain with damaging consequences. That said there are no easy games in the Premier League and of late Wolves have struggled to impose themselves on today’s visitors Nottingham Forest. The tie was further complicated by Forest employing a couple of Wolves cast offs for whom raising their game to prove a point will come easy. Thus did another uneasy afternoon beckon.

Which is how it panned out though Wolves rode their luck when...

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Burnley 0

When last penning a few thoughts, I had extoled Wolves’ propensity for losing against sides at the foot of the table. And foot of the table (almost) is the position which tonight’s visitors Burnley currently find themselves. That said they arrived at the Molineux on the back of a confidence boosting 5-0 win against fellow strugglers Sheffield United. In contrast, since their rousing win against Tottenham three weeks ago, Wolves have suffered two away defeats. The first, against Fulham, during which the vagaries of VAR had once more kicked where it hurts and the second against Arsenal who for the most part had outplayed us. All of which meant that the spectre of being dragged back into the mire was very much back on the agenda. A nervy evening was in store.

But as the game settled into a rather turgid pattern nervy was probably overstating matters...

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 v Tottenham Hotspur 1

Notwithstanding last week’s flawed VAR adjudication, Wolves’ defeat away at Sheffield United was not without precedent. For, in the league of club’s who lose to bottom placed sides, Wolves do rather well. Take the 2017/18 renaissance season under the excellent stewardship of Nuno Espirito Santo. Though they were crowned Champions, Wolves still contrived to lose to bottom of the division side Huddersfield Town, not merely once but twice. And delve back further into the mists of time to season 2001/02, with Wolves in second place, their points lead over third placed West Bromwich Albion well into double figures. On a cold Tuesday evening in February Molineux played host to bottom of the league side Grimsby Town. When some ninety minutes later the Mariners departed having sealed an improbable 1-0 win it set in train the choke of all chokes...

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Aston Villa 1

As the clock reached 90 minutes of this scrappy derby, it was perhaps inevitable that referee Rob Jones – who had an undistinguished game - should subject us to a further 12 minutes of “entertainment”. Wolves spent two thirds of those twelve minutes with ten men, Mario Lemina being dismissed in minute 94 for a second bookable offence. Thus did the visitors lay siege to the Wolves goal, the home side lucky that Ezri Konsa, Nicolo Zaniolo and Douglas Luis all failed to convert good chances before Ollie Watkins hit an upright with literally the final act of the game. Wolves had ridden their luck, a rare occurrence of late but whilst Aston Villa were the better side the draw was probably a fair reflection of the match.

Following last week’s fine win against Manchester City, Wolves Manager Gary O’Neill stuck with an unchanged side and formation. One...

On the 30th September 2023 Matheus Nunes made the starting XI for Manchester City in their away game against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Barracked by the home fans whenever he touched the ball, at half time he was removed from the fray by City Manager Pep Guardiola. Nunes is clearly a talented player or Guardiola would not have signed him. But that doesn’t mean his future is assured and his brief appearance at Molineux offers a short parable for our times.

A player’s relationship with his fans is a reciprocal one. In return for the hard-earned cash that many supporters expend for a seat in the stadium they expect a degree of loyalty and commitment to the cause. Nunes joined Wolves in August 2022 on a five-year contract and in his first season made 36 appearances. The highlight of his year was a wonder strike against Chelsea which sealed a vital home win in April this year that allowed...

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 v Manchester City 1

Twelve months have passed since Wolves last entertained Manchester City at the Molineux. On that occasion the game had barely started when a Phil Foden back heel set Kevin De Bruyne free to cross low to a waiting Jack Grealish who poked home at the far post. Half an hour later Grealish was again involved this time theatrically going to ground under challenge from Nathan Collins. Referee Anthony Taylor had a cursory look at VAR before issuing a red. Down to ten men the game was rendered a non-contest and Wolves did well to keep the deficit down to three.

Of the Wolves side that played that day, Sa, Semedo, Kilman, Ait Nourri, Hee Chan and Neto remain whilst the downing tools Matheus Nunes has decamped to the opposition. We may bemoan the hollowing out of what was once a strong squad but Tuesday’s defeat away at Ipswich in the Carabao Cup...