All change, no change
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 v Sheffield Wednesday 2
If memory serves me right Paul Lambert’s reign at Aston Villa was characterised by an adherence to dour Scottish Presbyterianism. But though it is some time since he graced the dugout at Villa Park, the manner in which he set the Wolves up for today’s visit of Sheffield Wednesday indicated that his overriding philosophy has changed little. He sets his teams up not to lose, as opposed to going out to win. The problem is that the Wolves back four is so riven with a lack of confidence and basic nous that it has all the resilience of a chocolate fireguard. So setting the team up not too lose is a strategy whose long term prospects appear limited. Then again setting the team up to win appears equally challenging. In ninety minutes of play I noted that only once did Wolves force Wednesday keeper Kieron Westwood to make a save. And even that was a header from a corner. So Lambert’s post match assertion that the club is in danger of going down did not much surprise the Molineux faithful who must now brace themselves for the long and arduous season ahead.
The game was just short of the quarter hour and I was thinking that very little of note had happened when the Keystone Cops in the Wolves defence failed to deal with a low cross from Barry Bannan. In the ensuing melee Matt Doherty clattered into Fernando Forestieri close to the six yard box, referee Jeremy Simpson having little option but to point to the spot. Step forward Forestieri who coolly converted.
Ten minutes later Andy Lonergan collected the ball in his box and should have thrown it to the vacant Kortney Hause to set up a quick attack. Instead he held onto it too long before deciding to punt it up to the half way line where Dominic Iorfa collected. Though not badly placed he offloaded to Richard Stearman who had Forestieri bearing down on him. Somewhat inevitably Forestieri dispossessed Stearman and advanced on goal, the Keystone Cops now in hot pursuit. But before they could apprehend him, Forestieri picked out Lucas Joao who in turn fed Kieren Lee who side footed into an empty net. It was all pretty dire as Wednesday continued to dominate both possession and territory.
Following the break Wolves showed far more positive intent the half time replacement of the ineffective George Saville with Nouha Dicko being something of a necessity. On 52 minutes Matt Doherty’s slide rule pass split the Wednesday defence only for the aforementioned Dicko to demonstrate why he will never make a top class striker. Rather than square it to one of three old gold shirts near the penalty spot, he chose to go for glory, the ball somewhat inevitably ending up in row F of the South Bank. If for nothing however the moment demonstrated how Doherty is wasted at full back. He should be a wing half running midfield.
A further positive substitution was required but Scottish Presbyterianism prevailed as Lambert replaced Wolves’ most skilful forward Helda Costa with Joao Teixeira. Later on Ivan Cavaleiro came on, only to miss a guilt edged chance on 77 minutes. By then a fair portion of the 27,000 who had been tempted to attend, had gone, unlikely to return.
Wolves: Lonergan 6, Iorfa 5, Stearman 5, Hause 5, Doherty 7, Coady 5, Edwards 6, Price 6, Saville 5 Sub Dicko 5, Costa 6 Sub Teixeira, Bodvarsson 5 Sub Cavaleiro
Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood 6, Hunt 6 Sub Palmer, Loovens 6, Lees 6, Roach 6, Wallace 7, Hutchinson 7, Lee 7 Bannan 7 Sub Buckley, Forestieri 7, Joao 6 Sub Fletcher
Attendance: 27,293
Ref: Jeremy Simpson 7
©Mark Brennand