Christmas cheer as Wolves edge cagey encounter
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 dominated possession aided by some self-inflicted mishaps by the home side. Like Gary O’Neill, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino arrived at the Molineux with his side in the midst of a poor run of form but he would have been encouraged by the positive way in which his charges started the game, the first fifteen minutes seeing Chelsea dominate possession and cause the occasional scare in the home side’s penalty box. Then again, he probably despaired when on 20 minutes Raheem Sterling’s fine floated cross picked out Nicolas Jackson free on goal only for the Senegalese forward to fluff his lines and squander an excellent opportunity. Ten minutes later Wolves nearly shot themselves in the foot when a rank pass from Jose Sa put Joao Gomez in trouble. Facing goal and under pressure from two blue shirts he was dispossessed, the ball ending up with Sterling whose shot from the D was well saved by Sa. It was a fortunate let off but Sa’s reaction in berating Gomez for losing the ball, was a disgrace.
But as half time beckoned Wolves finally started to threaten the Chelsea goal and in the forty fourth minute a fine ball from Pablo Sarabia picked out Hwang Hee-Chan free on goal. But the Korean forward’s composure deserted him as he fired over into the Stan Cullis stand.
Having ended the first half on the front foot Wolves emerged from the break in similarly positive mood. On 46 minutes a good strike from Gomez was deflected wide off a Chelsea boot. From the ensuing corner Toti Gomez headed straight at goalkeeper Petrovic when it appeared easier to score. But Wolves had only to wait a further three minutes when Mario Lemina headed home from another fine Sarabia corner to give Wolves a ‘just about deserved’ lead. There followed a reasonable shout for a penalty on Hee-Chan before Pochettino commenced the wholesale introduction of his unknowns of which Mikhailo Mudryk – in the words of Donald Rumsfeld - is the best-known unknown. From the off, Mudryk’s pace and urgency spurred Chelsea who started to look far more threatening and on 65 minutes they fashioned a fine opening for Sterling, only for the one-time England striker to hit Sa with his effort. At the other end a neat back heel from Ryan Ait Nourri set Mattheus Cunha free but he shot wide from an acute angle.
As the ninety-minute mark was reached up went the board to indicate eleven minutes of added time. In the second of those eleven, substitute Hugo Bueno dispossessed Baidiashile just inside the Chelsea half before collecting a return pass from Hee-Chan. Now in the final quarter his cross was half cleared by Axel Disasi to the recently introduced Matt Doherty. The next couple of seconds proved why the Irishman should be starting games rather than sitting them out as his assured finish was composure personified.
The relief in the stadium was palpable but, believing the game to be won, Wolves switched off. Three minutes later another fine cross from Sterling picked out substitute Christopher Nkunu who, on his premier league debut, headed home. But Wolves gamely held on, the win giving them three vital points and a Christmas present that, unlike the Football Supporter’s Association, was very much wanted. Hereabouts tomorrow’s fully basted turkey will taste just that little bit better.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa 6, Semedo 7, Dawson 6 Sub Bueno, Kilman 7, Gomes 6, Ait Nourri 7 Sub Bueno, Gomes 6, Lemina 9, Sarabia 7 Sub Doyle, Cunha 6 Sub Doherty, Hee-chan 6
Chelsea: Petrovic 6, Gusto 6 Sub Badiashile, Disasi 6, Silva 6, Colwill 6 Sub Maatsen, Ugochukwu 6 Sub Nkunku, Gallagher 6, Palmer 6, Jackson 5 Sub Madueke, Sterling 7, Broja 6 Sub Mudryk
Attendance: Not stated
Referee: David Coote 8
©Mark Brennand