Honours even in season opener

Wolves 1 v Hull City 1

Some things don’t change. Steve Bruce is still looking a little too rotund around the midriff for his GP’s comfort. Kevin McDonald is still the primary driving force in Wolves’ midfield. Tom Huddlestone still underachieves. And heads in the Billy Quiet still shake and voices mutter. Furthermore this Wolves side is fundamentally that which finished last season’s campaign albeit with new signing Conor Coady in midfield and, if I’m not mistaken, a Julian Assange lookalike at centre half. And I thought the WikiLeaks founder was still plotting world domination from his Ecuadorian lair.

The last time these two sides met in anger was on an evening in April 2013. Wolves, under Dean Saunders, were inching their way ever closer to the third division trapdoor. But on the evening in question a spirited performance was sealed by Kevin Doyle’s single goal all of which temporarily halted the slide. Two and a half years on and Wolves are a different proposition, the despond of that season’s relegation now replaced with promotion expectation. Is it justified? On this performance it is hard to tell. Not three months ago Hull were a premier league outfit, yet the speed of thought and movement that comes from time spent in the top flight was not readily apparent here. Wolves for their part were the better side but looked tired towards the end and could have been undone. A draw was possibly a fair result.

Not that parity seemed on the cards when, within fifteen seconds of the start, Benick Afobe was gifted a one on one when intercepting a poor back pass. His strike on goal was half stopped by keeper Allan McGregor and it needed Andy Robertson to clear it off the line. From the ensuing corner Nouha Dicko then fired over when well placed. There followed a fallow period which was ended when Dominic Iorfa pushed Curtis Davies in the Wolves penalty area. Referee Marriner had no compunction in blowing his whistle and pointing to the spot, the subsequent penalty on 22 minutes comfortably despatched by Nikica Jalavic.

The goal stirred Wolves to greater endeavour Conor Coady’s deflected shot stretching McGregor in the 27th minute. Though the newcomer had a relatively quiet game, at times he showed signs of being able to pick out a pass. In minute 35 Wolves should have gone level when Dicko, at the far post headed back across the box. Unfortunately Dave Edwards, goal at his mercy, couldn’t latch onto it and the ball was scrambled to safety. Few further chances were created and Wolves went in at half time one down.

The home side emerged from the break with greater intensity, and for a while it seemed that the time wasting antics of keeper McGregor were Hull’s sole response. His tactics brought South Bank indignation and as things turned out he may well rue his actions. In minute 58 Dicko collected the ball just beyond the half way line before launching it innocuously goal wards. On any given day it was a meat and drink catch to a competent keeper. But this was clearly no ordinary day for as he stretched to claim it, McGregor – for all of a millisecond - must have taken his eyes off the ball. As it slipped embarrassingly from his grasp it was met by James Henry who from the six yard box bundled it over the line. Some recompense had been achieved.

Five minutes later Wolves nearly claimed the lead when Afobe and Dicko almost combined to score. But the ball evaded the latter and from that point on the home side looked increasingly tired. Cue Chuba Akpom, who had looked lively throughout, to cause a few flutters. In the 71st minutes and with the Wolves defence undone, his shot struck an upright. Fifteen minutes later his fine run and strike had Emeliano Martinez at full stretch. Not that the Billy Quiet mutterers seemed unduly concerned , the promise of a Sunday roast, prompting an early exit.

Wolves: Martinez 6, Iorfa 7, Assange 6, Hause 6, Golbourne 6, Edwards 6, Coady 6, McDonald 6, Henry 6 Sub Ojo, Afobe 6, Dicko 6 Sub Le Fondre

Hull City: McGregor 5, Odubayo 6, Dawson 6, Davies 6, Robertson 7, Elmohamady 6 Sub Aluko Huddlestone 6, Heyden 5 Sub Meyler 6, Clucas 6 Sub Juhraldo-Martin, Jalavic 6, Akpom 8

Attendance: 20,062

Referee: Andre Marriner 8

©Mark Brennand