Molineux torpor
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 v Burnley FC 0
Last Saturday’s trip to Carrow Road offered the prospect of a potential banana skin. Resurgent after their first win under new manager Dean Smith and with the fag end of Storm Arwen drifting off into the continent, a point against Norwich was probably a satisfactory return. Like the Canaries, Burnley also reside in the trap door zone but for the past few years have been something of a bogey side for the Old Gold. If one could compare them to a retail outlet, B&M would probably most closely align to their no-frills modus operandi. And with the temperature once again plummeting would Wolves’ foreign contingent be a match for Lancastrian physicality?
First things first, only one side made a concerted attempt to win this game and it wasn’t Burnley. And two, replace physicality (above) with play acting and time wasting. I believe that Sean Dyche is the longest serving English Premier league manager. Quite how is a mystery, for rarely have I watched a side so lacking in creativity as the one he manages. During ninety minutes of football not one of their on-field players did anything that made you think “he looks useful”. I realise they have limited funds but if this performance is indicative, then being a Burnley fan must be a dispiriting experience.
As for Wolves after a scrappy first quarter they managed to get into their stride with Raul Jimenez looking lively. The defining moment of the game came on the half hour, Adama Traore latching on to a through ball just inside the Burnley half. As the after burners were engaged the Spaniard raced passed Mee in glorious fashion, goalkeeper Nick Pope the last man standing between him and glory. Shifting the ball to his right foot Traore’s rapier like strike beat Pope before crashing against the underside of the bar and then, Geoff Hurst style, bouncing back into play. Only in this instance no goal was awarded. Where composure had been required, there was none. It will remain a regular refrain.
Thereafter Wolves continued to press but other than a good strike from Hwang-Lee in minute 68 they failed to break down Burnley resistance. For their part the visitors could have nicked the game on a couple of occasions the first when Dwight McNeill stretched Jose Sa in the 78th minute with virtually their only attempt on goal. From the ensuing corner Wolves were forced into some desperate defending but managed to heave the ball to safety and that was just about it.
Goals are much needed.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa 7, Semedo 6, Kilman 7, Coady 7, Saiss 7, Ait-Nouri 6, Moutinho 7, Dendoncker 7, Hee-Chan 7 Sub Trincao, Traore 7, Jimenez 7
Burnley FC: Pope 6, Lowton 6, Collins 6, Mee 6, Taylor 6, Gudmundson 5 Sub Vydra, Brownhill 6, Cork 6, McNeil 6, Wood 6 Sub Rodriguez, Cornet 6 Sub Lennon
Attendance: 30,328
Referee: John Brooks 8
©Mark Brennand