Molineux stalemate
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 v Burnley 0
Boomerang is possibly a tag one can attach to Burnley FC. Too good for the Championship, not good enough for the Premier League. West Bromwich Albion used to be a boomerang club but appear now to be a more permanent fixture in the Premier League. Bolton Wanderers used to be a boomerang club but appear now to be a more permanent fixture in the Championship. Whether boomerang can be attached to Wolves is debatable. Like the Duke of York they went up, down, up, down, down, down and then up where they appear to be currently stalled. How would they therefore cope with the visiting boomerang albeit one on its way down but still third in the league and unbeaten in seven?
The answer – more than comfortably, though the visitors should have gone ahead within two minutes of the start when Andre Gray was one on one with Emilio Martinez only to see his shot well saved by the Wolves’ keeper. Thereafter Burnley looked comfortable on the ball reflecting the experience of a season spent at a higher level. But the longer the half went on the more Wolves matched them without ever really creating a clear cut opening. The one chance they did fashion occurred from a Danny Batth punt up-field, Benik Afobe getting to the ball beyond the Burnley back four before stretching Tom Heaton with a shot from an acute angle.
Though the Burnley threat was for the most part nullified they did best Wolves in one facet of the game; their irritating preponderance to go to ground and stay down when they had lost possession, Joey Barton, Ben Mee and Sam Vokes all being worthy of mention. Perhaps another trait of time spent at a higher level.
Level at half time there was not much that Coach Jackett could really say other than more of the same. With Jack Price restored to a starting berth in midfield Wolves moved the ball about with greater pace and intent and in minute 61 Afobe went close for a second time when he dragged his left foot shot wide. Twenty minutes later David Edwards had Heaton worried when his shot on the spin shaved an upright.
Having won only once in the last six games, it was perhaps understandable that Wolves should settle on a five man midfield with Afobe leading the line. Harder to beat, but serving up fewer chances , Wolves will need to be far more ruthless in front of goal if a play – off slot is to be acquired.
Wolves: Martinez 6 Sub Ikeme, Iorfa 7, Batth 6, Williamson 6, Golbourne 6, Henry 7, McDonald 6, Price 7, Edwards 7, Ojo 6 Sub Byrne, Afobe 6
Burnley: Heaton 6, Darikwa 6, Keane 6, Duff 6, Mee 6 Sub Ward, Boyd 6 Sub Taylor, Barton 6, Jones 6, Arfield 5, Gray 6, Vokes 6 Sub Hennings
Attendance: 20,684
Referee: Jonathan Moss 6
©Mark Brennand