More Christmas cheer as Wolves end year on high

Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 v Everton 0

If the character of a side is a reflection of the man at the helm then one might assume Everton, led by the gravel voiced Sean Dyche, place gritty function ahead of aesthetics. Having been docked 10 points by the iniquities of ‘Fair Play’ – an oxymoron if ever there were one – one would need a modicum of grit to park it to one side, roll up one’s sleeves and just get on with the matter in hand. Which, in fairness to Dyche, is what he has done, thereby avoiding a descent into victimhood and prospering for having done so. Prior to the recent twin defeats away at Tottenham and Manchester City, Everton had been on a tremendous run of four successive wins. And with Wolves also enjoying a recent resurgence the prospects for an engaging game to close out 2023 were undoubtedly high.

But if they were, then Wolves were the only one of the two to have read the script so dominant were they. Goals from Max(imilian) Kilman, Matheus Cunha and Craig Dawson ensured the 3-0 scoreline but it could have been so much more. Twice during the opening five minutes Hwang Hee-Chan was free on goal and twice he failed to get his shot away allowing the Everton defence to close down the space and prevent a goal. Then, during the second half, he was twice denied by good saves from Jordan Pickford before he finally scored only to have this effort denied for offside. Then with the game in time added on the returning Pedro Neto also scored only to have that effort similarly denied.

In reply as the first half drew to a close Dominic Calvert-Lewin failed to convert when one on one with Sa and on the hour mark Dwight McNeill struck an upright with a fine strike from twenty-five yards. But, that apart, Everton were outplayed by a Wolves side performing as well as the Molineux faithful have observed even during the highs of the Nuno years.

A year is a long time in football. Twelve months ago, Wolves were bottom of the league staring relegation from the Premier League in the face. Twelve months on, during which they emptied the squad of perceived talent and lost their talismanic manager, they have just completed the difficult Christmas period with maximum points from their three games. But more than that, since the turgid performances against Burnley and Nottingham Forest, they have upped their game, playing fast flowing intricate football and creating chances.

At the half way point of the season they sit mid table on 28 points, The future, dare I say it, looks bright.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa 6, Semedo 8 Sub Doherty, Dawson 7, Kilman 8, Gomes 7, Ait Nourri 7 Sub Bueno, Gomes 8 Sub Traore, Doyle 8, Sarabia 8 Sub Bellegarde, Cunha 8 Sub Neto, Hee-chan 8

Everton FC: Pickford 7, Patterson 5 Sub Coleman, Tarkowski 6, Keane 5 Sub Andre Gomes, Branthwaite 6, Mykolenco 6, Harrison 6, Garner 6, Onana 6, McNeill 6 Sub Danjuma, Calvert Lewin 6 Sub Gomes Betancal

Attendance: 31,639

Referee: Thomas Bramall 8

©Mark Brennand