Thumped

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 v Leicester City 4

Now, before you take to the hard stuff in an attempt to drown your sorrows spare a thought for Brian who sits next to me. As I write he will have just reached the M5, a three-and-a half-hour return journey to Torquay ahead of him. It is unlikely that he will remember Sunday 23rd October with any affection. But then neither will the rest of us as Wolves returned to the era of Dave Jones whose tenure ended with relegation from the Premier League. Back then at least the Club had a manager the continuing absence of which will become ever more problematic the longer they remain in the drop zone.

Following Tuesday’s positive display at Crystal Palace, when the ball just wouldn’t run for them, I arrived at today’s game with a degree of optimism. And for the first five minutes Wolves looked lively, moving the ball well through the lines and in the fifth minute creating a good chance for Diego Costa who unfortunately fired over. However, two minutes later Wolves shot themselves in the foot, Ruben Neves the culprit. Facing left on the half-way line he should have fed Hugo Bueno who was advancing into the Leicester half. Instead, he turned inside and passed back to Max Kilman who returned it to Neves before the latter played a square ball right to Castro Otto with Harvey Barnes advancing towards him. With Barnes nearly in his face the Portuguese full back half took his eye off the ball, miss-controlled it and lost possession. This then required him to pull Barnes down to prevent the Leicester attack developing. From the ensuing free kick Joao Moutinho half cleared to Youri Tieleman’s whose wonderful volley gave Jose Sa no chance.

Despite the setback Wolves rallied, Matheus Nunes and Bueno both going close before Leicester extended their lead in the eighteenth minute. Advancing down the left channel a delightful one two left Barnes free on goal his clinical finish sliding under the body of an advancing Sa. In the aftermath Wolves’ heads dropped particularly Kilman who has gone from a commanding centre half to a nervous soul, terrified of advancing the ball in a forward direction.

At least Podence, Bueno and Costa still sought out possession and with five minutes of the half remaining first Costa had a shot blocked on the line from a corner and then four minutes later Daniel Podence found himself free only to have his shot was well saved by Danny Ward.

Wolves emerged from the half time break in lively form but a Neves free kick which shaved an upright was the soul reward for their effort. Then on 64 minutes James Madison’s curling shot from the edge of the Wolves box evaded Sa to find the net. And with ten minutes remaining a poor ball from Kilman was intercepted by Timothy Castagne. Advancing to the bye-line the Leicester full back squared to Jamie Vardy who, with Rebekah cheering him on, side footed home.

The stats rarely lie. Wolves had twenty-one attempts on goal but failed to convert any. Leicester had five and converted four. It’s not looking good.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa 6, Castro Otto 6 Sub Semedo, Collins 6, Kilman 5, Bueno 7, Neves 6, Nunes 6 Sub Campbell, Moutinho 6 Sub Traore, Traore 5, Podence 7, Costa 6 Sub Hee Chan,

Leicester City: Ward 7, Castagne 6, Amarty 6, Saes 7, Justin 6 Sub Thomas, Soumare 6, Madison 7, Tielemans 7, Dewsbury-Hall 6 Sub Praet, Barnes 7 Sub Albrighton, Daka 6 Sub Vardy

Attendance: Not given

Referee: Michael Oliver 9

©Mark Brennand