Time to savour well earned triumph
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 v Sheffield Wednesday 0
In the end the title was won at a canter. The nail biting climax to the season mercifully avoided. The hard work will shortly begin but if ever Wolves had a chance of gaining a foothold in the premier league, this season’s vintage has as much if not more than the previous two. I have always argued that promotion must be achieved with a team playing well and adopting a pattern of play which is both effective and well understood. In that regard Coach Nuno Espirito Santo has exceeded expectations and if there was a defining moment which characterised that he knew what he was doing it was in recognising the strengths of both Conor Coady and Matt Doherty and having done so, switching them from what previous managers had assumed to be their most effective positions. From that point on everything else fell into place and under his excellent direction Wolves have played some of the most attractive attacking football that has been seen at the Molineux in decades. Bar the minor blip, post turn of the year, to be crowned Champions is an accolade fully deserved and it was only fitting that the trophy should be awarded today in front of a packed stadium.
The game itself had the feel of an end of season, nothing resting on it, encounter. Which is what it was. That said numerous chances were created, most of them by the Old Gold and in all cases, bar one, they were squandered by poor finishing. The anomaly was a brilliant save by Cameron Dawson in minute 42 to deny a Romain Saiss header from a corner. The missed opportunities were Benik Afobe on the half hour who squared the ball across an empty goal mouth, Diogo Jota’s half strike when put through on goal in minute 46, Helda Costa’s failure to get a shot away in the 60th minute and Bright Enobakhare’s snatched effort – again free on goal – in minute 78.
In fairness to Sheffield Wednesday they moved the ball around neatly, ex Aston Villa winger Barry Bannan prominent in midfield. Right wing back Adam Reach also caused the occasional problem, but for all the pretty patterns few chances did they create.
The goalless draw means that Wolves will have to wait until next weekend’s encounter with relegated Sunderland to see if they are to cross the 100 point mark for the second time in five seasons. (They are currently on 99). Whatever happens the premier league awaits. Nuno will not permit complacency but before the hard graft resumes the players deserve a well earned rest.
Wolves: Ruddy 6, Batth 6, Coady 7, Boly 7, Doherty 6, Douglas 6, Neves 6, Saiss 6, Costa 7 Sub Enobakhare, Jota 7 Sub Gibbs-White, Afobe 6 Sub Bonatini
Sheffield Wednesday: Dawson 7, Venacio 6, Lees 7, Pudil 6, Reach 8, Pelupessey 6, Bannan 8, Thorniley 6, Joao 6 Sub Matias, Nuhiu 7, Forestieri 6
Attendance: 29,794
Referee: Simon Hooper 9
©Mark Brennand