Wolves edge hard fought derby

Wolves 1 v Aston Villa 0

Once upon a time Steve Bruce was a candidate for the vacant manager’s job at Molineux. In all respects he was a good candidate for though he valued organisation and grit over lollipops and flare he knew how to set up a team to get them promoted from the Championship. But from the stands of Molineux did Twitter storm Mildred rise scuppering his application. Unwanted he went to Hull and got them promoted instead. Oh well. But, after a four year stint on the banks of the Humber, Bruce and Hull parted company. Last September he became manager of Aston Villa.

Manager at Aston Villa is also a post once filled by Paul Lambert. He came to Villa Park following a successful time at Norwich City a club for whom he, like Bruce, had gained promotion from the Championship. More impressively he kept Norwich up, playing a progressive, easy on the eye style of football. It was this that drew Aston Villa to him. But in his three seasons in charge at Villa Park the sides he fielded were more associated with dull turgidity than fluid flowing football. Twenty three months ago he was shown the door. A short spell at Blackburn followed before he found himself knocking on the front door at Molineux applying for the vacant manager’s role. When finally he was chosen underwhelming was a suitable epithet to describe his appointment. Yet in his short tenure Lambert has worked out who can play and who cannot. And I for one sense that he knows what he is doing.

Further evidence of his judgement came with today’s hard fought win over Aston Villa. Too often in home games this season Wolves have gone behind early on. But that was not the case here. Indeed it was the home side that had the better of the opening exchanges with Joe Mason particularly effective playing a free role in “the hole”. And it was Mason who broke the deadlock following a good move down the right which ended with Nouha Dicko in possession. His pull back from the bye line was only half cleared to Mason whose strange half struck shot bounced off the turf and over keeper Sam Johnson into the net. The frenetic pace continued and in minute 27, Ross McCormack should have equalised but instead headed over the bar following Jordan Amavi’s fine run and cross from the left. That move presaged a period of Villa pressure which was only relieved in minute 40 when Mason went close following another good Wolves move.

Following the break the pace was as lively as the first with Wolves just shading the chances. In the 55th minute Dicko struck Johnston’s legs with a good strike, and in the 80th Bright Enobakhari made space for himself before striking just wide. In times past and with a slender lead Wolves would have conceded. But not today. Not only has Lambert turned the side into a more dynamic unit going forward, he has also improved the defence ensuring that Wolves held out for a deserved victory. It’s been a long time since I have seen so many smiling faces departing the Billy Wright.

….. and finally Thursday brought the sad news of the sudden death, at the age of 72, of ex Wolves and Aston Villa manager Graham Taylor. In the sixties the Brennand family was living in Grimsby when Taylor was playing for the club. He would subsequently come to Molineux his first managerial role following the turmoil of his England tenure and I believe it was at a Wolves social function - where Taylor was speaking - that my father decided to button hole him. “I bet you and I are the only people in this room who were living in Grimsby in 1963” he declared in typically blunt fashion. They got chatting and before parting my father asked Taylor if he would be willing to come for lunch at our training business in town and present us with our BS5750 award. He said that he would and suggested that we call his secretary to fix it up. A date was agreed but Taylor stipulated that he couldn’t give us much more than an hour. He ended up staying for three. Open, honest and intelligent with no side whatsoever he was great value and our time with him confirmed the high standing in which he was held by all those who came into contact with him. Today’s short tribute before the game, and indeed across the country, was fully deserved.

Wolves: Ikeme 6, Coady 6, Stearman 7, Batth 7, Doherty 6, Edwards 6 Sub Saville, Price 6, Costa 7, Mason 8, Cavaleiro 6 Sub Enobakhari, Dicko 7 Sub Bodvarsson

Aston Villa: Johnstone 6, Hutton 6, Chester 6, Elphick 6, Amavi 6, Adomah 7 Sub Green, Tshibola 6 Sub Grealish, Jedinak 5 Sub Davis, Bacuna 6, McCormack 6, Agbonlahor 6

Attendance: 27,235

Referee: Tony Harrington 8

©Mark Brennand