Wolves made to work hard for win
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1 v Ipswich Town 0
One suspects that for Mick McCarthy Sunday 12th February 2012 is not one which he remembers with great affection. Back then the bluff Yorkshireman was managing a Wolves side struggling to keep their heads above the premier league relegation zone when West Bromwich Albion strolled into town. Though level at half time with a goal apiece the second half proved to be somewhat humiliating as West Brom outplayed Wolves to inflict a 5-1 defeat. Not best pleased with how the players representing his club had acquitted themselves Chairman Steve Morgan threw managerial niceties out of the window when he allegedly stormed into the changing room to give them a piece of his mind. Suitably undermined it was to prove the end for Mick who was shown the door the very next day.
Dusting off his not inconsiderable shoulders McCarthy was soon back in employment, this time at Ipswich Town a club with a history of playing cultured football. The cultured football epithet is not one which one might readily pin on McCarthy, who has always sought a more pragmatic approach, where grit and determination are of greater value than out and out flare. Which is perhaps why he is good at getting sides out of the Championship, only for their limitations to be subsequently exposed. Mick has now been at Portman Road almost as long as he was at the Molineux. But unlike his tenure at the Wolves he has never extricated The Tractor Boys from the Championship, a single play-off slot in season 2014-15 being the height of his achievements. And if today’s performance is characteristic, few changes have been made to the McCarthy footballing template.
Indeed one might argue that Mick has become even more conservative so much of the first half possession being granted to the home side. Yet, for all that possession, Wolves struggled to click the one touch football that has become their signature sadly absent. A half hour had passed before their first real opportunity, Diogo Jota’s strike on goal following a Willy Bolly cross being blocked for a corner. Ten minutes later Jota found himself clear of the Ipswich back line and with time to pick a pass he found Ivan Cavaleiro albeit via an Ipswich boot. The Portuguese striker pounced on the ball taking it inside to the edge of the box from where his powerful strike gave Bialkowski no chance. The goal forced Ipswich to acquaint themselves with the opposition’s half, something of a novel experience, given their lack of endeavour up to that point. But with only a few minutes left of the half there was insufficient time to make it pay.
Following the break McCarthy’s charges began the second period in far more enterprising fashion and on 56 minutes Martyn Waghorn’s powerful left foot drive, following good work by Bersant Celina, caused Wolves their first scare. But in striving for a goal the game had opened up allowing Wolves greater freedom. The home side fashioned a number of half chances until in minute 83 a delightfully pitched ball from Ruben Neves picked out Helda Costa on the penalty spot. Unfortunately the Wolves winger should have done better than volleying his shot over the bar. A couple of minutes later Romain Saiss headed wide from another lovely cross by Neves and in the 87th minute Barry Douglas’s free kick hit the side netting, Bialkowski stuck to his line.
Ipswich continued to strive without really threatening but there was much relief when referee David Coote brought matters to an end. With Cardiff going down to lowly Bolton the win extends Wolves lead at the top of the table to seven points.
Have a merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.
Wolves: Ruddy 6, Bennett 7, Coady 6, Bolly 7, Doherty 6, Douglas 6, Saiss 7, Neves 8, Caveleiro 8 Sub Enobakhari, Jota 7 Sub N’Diaye, Bonatini 6 Sub Costa
Ipswich Town: Bialkowski 6, Spence 6, Chambers 6, Webster 6, Kenlock 7, Connolly 6, Bru 6 Sub Bishop, Ward 6, Waghorn 6 Sub McGoldrick, Celina 7, Garner 6 Sub Sears
Attendance: 30,218
Referee: David Coote 8
©Mark Brennand