Wolves return to winning ways

Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 v Sheffield Wednesday 0

The last time Wolves played Sheffield Wednesday at home was the September of 2012. Stole Solbakken was in charge and his team (of which only Bakary Sako remains) managed to eke out a 1-0 win. It marked a fourth win in a row and hinted at a promising season.

Two and a half years on and with much water having flowed the current Wolves side is a far more accomplished outfit. At the level they currently find themselves there are few identifiable weaknesses and many strengths, Benik Afobe, Bakary Sako, Kevin McDonald and the full back duo of Matt Doherty and Scott Golbourne worthy of particular mention. That’s not to say that the current side is good enough to hold its own in the Premier League but if promotion eludes them this core of players will provide the basis for a proper tilt next season.

Though the game was a personal milestone for Richard Stearman - making his 200th appearance - when the history books are written Wolves v Sheffield Wednesday on a dank March night will barely cause a ripple. End to end excitement it was not.

That’s not to say that chances were in scant supply. Just that the level of intensity barely hit 80% and when Wolves made it 2-0 in the 54th minute the game ended as a contest. By then the home side should have been 4-0 up, Rajiv Van La Parra, Kevin McDonald and Jack Price all failing to convert good first half chances. As it was they had to make do with a 17th minute penalty by Bakary Sako following fine endeavour by Nouha Dicko.

Sheffield Wednesday started the second half much the brighter and had they taken just one of the three chances that they created in the first five minutes, the outcome may have been different. But they didn’t and paid for their profligacy when in the 54th minute Benik Afobe volleyed home a delightful cross from Matt Doherty. Twelve minutes later James Henry put the game well and truly to bed with a fine strike from just outside the box.

Wolves: Kuszczak 6, Doherty 7, Batth 6, Stearman 6 Sub Ebanks Landell, Golbourne 6, van la Parra 5 Sub Henry 6, McDonald 7, Price 7, Sako 7, Afobe 7, Dicko 7

Sheffield Wednesday: Westwood 6, Vermijl 6, Lees 5, Dielna 6, Helan 6, McGuire 6, McGuhan 6, Hutchinson 5 Sub Melo Silva, Maghoma 6, Nuhiu 6, May 6 Sub Lavery

Attendance: 18,686

Ref: Simon Hooper 8