Wolves undone by defensive blunder

Wolves 1 v Queens Park Rangers 2

On the back of two promising wins against Nottingham Forest and Bristol City, optimism amongst the Molineux faithful was high as Queens Park Rangers rolled into town. Under new manager Ian Holloway the Shepherd’s Bush outfit had lost six of their last seven games a less than sparkling record which signalled a welcoming “You’re getting sacked in the morning” from the die hards in the South Bank. However it was Holloway who had the last laugh, as Wolves slumped to a dispiriting defeat.

Were one to be paid by the word, then the first half would have offered thin reward. There were two moments of note. Minute 10 when Nouha Dicko saw his shot on goal deflected over the bar by Grant Hall’s fine sliding tackle. And minute 21 when Bright Enobakhari’s side footed effort from close to the penalty spot lacked the pace to beat keeper Alex Smithies. Though Wolves dominated possession too often they over elaborated, moves breaking down before they ever got going, making for disjointed viewing. Indeed at one point the pile of washing on my ironing board seemed a better option than the game, in that it would have at least provided an element of purpose, if not necessarily pleasure.

During half time manager Lambert appeared to have addressed the over elaboration as, following the break, Wolves raised the tempo by moving the ball first time. In midfield Jack Price was particularly effective spreading play in the manner of a quarter back, but whilst possession was retained few clear cut chances ensued. Inevitably, and against the run of play, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock when in minute 52 Idrissa Sylla latched on to fine cross from Pawel Wszolek to volley home.

To their credit Wolves maintained their shape and at the third time of asking Helda Costa at last found a cross from the right which honed in on a Wolves boot, David Edwards the recipient. His volley from six yards was the mirror image of that by Sylla and with half an hour still remaining thoughts turned to a Wolves win.

It was not to be. All season long the Wolves defence has been an Achilles Heel and so it proved again here. With three minutes of the game to go the ball arrived in the Wolves box. First Price poked it on with half a slide tackle. Then Richard Stearman and Danny Batth failed to get a boot in to remove it from the path of Wszolek who, still in possession, toe poked it home from five yards out. It was a classic sucker punch reflecting a year of considerable disappointment. For the Old Gold 2017 can’t come soon enough.

Season’s greetings and a Happy New Year.

Wolves: Ikeme 5, Coady 6, Stearman 5, Batth 5, Doherty 6, Edwards 6, Price 7, Costa 6, Enobakhari 5 Sub Mason, Cavaleiro 5, Dicko 5 Sub Bodvarsson

QPR: Smithies 6, Perch 6, Hall 7, Lynch 6, Bidwell 6, Mackie 6, Ngbatako 6 Sub Washington, Sandro 5 Sub Borysiuk, Manning 6, Sylla 7, Wszoleck 7

Attendance: 21,132

Referee: Lee Probert 9

©Mark Brennand