Wolves undone by Phillips
Wolves 2 v Queens Park Rangers 3
For the second time in four days Wolves played host to a post premier league outfit. Though saddled with a mountain of debt and possibly in breach of the fair play rules Queens Park Rangers offered up a much sterner challenge than Hull. Not that this was particularly evident during the opening third of the game when Wolves bossed affairs scoring twice through Benik Afobe and Kevin McDonald the latter with a fine goal.
Then in minute 37 Matt Phillips half beat Dominic Iorfa on the left flank before placing a beautiful swinging cross into the corridor of uncertainty. On hand was Charlie Austin who from six yards out made no mistake with his head. All of a sudden the wind had been taken from Wolves’ sails, never really to return.
On 51 minutes Phillips, now back on his preferred right wing, cut inside Kortney Hause before firing a half struck shot beyond the outstretched arm of Emiliano Martinez and into the net. Though somewhat stunned Wolves stuck to their task and should have gone ahead when Rajiv Van La Parra, on for James Henry, picked out Afobe, only for the latter pull his shot wide.
It was a costly miss because five minutes later Wolves were once again undone. Showing his lack of experience Hause collected the ball on the left touchline. Under pressure from Massimo Luongo, the Wolves defender still had plenty of time to knock the ball up-field to safety, yet chose to settle on it. In that split second he was dispossessed, the ball being moved quickly infield to Phillips who from 25 yards beat Martinez with a fine strike.
What did Wolves learn? The defence is inexperienced and thus vulnerable. Chances have to be taken when presented. And a game of football lasts for 90 minutes not merely 36.
Wolves: Martinez 6, Iorfa 6, Stearman 6, Hause 5, Golbourne 6, Edwards 6, Coady 5, McDonald 6, Henry 6 Sub van La Parra, Afobe 6, Dicko 6 Sub Le Fondre 6
QPR: Green 6, Perch 6, Hall 6, Onuoha 6, Konchesky 6, Phillips 8, Henry 6, Chery 7 Sub Doughty , Faurlin 6 Sub Polter, Luongo 6, Austin 7
Attendance: 21,032
Referee: Peter Bankes 9
©Mark Brennand