LEWIS HICKEY REPORTS & ANALYSES WOLVES PERFORMANCE AGAINST BOURNEMOUTH
FIRST HALF
A chance to go five unbeaten and extend our gap to the relegation zone. An unchanged XI for O’Neil and more reinforcements on the bench with Santi Bueno and Dawson back fit. This is certainly a match to get excited about after our first away win of the season last weekend in west London. Bournemouth come to Molineux off the back of a defeat to high-flying Brighton. This will be a tough game, with the visitors taking the scalps of both Man City and Arsenal so far this season.
It’s the worst possible start for Wolves. Bournemouth play a long ball over the top, which is misjudged by Lemina. Evanilson latches onto it and is then brought down by Toti after a sliding challenge. Penalty. VAR check the decision and give the penalty. Kluivert steps up and puts Bournemouth 1-0 up. Semedo is booked after protesting the penalty decision, a truly awful start to the game.
On five minutes, Wolves come forward on a fast break with Cunha, who carries the ball and gives it to Bellegarde. He sends in a perfect cross for Larsen to head home brilliantly. Wolves are level. But not for long.
Bournemouth come forward again with a sequence of passes from right to left, and left-back Kerkez is put through. He finishes well into the top left corner. 2-1 after eight minutes. Bournemouth nearly score again minutes later. Kluivert gets the ball on the wing and delivers a cross into Evanilson, who is completely unmarked, but he doesn’t manage to get enough on the ball to divert it past Sa. The Wolves defence is at sea in the opening 15 minutes. However, it wouldn’t take long before they got the third goal. Jose Sa was taking his time on the ball, and out of nowhere, Evanilson stole the ball off him. Sa catches him on the ankle—another penalty. Kluivert steps up again and slams his penalty into the bottom right corner. 3-1 Bournemouth.
Wolves have a couple of penalty shouts in quick succession, but nothing is given. Finally, a bit of individual brilliance from Ait Nouri sees him dribble through a couple of players, and he eventually gets brought down by the Bournemouth defender, who receives a yellow card. Wolves have been very poor in the first half, constantly giving the ball away. It looks like they have never played together before. The half-time whistle goes, and Jose Sa is in the South Bank arguing with a couple of fans who are eventually escorted out of the stadium.
SECOND HALF
One change for Wolves at half-time: R. Gomes off for Craig Dawson. Wolves start the second half poorly, giving the ball away constantly and letting Bournemouth come at them. Within a few minutes, Dawson receives a yellow card after a poor pass leads to him taking out Evanilson.
Bournemouth have a few chances in the first 15 minutes of the half but nothing that troubles José Sa in the Wolves goal. Two substitutions for Wolves at 64 minutes: Toti off for Guedes and Bellegarde off for Forbes. At 69 minutes, Wolves get a lifeline. André does brilliantly to track his man and win the ball. Gomes finds Guedes with a ball over the top, and he threads a well-timed ball through to Larsen, who finishes with great composure, putting it high into the goal. Wolves are back in the game.
But in typical Wolves fashion, they gift Bournemouth another penalty minutes later. Dawson makes a terrible back pass to Sa, who takes out Evanilson for the second time today. An absolute calamity at the back for Wolves. Kluivert takes the penalty and scores his hat-trick, making Premier League history as the first player to score three penalties in a single game. Bournemouth now lead 4-2 after 75 minutes. Hwang, back from injury, replaces André with 10 minutes to go.
From then on, Bournemouth see out the game until the final whistle, with Wolves not producing any clear-cut chances. As the final whistle blows, boos ring around Molineux alongside some applause. A shocking performance from the old gold today, the complete opposite of what we saw last weekend.
These next four games are crucial for our season, but whatever happens, we need to support these players. We need to keep the faith because from darkness, cometh light. FWAW.🐺🐺
ARTICLE BY LEWIS HICKEY
Hi, I’m Lewis, a season ticket holder in the Steve Bull. Always going with my dad and brother. Enjoying every moment apart from the odd few. FWAW.