It’s been a difficult 2 weeks as a Wolves fan after our loss at home to Bournemouth and then the avoidable defeat at West Ham. Throw into the mix, Lemina-gate, the Jeff Shi statement and the critical importance of today’s game, we are truly at the edge of a precipice. All our games are an opportunity to win, this however is a must win on the 70th Anniversary of our 3-2 win against Honved for obvious reasons in our RELEGATION BATTLE. There’s one change to the side that started at West Ham, Bellegarde in for João Gomes, Doyle missing out again.
We started brightly with some good possession and comfortably passed the ball around, using the wings to press Ipswich back but there were minimal balls into the box. It was evident that Cunha had a free role as he drifted from left to right but Ipswich looked dangerous on the break as they broke at pace on the counterattack. It was a calmer start to the game and we looked in control for the first time in ages, perhaps the players had turned a corner…
Then on 15 mins, the inevitable happened, we showed great defending during a sustained raid on our goal, with last ditch blocks but then a shot comes in and ricochets into the net off Doherty we are so unlucky to go one nil down but that’s us in a nutshell. Yet again, we have to come back from a goal down in the early throws of the game.
Our early promise needed to have an end product and we should have scored in the 23rd minute. Bellegarde has a gilt edged chance to score from 6 yards but he blazed it over, it was a simple side foot either side of the keeper in my opinion.
We continue to stride forward, Larsen gets a chance but can’t finish it off after an Ait Nouri run, we needed to grab this game by the scruff of the neck as Ipswich are looking the more dangerous.
We created a few chances but they weren’t clearcut. We seemed to just amble our way to half time and Ait Nouri gets a yellow card for a scuffle with Burns, that would bubble along and explode at full-time. It’s worth saying that the crowd gave Jeff Shi and Fosun a piece of their mind after the goal, it’s started to turn toxic as we went in a goal down at half-time.
Half time Wolves 0 – 1 Ipswich Town
The second half saw Gary O’Neil make his first change, Doyle on for Andre, that certainly changed the game in our favour as he was involved in all our good work going forward. However, we were getting caught out on the left side by Ipswich who managed to get a shot on goal which Johnstone parried away.
It was getting nervy at the back again and we needed a way back into the game as Ipswich were ripping us apart at times with their slick play and power in attack.
More substitutions were made with Guedes coming on for Doherty, he made such a difference to our attack. Cunha had been a constant threat in our attacks during our best moments and he delivered our equaliser on 72 minutes, breaking down the left after a Guedes pass, he smashed it into the near post with his left foot, 1 – 1.
What the hell would we do without Cunha, we would be even further behind the rest if he wasn’t playing for us as well as he has, he is outshining the rest of the players to be honest.
The game turned in our favour as we start to create more flowing football and press Ipswich back into their own half. Cunha could have had a hattrick in the second half but he was thwarted by the keeper, in particular a double effort should have made it into the net. That wasn’t the only one, Larsen connected with a cross whipped in by Guedes (who needs to start) but it was poked just wide.
We had two more opportunities to put this game out of reach, Tommy Doyle choosing to shoot when perhaps a pass to Guedes would have created a fantastic chance to seal a victory.
It’s Christmas and of course Wolves love to give presents to the less fortunate and so in the 93rd minute, we conceded a corner that led to Jack Taylor rising unmarked to head home the winner for Ipswich.
I was always taught to enjoy giving gifts and that receiving them is a privilege and not a given, even Scrooge would have been proud of that act of kindness. I’m sure Ed Sheeran is in love with the Shape of You Ipswich, they looked a very good side at times but vulnerable at the back. We have Bad Habits of our own and Wolves give me the Shivers every time we play, today I was in a cold sweat at full-time, we are going down at this rate.
Full- Time Wolves 1 – 2 Ipswich Town
I didn’t see the brawl that ensued at the final whistle, I missed it due to having my head in my hands at the sucker punch we received. I thought Gary O’Neil had said this wouldn’t happen again but Cunha and Ait Nouri didn’t read the memo, he received a 2nd yellow for his antics. The latter for me has been a pain in the ass at times and he should be heavily fined and sold in January, he is too far up himself. It appears the dressing room is in turmoil and that can be deadly in a relegation battle, we are getting cut adrift here folks, the natives are getting rebellious!!
The post mortem will now begin, Jeff Shi has dropped a major clanger with his latest statement, what is he thinking. Fosun are now the villains of Molineux and the toxic atmosphere has started, its only a matter of time before the protests start unless they can turn this all around. Gary O’Neil will now be the centre of this weekends debate again and that is not helping the players or us the fans. This needs resolving and pretty quick, the question is who will take on the poisoned chalice, do they stick or twist?
ARTICLE BY CRAIG HICKEY
A 53 year old season ticket holder in the Steve Bull stand. Go along with my two young lads who love the Wolves and so far, the positive times. Long may it continue.