Always Wolves
Always Wolves
CRAIG HICKEY TALKS ABOUT WOLVES 3-2 DEFEAT TO BURNLEY
It’s a vital game for Wolves, again, in the Premier League, 8 games, 0 wins, 2 draws and 6 defeats, it’s a horrible statistic. One ex manager of Wolves was once asked “it can’t go on like this can it?”, his reply was “it can!!”. We are all crossing everything we can in hope that it can’t and doesn’t, this is one of those games where we all need to pull together, players, staff and fans.
There has been lots of talk on the socials about formations and line ups, Lopez getting a few calls so it’ll be interesting to see who starts today.
So here’s the team for this crucial game against Burnley, this is going to raise alot of eyebrows:
Johnstone, Hoever, H Bueno, S Bueno, Krejci, Andre, Munetsi, Bellegarde, R Gomes, Arias, Larsen.
Subs: Sa, Wolfe, Agbadou, Toti, Fer Lopez, Tchatchoua, J Gomes, Hwang, Tolu
Two changes then, Hoever and Bellegarde are in for Doherty and Joao Gomes, I’m not sure about Vitor’s thinking here but it’s contentious.
Wolves start the game well and get an early chance, Rodrigo Gomes sprints away on a breakaway, he bounds into the box but his low drive is gathered by the keeper. Rodrigo started well and he was causing problems to the Burnley defence. He delivers a great cross shot which is pushed away by Dubravka but Arias can’t connect to get the rebound, the Burnley keeper is the busier of the two keepers at the moment.
Wolves are having lots of possession but in the13th minute Burnley breakout of defence, a long diagonal ball from left to right goes to the far edge of the area over Krejci’s head and a first time, instep volley from Flemming, nestles in the bottom corner. Against the run of play Wolves are 1-0 down.
After a lively start to the game both on and off the pitch, the atmosphere goes flat, the sense of impending doom can be felt by everyone. Burnley have taken confidence from scoring and every time they attack, they look dangerous, Wolves were being undone and a last ditch tackle from Hugo Bueno avoids a certain one on one against Johnstone. It’s then Johnstone who has to save us after an uncharacteristic hesitation from Krejci could have led to an easy chance for Burnley to double their lead.
It wasn’t long before they did just that, in the 29th minute, they carved us open, some simple one two’s and they exposed us on the left side. A ball is clipped to the back post and then cut back across the box to the unmarked Flemming to finish, a brace for the striker, Wolves 0 – 2 Burnley.
The boos echo around Molineux, the tension and frustration is now clear to hear, a chorus of “your not fit to wear the shirt”, rings out, we are staring down the barrel of a gun now. We keep trying to make in roads and Munetsi has a clear header that any side of the keeper is a goal, alas it goes straight at him, more anger in the stands.
Ki Jana Hoever is having an influence on the game more as we approach the last 5 minutes of the half, we really need a goal before half time. In the 40th minute, we get a bit of luck, a foul on Santi Bueno after he plays in Krejci leads to a penalty. As usual VAR checks the decision and confirms the foul, Dubravka is trying to unsettle Larsen but he coolly slots it home, Wolves 1 – 2 Burnley.
The drama wasn’t over as there are 4 minutes of injury time and in 48th minute, Bellegarde turns and tricks the defence and clips a cross to the far post, it’s knocked back into the box for Munetsi, who this time heads into the bottom corner. Its 2-2!!!
We are damn lucky to be drawing this game based on this first half, missed chances and sloppy play have lead to us being behind. There is some applause at the half time whistle, Vitor Pereira has some talking to do at the interval.
Half time: Wolves 2 – 2 Burnley
A big second half is needed, in the early part of the second half it’s end to end,
Burnley getting in behind us to get two good chances, they are definitely playing the counterattack tactics. Our final ball not good enough, in the first 15 minutes of this half, Larsen is being hauled down and we can’t seem to break the lines. Hoever is working hard, showing good movement and a positive Bellegarde dribble wins us a free kick. Its a fantastic free kick from Arias, it deserves a goal as it beats Dubravka but it cannons off the bar.
Vitor Periera rings the changes on 67 minutes, Joao Gomes and Hwang are on for Andre and Arias, the later a strange one as Arias was having more influence on the left. Andre looks pretty dejected and that doesn’t look good from where I’m sitting in the Steve Bull stand.
There’s more good work down right from Hoever, Larsen holds it up, then he plays it to Hoever who plays a ball across the box to Bueno who screws it wide with his weaker right foot.
Hoever is replaced by Jackson with15 mins to go, I think he has had a decent game along with Rodrigo Gomes.
Wolves are starting to play more, just not finding the right killer pass. Larsen has a header which is too comfortable for the keeper, apart from his goal he hasn’t looked like scoring today.
Munetsi manages to breakaway after the Wolves defence thwarts a Burnley attack, it 2 v1 but his square ball cut out by a trailing Kyle Walker leg as he tries to find Hwang. Bellegarde then has a volley saved, its all Wolves at this point, surely there is going to be a chance here, one that could get us that first win.
Another effort, this time from Rodrigo Gomes, after great work and passing, goes begging, he blazes offer from 10 yards out.
There are more substitutions on 84 minutes, Hugo Bueno and Munetsi are replaced by Tolu and Wolfe. We cannot now lose the game, a draw is not ideal but it’s the least we deserve and anything less will spell trouble.
………..and so it comes to pass in the 93rd minute we lose the ball 25 yards out, Bellegarde tries to tackle a Burnley player but the ball runs into a Burnley forward who plays in his teammate, a scruffy finish rolls over the line, Wolves 2 -3 Burnley.
This is the 3rd time we have conceded in injury time, the last two times we have given away the chance to get three points. This time it proves disastrous.
We break forward from the kick off and Debravka makes a save tremendous save to his left., from Santi Bueno, that’s it, the final whistle goes and the boos and vitriol start.
Full-time Wolves 2-3 Burnley
…….its devastating to be honest!!! That’s not the end of it, there’s a chorus again of “you’re not fit to wear the shirt”, Larsen goes over to the South Bank, whether its to speak to them, apologise or remonstrate, its not clear from my seat. There are videos circulating of the incident, so time will tell. There are a few other players who try to go over to that area to try to calm things down, some fans are angry, others are applauding the players. Vitor Pereira also goes over and that seems to cause more unrest……….
I haven’t seen these type of scenes since the Mick MCarthy era and that wasn’t very pleasant at all. It has got worse and will continue to do so unless there is a massive shift in alot of things………I’ll leave that with you to decide but the vultures are circling for a managerial change…….Deja vu?
A brutal finish at Molineux: Wolves beaten 3-2 by Burnley