Aug 2004 Sept 2004 Oct 2004 Nov 2004 Dec 2004 Jan 2005 Feb 2005 Mar 2005 Apr 2005 May 2005

On the Road - 30 Aug - Ipswich 2 WW 1

Marcus Bent, then rumoured to be leaving Ipswich, caused us all sorts of problems. At least DJ had remembered to give the half time team talk before the match so we at least started playing in the first half for the first time. On the day Newcastle sacked Sir Bobby Robson, he would have been proud of his old team.. we were definitely second best. My Ipswich co-driver said we were terrible but I thought he was a bit OTT with that one.

What’s Joleon doing in the Portman Road away fans stand? It’s ok he found his way out there at the heart of the defence. The Ipswich mascot was however pretty quiet.

Give away to the Foxes 28 Aug WW 1 Leicester 1

Draws are becoming even more of a habit in a match we should have put away. But, when the defence forgets to turn up in the first 5 minutes, we give an unchallenged goal away to Jamie Scowcroft.

But we were saved by Kenny’s 4th goal in six games.  A long punt from Jona was misheaded by Keown, and Kenny Miller was away, with one of his trademark runs and finishes.

Keown spent most of the game trying to wind up Leon Clarke, and succeeded in getting him booked.Here Leon is warned, DJ tries to calm him down, he gets booked, but explains he’s getting on so well with Keown that the old gooner keeps hugging him

and although Dion Dublin explains to Ref Mr Bates you don’t get points for booking Incey anymore, he still books him.  Dion gets away with trying to manhandle Joleon in his first home match in 16 months. Nathan Blake makes his Molineux return, while here’s an early attacking free kick from Nayls which went to Newts, who could have made more of it.

Second away match 21st August Burnley 1 WW 1

Draws are becoming a habit. A great piece of opportunism from Newts, darting on to Sinclair’s header to his keeper, rounding Coyne and tapping home from three yards gave us an early lead, but the equaliser came in the 30th minute from a solo effort from Blake.  From there on, Burnley were on top but failed to capitalise

And the best news, of course, was the first competitive match for Joleon Lescott since Cardiff in 2003.

 Carling Cup (live on Sky) 23rd August Rochdale 2 WW 4

So, away wins are possible, and it came just two days later.  For the first half hour though we were slaughtered by the second division team who went 2-0 up in the first half hour.  Strong running and abject defending put us on the rack until Leon’s pass to Incey, whose stunning shot got us back into it just before the interval. Only debutant Keith Lowe looked good in defence.  Ince’s goal was followed by better second half with Leon Clarke stabbing home a rebound from Coops’ shot, a typical Kenny Miller strike and a first goal for Keith Andrews.

Second home match 14th August WW 0 Leeds 0 - another tale of two halves

Except these two halves were both the same, with Wolves well on top of a rather poor Leeds side. At times the visitors looked frightened silly, especially with Leon Clarke’s strength, ball control, and runs.  He ran rings around Leeds’ experienced right back, Garry Kelly. However, Buts’ return to Molineux had their defence holding out well with Sullivan only required to make one decent save (in the third minute from Kenny) until 4 minutes from the end. And that came in spite of 11 shots, with 6 on target (against Leeds 4 with 1 on target including an off-the-line clearance in extra time.).

At times in this match the Wolves played like we always want to see them play, the crowd weren’t subdued, and Kenny Miller really looked to be determined to prove a point.   His run in the 87th was halted by a tackle from behind by Duberry, immediately red-carded by ref Laws

Kenny stepped up to take the penalty, which Sullivan saved well, and broke his record of scoring in every match! 

Once again, the three points were there for the taking, although we did try to have the usual 93rd minute scare. Special mention of Nayls who picked up where he left off on Wednesday night and had a cracker of a game until pulling his back stooping for a header back to Jonah with 10 to go.

And sympathy too for Lucas Radebe, who snapped his Achilles in the 15th minute, and may not play again.

First Home match - a tale of two halves  v PNE 11th August 2004

The Guvnor’s back but well, the team kicked at 7.45pm off in pretty much the same way as they’d left Stoke. Abject defending with Jonah flapping at the ball three times led to an early opener from Stoke’s Lucketti in the fourth minute which was ruled to have crossed the line in spite of Incey’s covering. Shortly after Mark Kennedy had to be substituted with a medial ligament strain. David Healy put Preston 2 up in the 13th.  Simple corner, unmarked, strong low strike.

Wolves strikeforce didn’t lack passion but the Preston defence, including trialist Mawene, seemed well able to cope until Dickson Etuhu decided to grab Kenny’s chin. The red card gave the Moli faithful new heart, but it didn’t produce much by half time.

Here’s Newts helping Ref Armstrong over the sending off:

For the first time in living memory, it seems, DJ had left Lee Naylor on the bench. Here he is looking forlornly on as Wolves make a rare incurson into the Preston half

But what a difference he made in the second half, playing with the passion skill and control we know he’s capable.  Overlapping tackling, crosses.... But that was true of the rest of the team.  Surging runs and shots wore down the PNE defence until League home debutant, Leon Clarke, probably the most passionate Wolf on the pitch equalised with a simple push home in the 75th followed 4 minutes later by a great Newts run and a cracker of a goal from Kenny. (Kenny was to win the Goal of the Season award for this goal - Newts deep in his own half, forward, passed to Olofinjana as Newts continues his run.  Seyi George lays it into Newts path just inside our half.  Newts runs right to left, four touches in his dribble and the fifth is off the right of his right boot perfectly laid into Kenny’s run across the edge of the box.  he shoots from the edge of the D high into the centre of the net) Leon gets my vote for WW man of the match, although the Preston goalie made outstanding saves in what could have become a rout. The goals looked even better on Sky.

After the match DJ complained about booing from the fans at half time, which isn’t good for the team, but understandable given the overall first half performance.

My Man of the Match - Leon Clarke

ps. It would be nice to see a Wolves goal down at the South Bank end since the North Bank seems to have a monopoly - please!

for the Wolves match report please go to:

http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10307~27463,00.html

Championship off to a poor start at Stoke 8th August 2004

For a long time in this Sky televised match it looked as though Wolves just hadn’t turned up. Fighting amongst themselves was about all that enlivened the 107.7 and the Sky commentaries.

Adi Akimbiyi, of course, had to be the man of the match, just to rub the salt in...

Can we blame this on the injuries (and one suspension)?  Well, while they don’t help, we still need to see the guys wearing Gold and Black to look as though they wanted to be there. Some clearly did including the club’s new vice captain and captain on the day, Mark Kennedy. Seyi George Olfinjana also came through his debut well.

The first goal by Stoke’s Darel Russell came from Adi’s efforts again, and a sight we became familiar with all last season of a break down against our exposed left side after an excellent Wolves attack.  This had a great shot from Cameron saved by Ed de Goey.   A dubious penalty put Stoke 2 up, before a missed header in the Stoke box by a defender led to the ball striking Noel Williams for a more likely penalty.  Kenny’s strike must have left Sven Goran wondering whether he could take pens for England. (his full Scottish caps prevent this! Ed)

But, we are one better in League positions this year, and there’s plenty of time.... and so on to PNE

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