WWFC’s 2013-2014 Curtain Call

3/5/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 3-0 Carlisle
Position:  1st
Scorers: Ricketts, Jacobs, Dicko

And so the curtain comes down on a season that the Wolves’ faithful had dreamed of, and for once, those dreams became reality in this record breaking year.

Champions with games to spare, and with records tumbling everywhere, Wolves will enter the Championship on a real high.

By the numbers

Have a look at this lot:

• 30,110 – the highest League One attendance this season, Wolves vs Rotherham .  The league’s average gate this year was 7,488.
• 103 – the most points achieved by a League One team.  Ever.  (Beating Charlton’s 101 point total from 2011-2012)
• 89 – most goals scored
• 58 – highest goal difference
• 31 – League One’s club with most wins
• 31 – fewest goals conceded
• 25 – most clean sheets
• 10 – the highest League One aggregate score, for Wolves 6-4 Rotherham
• 9 –  League One’s longest win sequence
• 6 – the highest League One team score, achieved by Rotherham, twice, Preston, and Wolves
• 5 – League One’s club with fewest losses
• 2.24 – League One’s highest points per game ratio
• 1.93 – highest goal per game average
• 0.67 – fewest goals conceded per game

Congratulations then, to Kenny Jackett.  In a year when all of the top 5 League One clubs score more points than the top 2 teams last season it was important to keep going right until the end, and though the margin between Wolves and 2^nd placed Brentford was eventually 9 points, and a massive 17 to 3^rd placed Orient, for stretches of the season it didn’t feel quite as comfortable as it proved to be by the final whistle against Carlisle.

When I started this blog I drew comparisons to the Wolves team that were promoted from Division 3 (quaintly called League One now) at the first time of asking in 1988-1989.  Check back at those early posts for the misty eyed reminiscences of a bygone age.

That team also won the league, won 26 of their 46 fixtures, and only lost 6 games in a season that saw Wolves surge back to the equivalent of the Championship (Division 2) 8 points ahead of Sheffield United, and play-off winning Port Vale.

Wolves have had a huge positive goal difference in 2014 (58), built on the strength of their miserly defence, which conceded a mere 31 goals in 46 games.  The title winning side in 1989 conceded 49 goals, but scored 96, in securing a goal difference of 47.

And that maybe the big difference between the 2 teams, 25 years apart.  The class of 2014 has displayed strength throughout the side, and from Ikeme, through the centre half pairing of Batth and Stearman, to midfielder Kevin McDonald, has proven to be resolute in defence, yet there wasn’t a 20+ goal striker in the ranks.  It is worth noting, perhaps, that there were only 4 20+ goal strikers in the division, all told, precisely half the number in the Championship this year,  though better than in League Two, with only a single striker (ex-Wolves’ Sam Winnall) scoring more than 20 goals.

A run of only 2 defeats in 23 games since the turn of the year secured promotion, and Since Nouha Dicko joined in January he notched 12 goals in 19 games, to be the joint top league goal scorer, alongside Sako and Griffiths.

Dicko, Sako and Griffiths all scored 12 league goals, with Dicko being the most prolific as a rate of a goal every 1.58 games (0.63 goals per game), compared to Sako’s 3.3 games per goal (0.3 goals per game) from midfield, and the long departed Griffiths scoring a goal every 2.1 games, at a rate of 0.48 goals per game.

In 1989-89 Wolves did not have the meanest defence (that accolade went to Port Vale), but were the league’s top scorers, with 96 goals.  In that season, the Steve Bull and Andy Mutch partnership were in full swing, catapulting Wolves to promotion, and Bull to a goal scoring England debut against Scotland on a memorable 27^th May 1989.

Bull scored 37 league goals (and a further 13 cup goals) that season, a goal every 1.2 games (0.82 goals per game), and Andy Mutch chipped in with 21 in the league.  After that, the goals were spread among the rest of the team – Robbie Dennison (6), Floyd Streete (6) and Andy Thompson (6), for example, just as Henry, Jacobs and Edwards have done this year.

I’m sure that Wolves have started looking at the squad in advance of the 2014-15 season, and there will, inevitably, be some additions as Wolves step up to the second tier once again.

At least they go with optimism, and with the tattered relationship between the club and the support repaired so well by Jackett and the players.  Wolves’ fans are proud of their team once again.

Enjoy the break.

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from anyone who has read the blog.  Find me on Twitter at  ‏@phil_smith66  and follow for monthly WWFC updates and regular Peterborough Phantoms articles.

WWFC Monthly Update – April 2014

1/4/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Stevenage 0-0 Wolves
Position:  1st

April Fool’s day, and top against bottom – what could possibly go wrong?

A keenly contested fixture saw relegation haunted Stevenage keep the Wolves at bay, in a challenge that most Wolves’ supporters anticipated a victory in.  Nevertheless, another clean sheet in a game of few chances was added to the total, meaning a useful point towards the promotion total was tucked away.

5/4/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 2-0 Peterborough United
Position:  1^st
Scorers:  Batth, Edwards

As Peterborough are my local club the importance of this fixture is probably more greatly felt by me than by the majority of Wolves fans.  After all, who in WV1 thinks too much about The Posh and the travails of ex-Wolves midfielder-come-manager Darren Ferguson?

When Wolves, perhaps somewhat unfortunately lost at London Road in late November 2013 they were in the seasons’ sticky patch.  Wolves played 8 games in November, winning 3, drawing 3 and losing 2 – the game in Peterborough, and a poorly attended FA Cup replay against Oldham.  Promotion rivals were making ground on Wolves who had dropped to 2^nd place, and who were looking shorn of confidence as the games came thick and fast.

Once again, the game against Peterborough could’ve been a banana skin.  The Posh had just triumphed in the JPT Trophy at Wembley and came to Molineux with confidence.

In the end, the game was probably more straight forward than had been anticipated, as the home side dominated possession and had 3 times as many chances as their Cambridgeshire visitors.

Five games left; 7 points needed for promotion.

Bring on Crewe.

12/4/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Crewe 0-2 Wolves
Position:  1^st, and promoted!
Scorers:  McDonald, Edwards

With the leaders of the chasing pack, Rotherham United, finally faltering after a terrific run that saw them undefeated in 16 games between the 1^st January 2014 when Coventry City visited the New York Stadium, to their loss in Sheffield against Nigel Clough’s United on 8^th April, and then crucially drawing against Bradford in a televised game on 11^th April, Wolves are on the brink of promotion.

A win against strugglers Crewe will see Wolves promoted with 5 games to spore, with the matter of the title, and that battle with Brentford still to be concluded.

In recent weeks fellow strugglers Crawley and Stevenage have slowed Wolves’ promotion push, but there was no chance of Crewe repeating the feat, with the dependable Kevin McDonald giving Wolves a lead through a deflected shot at the conclusion of the first half, and the rejuvenated dangerous Dave Edwards ensuring that the boys in gold and black returned to the Championship at the first time of asking.

Kenny Jackett’s minimum target was to ensure promotion, and that has been achieved with 4 games to spare.  The title can come later.

At a resident of the greater Peterborough area I’m interested to see a columnist in the local paper assert that Wolves promotion is no real achievement given the financial superiority that the club have had.  In some ways, the columnist is correct; Wolves have riches, and support, that no one in the division can match.  By rights, they should’ve been promoted.  Of course, having the money doesn’t always guarantee success.

Other notionally ‘big teams’ have fallen to the third tier of English football, and failed to get promoted at the first time of asking, and it could be argued that no other team has had the financial clout that Wolves have had.  You can only beat what’s in front of you, of course, and wolves have done just that.

After several years of poor results and disappointments, I for one am pleased to see the club get the feel good factor back.  The real test will be next season, when the competition will be harder.  For now, however, a job well done.

18/4/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 6-4 Rotherham
Position:  1st
Scorers:  Dicko (3), Edwards, Ricketts, McDonald

Promotion chasing Rotherham came to Molineux full of hope, and over 30,000 fans made the pilgrimage to Wolverhampton on Good Friday to see the champions elect.

This was the biggest crowd at Molineux since Wolves played Middlesbrough in an FA Cup tie in March 1981.  40,524 fans flocked to see the Wanderers prevail 3-1, with Richards, Eves and Bell grabbing the goals that saw Wolves through to a semi-final match up with Tottenham Hotspur.

That game was a memorable one for a 15 year old hoping for a Wembley appearance for a second successive year.  A huge crowd, those massive old floodlights and 2 teams slugging it out for greater glory made for what has turned out to be landmark evening.  If only we’d known we’d not see 40,000 in the stands again.

Alas, it wasn’t to be, as Wolves were beaten in a replay at Highbury (and I always disputed the location of that replay!), and wouldn’t see Wembley until 1988, in the Sherpa-Van Trophy Final.

Few of the spectators today could’ve foreseen the final score – a ridiculous 6-4 victory to Wolves, a game that saw 2 players score hat-tricks (Wolves’ Dicko and the Millers’ Agard), the lead change hands, and Rotherham score twice in the last 6 minutes to level the score at 4-4, before Wolves’ captain Ricketts scored a beauty and Kevin McDonald put the tin lid on an amazing result.

The last few minutes were punctuated by fans invading the pitch, leading to the referee threatening to abandon the game, but eventually the final whistle was blown and the win was in the book.

21/4/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Leyton Orient 1-3 Wolves
Position:  1^st, and Champions!
Scorers:  Stearman, Sako, Edwards

The score of this bank holiday televised game belied the degree to which Orient pushed the visitors.

Wolves raced to a 2 goal lead through Stearman  and Sako, but Cox pulled one back for Russell Slade’s team, and the home side put Wolves under significant pressure for the first 30 minutes of the second half.

On another day, Orient would’ve had a penalty and might’ve converted another one of the 17 shots they had (compared to Wolves’ 10 shots), but a man of the match performance from keeper Carl Ikeme kept Orient at bay, and with Brentford only drawing 2-2 at Milton Keynes, Wolves were, at last, crowned champions.

A grand total of 99 points have been amassed so far, and with 2 games left, a league record points haul is up for grabs.

26/4/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Coventry City 1-1 Wolves
Position:  1st
Scorers: Edwards

What ever happened to Coventry City?  Winners of the FA Cup in 1987, members of the top flight of English football until 2001 whilst other Midlands teams struggled, now beleaguered in League One and tenants in Northampton.  Hard times indeed.

A points deduction at the start of the season led Coventry manager Steven Pressley to claim that merely staying up would’ve been an achievement.  Well the Sky-Blues have managed that, despite the turmoil of playing all games away from their home city.

Wolves clocked up a magnificent 100 points with another goal from Dangerous Dave, scoring in his fifth consecutive game, though the home (ahem) side equalised late on through a Nathan Delfouneso header.

One game to go.

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from anyone who has read the blog.  Find me on Twitter at  ‏@phil_smith66  and follow for monthly WWFC updates and regular Peterborough Phantoms articles.

WWFC Monthly Update – March 2014

So this is it.  March.  The month that will pretty much make or break Wolves’ promotion party.

1/3/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 3-0 Port Vale
Position:  1st
Scorers:  Sako, Dicko (2)

The pieces of the jigsaw appear to be falling in place.  A comfortable victory against the men from the Potteries gave Wolves a routine victory and Nouha the opportunity to bag a brace despite missing a spot kick late on.

8/3/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Walsall 0-3 Wolves
Position:  1^st
Scorers:  Sako, Dicko (2)

So way back in September, our local rivals, Walsall managed to get a 1-0 victory at Molineux, still one of only 4 defeats in the league at the time of writing.  In many ways, it was the wake up call that the season had been waiting for; the first league defeat after 7 games in a tie that most supporters would’ve assumed that the Wanderers would’ve won, and a suggestion that things wouldn’t be as plain sailing as we would like.

The world of social media can be a difficult minefield to navigate; on this occasion, Walsall’s official twitter account was guilty of action before thought.

Now I grew up quite liking Walsall.  I have family who come from Wednesbury, and I would always rather have seen the Saddlers do well rather than a team from out of the area.

I get it; they don’t like us, we’re the local team that has fallen from grace at everyone’s considered hilarity.  We’re the team that struggles to get the admiration from the neutrals; we’re the ones that people have had a good laugh at, a biggish side that have fallen on hard times.  How the mighty have fallen.  We’re too big for our boots, see?

Dicko confronted at Walsall

Well, this 3^rd consecutive 3-0 victory (and club record 8^th consecutive win) secured Wolves’ top spot with a couple of games in hand over second placed Orient, and leaves Walsall having to work hard to make the play-offs, in a fixture lit up by an outstanding Bakary Sako free kick, and marred by alleged racist abuse directed at Wolves players Ikeme and Elokobi, by a Walsall supporter threatening Nouha Dicko as a result of his goal celebrations, and by Walsall complaints that ex-Walsall loanee, Wolves reserve keeper McCarey acted without dignity in his celebrations.

In contrast, Wolves boss, Kenny Jackett conducts himself well in interviews, doesn’t go overboard in victory (even on the cusp of a record breaking 9^th consecutive win), and doesn’t have his head in his hands when things aren’t going well.

It’s much easier to fly under the radar in League One – less media coverage, fewer column inches, and consequently incidents in League One get less media coverage than they would in the Premier League or Championship.  Let’s hope it can Kenny can go about his business in this under spoken way for a little longer.  After the past couple of seasons, it makes being a Wolves fan a much more pleasant experience.

There’s still a lot of work to do.

11/3/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Swindon 1-4 Wolves
Position:  1^st
Scorers:  Sako (2), Dicko, Clarke

The History Boys!  So Kenny Jackett’s gold and black army make it a club record 9 consecutive victories, with Swindon Town the most recent victims on what is rapidly becoming the division’s dream strike force, Sako and Dicko.  Even the prodigal Leon scored his first come-back goal as the threat from Wiltshire was swept aside by a comfortable margin.

Nine consecutive wins!

Cliché alert – I know it is League One, but you do need to beat the teams in front of you.  Ask other supposedly ‘big teams’ how easy they have found this division and I’m sure they would’ve relished a winning run such as this.

The other thing is of, course, without this run Wolves wouldn’t have managed to stay in the top spot due to the form of Brentford, Orient and Preston, though the latter only drew today.

15/3/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 0-0 Shrewsbury
Position:  1^st

The winning run was always going o come to an end.  Let’s face it, unless you are one of Preston’s ‘invincibles’, you don’t go through a league season without dropping points.

I just didn’t think it would be this one.  Top against almost bottom, a bumper derby crowd packed Molineux to see the home side struggle to break down the Shrews defence.  We’ve all seen plenty of games where the Wolves should’ve  won, but didn’t.  I just thought this was one where they should’ve won, and would.

By all account there were disgruntled fans on the local radio phone ins.  You can’t please all of the people, all of the time.

Nevertheless, this result, and Brentford’s excellent victory at Orient means that Wolves, on 77 points are one point clear at the top of League One from the Bees, with both clubs having 2 games in hand over 3^rd placed Orient, on 74 points.

Next up, Crawley.

18/3/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Crawley 2-1 Wolves
Position:  1^st
Scorer:  Henry

Ouch.

The unbeaten run came to an end in an uninspiring contest.  Despite taking the lead through Henry in the 25^th minute, Crawley equalised 2 minutes later and took the lead a further 5 minutes on.

In the game at Molineux earlier in the season, Wolves had flattered to deceive and only snatched a 93^rd minute winner after a late goal for Crawley had tied up the scores.  Crawley had dominated the midfield and this was to be repeated in what was only the Wanderers’ fifth league defeat this season.

With only 10 games to go until the conclusion of the league season to go this is no time for a wobble.  The league’s top form side, Sheffield United, are up next.  The Blades have been galvanised by the appointment of Nigel Clough as their manager and have gone on a terrific run, matching Wolves recent record breaking 9 consecutive wins and a draw from their last 10 games.

Wolves now have only a single game in hand over Orient, and have played a game more than Brentford.  On paper the game at Bramall Lane is looking like one of the most difficult in the run in.

And writing this on the morning of the game against Sheffield United, Jackett drops Sako and Dicko.  Wow.

22/3/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Sheffield United 0-2 Wolves
Position:  1^st
Scorers:  Henry, Edwards

So the old adage of the response to a defeat being ‘oh so important’ rang true in South Yorkshire.  The Blades had been on a terrific run and Wolves has lost only their fifth game of the season – this was a real match-up between the form sides in the division, and despite the changes in personnel (Doherty, Edwards, Clarke and Evans in for Sako, Price, Ricketts and Dicko) Wolves went to Bramall Lane hopeful of rekindling their promotion form.

An early start to mark United’s 125^th anniversary, and the return of Wolves’ ex-United midfielder Kevin McDonald added something extra to a fixture that so often yields high drama.

And so it proved to be.  Ikeme saved smartly from Scougall in the 4^th minute to keep the game scoreless, and after 13 minutes Wolves had the lead, James Henry sending a ball into the zone between the six yard box and keeper, who was deceived by the onrushing Edwards, allowing the ball into the goal for the opener.

Edwards managed to extend the visitors’ lead in the second half, converting from a Henry cross and Leon Clarke thought he’d bagged a 3^rd until the linesman flagged for offside.

A tie which could’ve potentially put the skids under Wolves’ promotion challenge was over; a victory, yet another clean sheet and a clear message to the division about Wolves’ title credentials.

On a personal level, this fixture meant a great deal.  There have been many key games against the Blades over the years, from the 2003 Play-off final, and even further back, the game at Molineux in 1989 that saw Wolves crowned 3^rd Division champions,  on an evening when the Blades were promoted too (a 2-2 draw, Bull and Dennison the Wolves’ scorers).

Following the March 2014 victory, promotion seems all that much closer.

25/3/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 4-2 Colchester
Position:  1^st
Scorers:  Jacobs, Edwards, Henry, Dicko

Fine margins.

At half time, a Colchester team who had never scored at Molineux, let alone won there, trailed 3-0 to goals from Jacobs (a goal reminiscent of Henry’s opener against Sheffield United on Saturday, with Edwards advancing on the keeper), Edwards himself, capitalising on a poor back-pass, and James Henry, sliding in a rebound from a Clarke shot.

Wolves looked home and hosed, but hadn’t bargained on a resolute second-half performance from Colchester, who pulled a goal back after 58 minutes, another after 72, and who then struck the post with only 5 minutes to go.  The ultimate fight-back had nearly been achieved, but the width of a post preserved the Wanderers’ lead, and Nouha Dicko latched onto a raking Sako pass, rounded the keeper and ensured victory in injury time.

Fine margins indeed.

29/3/2014 Final Score:  LG1 MK Dons 0-1 Wolves
Position:  1^st
Scorer:  McAlinden

So much has been said or written about this fixture that I’ll keep it to a minimum here.

Almost 9,000 away fans at Stadium: mk

Liam McAlinden scored his 1^st league goal for Wolves to extend the lead at the top of League One to 6 points from Brentford, who have a game in hand, and 10 points clear of 3^rd placed Leyton Orient, who have played a game more.

A record breaking 8,943 Wolves fans attended the fixture, the largest Football League away following in decades, and enough to set a stadium record for a fixture at Stadium: mk.

Two yellow cards in quick succession for the Dons’ Odelusi meant he saw red, and the resulting free-kick was eventually played through to McDonald, who crossed for McAlinden’s winner.

Wolves need another 10 points from 7 fixtures to guarantee promotion.  Make no mistake, there are some tough games ahead, most notably against Rotherham and Orient, but promotion is still in Kenny Jackett’s hands.

In another month, we’ll all know where we stand, but for now …

WWFC (1^st ) P39 W26 D8 L5 F72 A25 Pts86

Footnote:

Just take a look at those stats – played 39, won 26, with 86 points.  In 1989, when Wolves were last promoted from this division, they won 26 games all season, and finished with 92 points.

Last year, Doncaster and Yeovil, both promoted automatically, won fewer games and achieved fewer points than Wolves have now, with 7 games to play, which is testament to how tight the division has been this year.

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from anyone who has read the blog.  Find me on Twitter at  ‏@phil_smith66  and follow for monthly WWFC updates and regular Peterborough Phantoms articles.

WWFC Monthly Update – February 2014

Whereas other teams have been involved in the FA Cup, the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, and fulfilling a backlog of fixtures, Wolves will have played just 3 games in the whole of February (contrast with what will be a punishing March, with 8 games due to be played).   The month saw Wolves momentarily slip to 3^rd place, but finish strongly in 2^nd following a win against the league leaders. 

1/2/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 2-0 Bradford
Position – 2^nd
Scorers:  McDonald, Dicko

15/2/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 2-0 Notts County
Position:  2^nd
Scorer:  Jacobs (2) 

Wolves conjure a 5 game winning streak with 2 routine victories.  Leon Clarke made a solid 2^nd debut against the Bantams without scoring, and the impressive Michael Jacobs bagged a brace against County at a time when Leyton Orient’s relatively poor run of form has allowed Wanderers to climb back into the automatic promotion places.

The magnitude of the challenge of the tie at Griffin Park was reflected by Brentford’s form since the early months of the season.  The fixture against the Old Gold and Black was Brentford’s 20^th tie since their last league defeat, against Stevenage on 12^th October 2013.

In the 19 fixtures that followed, they won 16 and drew just 3, including a 0-0 at Molineux in late November.

I’d have been happy with a draw from this one too …

22/2/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Brentford 0-3 Wolves
Position: 2nd
Scorers: Henry, Jacobs (2)

Elsewhere on this blog I’ve used the phrase ‘And the other guy blinked’, originally coined when 2 giants went head to head with each other in a so or die challenge, and when something had to give.

On this occasion, the ‘something’ that gave was Brentford’s terrific run of form, outlined above, and summarised by the fact that they hadn’t been beaten in the league for some 19 games.  Wolves extended their winning streak to 6 games and despite the continuing injury to recent acquisition Leon Clarke, the goals are flowing relatively freely.

James Henry deftly turned a Kevin McDonald cross into the goal in the dying moments of the first half to give the visitors the lead, and Michael Jacobs continued his rich vein of form by bagging a brace in the second half (note the lack of reference to any savoury, cheese accompanying biscuits at this point). Jacob’s second goal, an excellent 20 yard strike, came from excellent work on the right between Golbourne and Sako, but the finish was sublime.

This result came as something of a pleasant surprise.  Though Wolves form was good going into the fixture, the nature of the win laid down a real marker for the rest of the season.

Wolves are still without a prolific striker; Leigh Griffiths is still Wolves’ top league goal scorer, with 11, though Leon Clarke has scored 13 this season for Coventry, prior to his move back to Molineux.

Wolves have more shots on target than any other League One team, have more clean sheets, and currently sit in 2^nd place, on the same record as Orient, but with 2 games in hand.

The form guide is interesting.  After the last 6 games, Wolves are top of the league, winning their last games, followed by Rotherham and Peterborough.  Preston and Brentford, sitting 3^rd and 4^th in the division respectively are 5^th and 6^th in the form table, whilst Orient, top of League One as we enter March, sit 15^th in terms of their last 6 results.

March will be a key month; by the time that April comes round Wolves will have played 39 out of their 46 games.

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from anyone who has read the blog.  Find me on Twitter at  ‏@phil_smith66  and follow for monthly WWFC updates and regular Peterborough Phantoms articles.

WWFC Monthly Update – January 2014

1/1/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Tranmere 1-1 Wolves
Position – 2nd
Scorer:  Edwards

3/1/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Gillingham 1-0 Wolves
Position – 2^nd
You know when things aren’t working out, right?  Against Tranmere, Stearman was sent off for hauling down Robinson on 19 minutes.  Edwards levelled Lowe’s strike after 54 minutes; Tranmere had themselves been reduced to 10 men just before the break.

No winning goal on the Wirral, and no joy in Kent, as the Sky cameras saw Wolves huff and puff, with plenty of possession and virtually no goal threat, only for the Gills to bag a winner in injury time, McDonald striking the ball past McCarey, deputising for the injured Ikeme, in the absence of Hennessey, who’d refused to play.

11/1/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 2-0 Preston
Position – 3rd
Scorers:  Edwards, Evans

Back to winning ways, with over 20,000 at Molineux seeing the home side beat one of their closest rivals.  The outrageous form of Brentford in particular, and Leyton Orient as well, keeps Wolves in 3^rd place in the table.  Orient’s victory in the week against Walsall has pushed Wolves into 3^rd.  Now there are plenty of games to play, and plenty of points to play for, but at present, the Wolves are not in the automatic places for the first time in a little while.  There is much to be done.

Transfer talk abounds.

There are rumours of 4 players out – Hennessey, Doyle, Sako and Griffiths, whilst 4 players are meant to be coming in.  James Henry has signed permanently from Millwall, and there is every expectation that Michael Jacobs will sign up too.

It appears the Nouha Dicko, on loan at Wolves from Wigan last year, and so prolifically at Rotherham this season, could be about to join.

The rumour mill also suggests that Leon Clarke has put in a transfer request at Coventry.  He too could be Molineux bound, though in his previous spell in gold and black he won few admirers.  I’ve already written about Mr Clarke in this blog.  He’s a Wolverhampton boy and started his career with the Wolves.  He is well travelled; epitomising the journeyman footballer, having seen service with something like 14 clubs.  Admittedly, he’s also done the business at Coventry this year, scoring 18 times in 27 appearances this season.

I’d have to say that he’s not a signing that would light up my eyes; if Wolves win promotion this year, who believes that Clarke is the man to get the Championship goals to see the team settle at a higher level?

25/1/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 2-0 Bristol City
Position – 3rd
Scorers:  Dicko, Williams (OG), Sako

28/1/2014 Final Score:  LG1 Oldham 0-3 Wolves
Position – 3rd
Scorers:  McDonald, Jacobs, Henry

So a resurgent Wolves pick up 9 points from their last 3 games following the disappointing Friday night special in Gillingham.  McCarey has continued in goal in the place of the soon to be departing Wayne Hennessey, and Nouha Dicko has given the front line a much needed injection of pace.  Bakary Sako seems to have remembered what he is meant to be doing, coming on late against the Robins, and starting against the ‘Latics.

That poor run from the end of November (Wolves dropped from the top position to 2^nd following the defeat at Peterborough on 30/11/2013) to the defeat in Gillingham (3/1/2014) saw 7 games played with only one victory, at home, against lowly Crewe.   A grand total of 6 points out of 21 has left the club in third place, and despite the upturn since the home victory against Preston, both Brentford and Orient are going to take some catching.

In truth, there are plenty of points to play for, though Brentford’s incredible run (8 wins and a draw in the last 9) keeps them 4 points ahead, with Orient 2 points up on the Wolves, with a game in hand.

I still think we’ll do it, but the January transfer window may be crucial.

Footnote:

The transfer window is close to slamming firmly shut, with Jackett near to knowing the hand he’ll be playing with as we go into the last third or so of the season.

The list of player connected with the club is long, from Kevin Phillips to Lee Tomlin to Scott Hogan, and many more.

What do we know?

In:

James Henry, Michael Jacobs (signed after loan periods from Millwall and Derby respectively), Nouha Dicko (Wigan) and Leon Clarke (Coventry) bolster the forward positions. 

By all means check out the Wolves article I wrote in October, with a big piece about Clarke, and my abiding memory – the local lad ‘shushing’ the South Bank after scoring the winning goal in an FA Cup game against Plymouth.  I finished that piece by saying suggesting it’s a difficult situation ‘when you’ve lost the crowd’.  Clarke insists he’s matured; I suggest that he needs to win the fans over quickly.  A goal against Bradford would do be a step in the right direction. 

Out:
Jake Cassidy (loan, Tranmere), Kevin Doyle (loan, QPR), Bjorn Sigurdarson (loan, Molde), Leigh Griffiths (Celtic) and Wayne Hennessey (Crystal Palace) have said their farewells.

My prediction of Griffiths scoring a hat full hasn’t quite come to fruition, clearly falling out of favour with the boss. 

Forward options look light with the departure of these heavyweight team members (including our top scorer), and options in other areas of the park look thin, particular in central defence, though there is a suggestion that Wolves may try to tempt Wycombe’s Kortney Hause to give options in this area.

One last line:  RIP Bert Williams.  The goal keeper in Stan Cullis’ FA Cup winning side in 1949, and in the Division one League winning side in 1953-54, Bert was a legend when I started watching football.  He had been part of the Wolves’ glory years, when Wolverhampton Wanderers were truly giants of the game.  This was the side against which all future Wolves teams were compared, and certainly in the 70s, the halcyon days of the 50’s were not such a distant memory for our Dads and Grandads.

Suffice to say, as time rolls on, fewer of the greats remain, but Wolves fans should remember – Bert Williams, ‘The Cat’, the goal keeper photographed jumping so acrobatically in those old photographs in a packed Molineux, was part of the generation that built the great name of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from anyone who has read the blog.  Find me on Twitter at @phil_smith66 and follow for monthly WWFC updates and regular Peterborough Phantoms articles.

WWFC Monthly Update – December 2013

14/12/2013 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 0-2 MK Dons
Position – 2nd

21/12/2013 Final Score:  LG1 Rotherham 3-3 Wolves
Scorers – Batth, Sako (pen), Henry
Position – 2^nd

So the consensus is that the spark has gone from Wolves’ play.  They are struggling to dominate midfield, still have a tendency to be ponderous at the back, and lack a cutting edge.

Lessons were not learnt following the defeat at Peterborough, and by falling to Milton Keynes, Wanderers lost consecutive games for the first time this season.

Things were barely looking any better 10 minutes after the break at Rotherham, as the team fell 3-1 behind despite taking an early lead through Danny Batth.

A Sako penalty, and a terrific individual goal from James Henry levelled the score with just under half an hour remaining.  Neither side, however, could forge a break through, honours even, then at the New York Stadium.

Wolves had salvaged a point, remain second in the table, yet have fallen the eleventh in the form table based on the last 6 games.

The gap between Wolves and teams in the play-off positions is now only a single point, with Brentford moving up to 3^rd place by winning 5 of their last 6 (ironically losing to Wolves in their only defeat).

The top of the league is closer than Wolves would’ve liked; Brentford, Preston, Peterborough and Rotherham will all fancy their chances.

Christmas cheer seems hard to come by in WV1.

26/12/2013 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 2-0 Crewe
Scorers – Jacobs, Griffiths
Position – 2^nd

So no Boxing Day blues for Wolves, victorious against Crewe in a fixture that everyone would’ve expected them to win – second top against second bottom, a big crowd in Molineux and the prospect of increasing the gap between the two automatic promotion positions and the chasing pack.

In the end, a goal from on-loan Jacobs in the 3^rd minute, and Leigh Griffiths, in injury time at the end of the game ensured the points remained in Wolverhampton.

I have to say that there was no small amount of disappointment upon seeing Wolves’ line-up for this game.  Only one striker – Cassidy on the pitch, and no place in the starting 11 for Griffiths, Doyle, Sako or Sigurdarson.

Jacobs and Henry can both turn a 4-5-1 into a 4-3-3, but Jackett’s selections feel too negative for a fixture that shouldn’t have provided too much of a challenge.  As far as routine victories go, this should’ve been a routine victory.

29/11/2013 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 1-1 Leyton Orient
Scorers – Ebanks-Landell
Position – 3^rd

The day’s big game in League One saw the ‘Sold Out’ signs posted at Molineux as 28,598 fans packed into the ground to see the league leaders, Leyton Orient, come to town for this top of the table clash.

Once again, Cassidy led the line, with Sako making a return to the side, replacing Edwards.  Wolves made a great start, scoring after 5 minutes through Ebanks-Landell, and proceeded to dominate the first period, before The O’s came back into the game in the second half, equalising through Baudry.

The match stats tell a story – Wolves had a greater percentage of possession (56%), three times the number of shots that Orient had (18 to 6) and three times as many corners (9 to 3).

Of course, the only statistics that matter are the number of goals scored – in this case, one each.  When a team create this many chances, they need more on target, and need to convert a higher percentage, to put teams under pressure when Wolves are on top.

That clinical cutting edge is missing.

For the first time since 22^nd October Wolves have fallen out of the top two.  There is much to be done if automatic promotion is to be secured.

We are exactly half way through the season, and Wolves close out 2013 with an impressive, if not outstanding record

WWFC (3^rd) P23 W14 D6 L3 F38 A17 Pts48

Wolves, in 3^rd place, as they were after 10 games are now 11^th in the form table after winning only 2 of the last 6 games.  Brentford have taken over the top position, winning their last 6 games, and 9 of their last 10 fixtures.

Footnote:
Now this should be in my January update, but here goes anyway.

It appears that Wayne Hennessey, our long serving goal keeper, has blotted his copy book.  Most recently on loan at Yeovil, and previously recovering from a lengthy injury, poor old Wayne doesn’t want to play for the Wolves anymore.  ‘I don’t want to play down at Gillingham’ is what Wayne is alleged to have said, according to the Wolverhampton Express & Star.  Understandable really.  It’s been ever so wet recently, and the tide has turned a little against the Wolves; not quite the League One romp that some supporters had envisaged.

Let’s put this in context shall we?  Regular goal keeper, Carl Ikeme, is out for six weeks with a broken hand.  Reserve keeper, Aaron McCarey has been recalled from his loan at York City, and Hennessey, an international footballer, and senior professional at Wolves, may be heading for a move to Crystal Palace, though Jackett denies any interest as yet.

So despite the fact that the club needs an experienced keeper, Hennessey tells his boss he doesn’t fancy it (always tough when you’ve only heard one side of the story, no word from WH as yet), and Jackett’s response points to the keeper’s lack of professionalism.

The fans, of course, are unsympathetic, to put it mildly, and until any more information comes to light, so am I. 

The rest of us can’t tell our bosses we don’t want to work, and still pick up our pay packet; even if we are leaving one post for another we have to work our notice.  Wolves fans saw this nonsense when Stephen Fletcher left, with his famous #headsgone tweet.  My heart bleeds.

It’s about time these overpaid prima donnas took a look outside their windows and imagined, for a moment what the real world looks like.

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from anyone who has read the blog.  Find me on Twitter at @phil_smith66 and follow for monthly WWFC updates and regular Peterborough Phantoms articles.

 

WWFC Monthly Update – November 2013

2/11/2013 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 2-0 Stevenage
Scorers – Doyle, Henry
Position – 2^nd

In the first ever meeting between these clubs, Wolves earned a well-deserved victory and kept a clean sheet to boot.  Man of the moment, loanee James Henry netted in the 81^st minute to secure the win, after Kevin Doyle had started the ball rolling in the 7^th minute.  17,700 fans witnessed a win that keeps Wolves on the heels of Leyton Orient, who rather surprisingly march on at the top – this time by beating promotion rivals, Peterborough United 3-1 at London Road, home of the Posh.

The game was important for a couple of personnel issues.  Kevin McDonald missed the game due to injury, which could be critical for the Wolves midfield, and in the 83^rd minute Jamie ‘Hollywood’ O’Hara replaced Bakary Sako for his first appearance of the season, following his period of exile.

As the final member of ‘The Compton Four’ remaining at the club and possibly the last remnant of the car crash that was last season that fans felt strongly about, it is time for O’Hara to step up to the plate and produce the goods.

He is a Wolves player, I support the Wolves.

5/11/2013 Final Score:  LG1 Carlisle United 2-2 Wolves
Scorers – Sako, Griffiths
Position – 2^nd

More of a damp squib of a performance rather than a bonfire night sparkler, the hardy 1,300 or so Wolves souls that braved the journey up the M6 to Cumbria for our game in hand reported that the team played poorly.

On the night that our ex-manager, Ståle Solbakken, saw his FC Copenhagen team beat Galatasaray in the Champions League, Kenny Jackett saw his charges concede the lead twice to a Carlisle team with a reputation for a porous defence.

One point made up on Orient, but in reality, two points dropped on the day that Jackett and James Henry were nominated for manager and player of the month for October in League One.

Jamie O’Hara came on as a substitute early in the second half after Lee Evans had conceded a penalty, had a chance at the death and still waits for approval from the supporters.

5/11/2013 Final Score:  FA1 Oldham Athletic 1-1 Wolves
Scorer – Golbourne
The magic of the cup (1)

Wolves headed north to Oldham to play this first round tie, and after falling behind to an early strike from Kusunga, Scott Golbourne levelled just before the break.  A meagre crowd of 3,916 saw the teams trade chances throughout, with neither side fashioning a winner.

Wolves’ embarrassment of riches was evident in that Doyle, Griffiths and Sigurdarson all started on the bench, with Jake Cassidy leading the line.

Interesting to see that Jamie O’Hara didn’t make the squad for the tie – perhaps with half an eye on the club avoiding him being cup tied perhaps?

The draw means that Wolves are in the hat for the next round, but have a replay on 19/11/2013 that Jackett surely wished to avoid.

16/11/2013 Final Score:  LG1 Notts County 0-1 Wolves
Scorer – Ebanks-Landell
Position – 1^nd

Wolves went top of League One with a performance that on one hand was unconvincing, yet enough to put the basement team to the sword.

Ethan Ebanks-Landell scored a 76^th minute winner, sweeping in a James Henry free kick shortly after Leigh Griffiths and Jake Cassidy had squandered one on one chances with the Notts County keeper, Bialkowski.

Wolves’ defensive record this season is excellent, with only 10 goals conceded in 16 league games, yet quite how the Wolves defence held firm is something of a mystery.  Danny Batth and Richard Stearman made key interceptions, and perhaps predictably for a team who have scored barely a goal a game, the County forwards misfired and lacked confidence.

The first half was punctuated by poor passing, which invited unnecessary County pressure; the introduction of Griffiths, whose thought and movement was superior to that of any forward on display, sparked an improved second half showing.  Thankfully, Sigurdarson’s late effort, which struck the outside of the post when it seemed easier to score, was not crucial.

Credit to Notts County – both players and fans kept up the tempo until the end.

Earlier this week this game was in jeopardy as Wolves had sufficient international call ups to get the game postponed.  The management’s decision to play was vindicated by the scoreline; a result which moves Wolves up a place as Orient lost only their second game of the season.

There will be greater challenges ahead, but any team aiming to win promotion needs to grind out results.  From my part this was an enjoyable day out; scarcely a feast of football, but an afternoon where belonging to a big away following reminded me of why we love the game so much.

The defensive side of midfield seems vulnerable, exposing the back four, who on this occasion stood up to the test, leaving Ikeme with relatively little to do.  In future games, such as the upcoming fixtures against Brentford, Peterborough and Rotherham will require control in midfield if the top spot is to be retained.

Up until the end of the year Wolves play 7 more league games, 4 of those against teams currently in 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th and 9^th places.  By the end of December we’ll really know if automatic promotion is a realistic possibility.

Just a thought.  What has happened to Jamie O’Hara?

19/11/2013 Final Score:  FA1(R) Wolves 1-2 Oldham
Scorer – Griffiths

We’ll meet again …The magic of the cup (2)

A home defeat sees Wolves’ interest in all cup competitions over for another year, this time before we’ve hung any Christmas decorations.

True, England were on TV.  True, the temperature was bloody freezing.  True, we’ve played this lot twice already this year.

At 4,226, the attendance was the lowest at Molineux for an FA Cup tie since 1895 (when WWFC played Darwen), and the lowest for a league game since 1987, when 3,357 hardy souls welcomed Aldershot as the visitors.

Poor fare on display and what looks like an error to play this relatively unappealing fixture when the sofas and TVs beckoned the marginal fan.

At least we can concentrate on the league.

23/11/2013 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 0-0 Brentford 
Position – 2^nd

In one of those early season highlights packages that Sky Sports put together, the Brentford boss, Uwe Rossler asserted that Wolves simply had to get promoted; they, above all others, had the financial clout that the rest of the league just wouldn’t be able to live with.

This was a game I was dreading.  Brentford had won 6 on the bounce; Wolves had flattered to deceive away the previous weekend at Notts County and had been unceremoniously dumped out of the FA Cup by those Lancashire giants, Oldham.

In truth, the game could’ve gone either way, but with early chances spurned, Wolves probably feel disappointed not to win.

With Peterborough losing again (4 in a row), Wolves extend the gap between 2^nd and 3^rd to 8 points.

26/11/2013 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 2-0 Tranmere Rovers
Scorers – Griffiths, Edwards
Position – 1^st

Wolves achieved a comfortable 2-0 victory and resumed the top spot.  The consensus is that this was the most assured Wolves had looked all year.  Things are dropping to place; time to push on and increase the gap between the automatic promotion prospects and the also-rans in the play-off places.

That is, of course, until …

30/11/2013 Final Score:  LG1 Peterborough United 1-0 Wolves
Position – 2^nd

As I have chronicled previously, it is particularly frustrating when Wolves lose to Peterborough as they are my local team.  Whilst natives of the West Midlands fear the defeat to West Bromwich, the Villa or the Blues, and more latterly Coventry and Walsall, this is the game that will give me Monday morning grief from my work colleagues.

In truth, Wolves were better than they had been in beating Notts County a couple of weeks ago and on another day would’ve grabbed a point.

Nevertheless, a clean Bostwick strike late in the second half gave the Posh a victory following five successive defeats.

Wolves missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of the division, and Leyton Orient took top spot.  Despite Kevin McDonald grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck in the first period, Wolves rarely troubled Olejnik, faded in the second half and fell to the sucker punch following a Stearman foul on the edge of the box.

This was only Wolves’ second defeat this season, yet the majority of fans believe there is a piece of the jigsaw missing; Jackett believes it too as he has been chasing a loan striker.  On the evidence of today, there is a cutting edge missing.

On to December, which promises to be another challenging month.  Games against several promotion rivals, including the indefatigable Leyton Orient await.

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from anyone who has read the blog.  Find me on Twitter at @phil_smith66 and follow for monthly WWFC updates and regular Peterborough Phantoms articles.

The view from the afternoon

Another great away following!

It always gives a football fan that shudder down the spine – a defeat against local rivals gives your work colleagues a spring in their step, and you know that Monday will only bring those knowing winks, broad smiles and witty comments from your everyone you see.

Never mind that the league table shows that your team are in the automatic promotion places whilst their team sits 3 places and 8 points below; you are just simply going to lose some games, even in a promotion winning season.  I just wished we hadn’t lost this one.

This fixture, Peterborough United at London Road, is my local game.  Not for me the 98.5 mile trip from Wolverhampton to Peterborough; just a small case of 12 miles or so today, plus the added luxury of being in one of the Peterborough United hospitality boxes.  This is always a nice one to win, and of course, when we lose against this lot, I have to prepare for the Monday morning abuse.

Wolves had comfortably beaten Tranmere Rovers at Molineux on Tuesday, were top of the league, and had an excellent defensive record.  Peterborough United, on the other hand, had lost 5 consecutive games before today.  The locals had been talking about how poorly Posh had been playing; this game was going to be a mere formality.

This was the view from the home support, mind, not the over enthusiastic posturing of a fan of the top side in the division.

Anyway, of course the result was a formality; Wolves were never going to win, though were probably more deserving of a draw than coming away from Cambridgeshire completely empty handed.

Wolves dominated the first half without really troubling Posh keeper Olejnik.  Marc Jacobs was lively, Scott Golbourne made some impressive runs down the left, and Leigh Griffiths’ control and movement was impressive, but the best player on the park by a long margin was Wolves’ midfielder Kevin McDonald.  McDonald dictated the play through midfield, won the ball on the edge of his own box on numerous occasions and fed the wide men constantly.  Nevertheless, Wolves lacked a cutting edge, and ultimately regretted a lack of incisive passing in the final third.  Wolves resorted to taking pot shots from distance, to no avail.

Peterborough came into the game in the last 15 minutes of the first half and the game was much more even in the 2^nd period. McDonald, so dominant in the first 45 was less influential, and as the game went on, ex-Wanderers, Little and Mendez-Laing combined well on the left.  Peterborough got behind the Wolves’ defence on a few occasions, and just as the game seemed to be edging towards an 0-0 draw (unlikely though that outcome may have been at 3.00 O’clock, given the form of these 2 sides), Richard Stearman fouled Mendez-Laing some 22 yards out.

Bostwick, predictably, struck the ball beautifully, beyond a despairing Carl Ikeme, for the winner.

The match stats tell the story of the game – pretty even possession, Wolves with more shots and shots on target, Posh with the one shot on target that mattered.

Wolves lost only their second game of the season, and conceded top spot to Orient.  For what it’s worth, though there will be some criticism of Wolves following this result, they were more assured and created more than they did at Notts County a couple of weeks ago.  Three points dropped, of that there is no doubt, but in no way a crisis in WV1.

Off to work on Monday, then.  I’ll get my tin hat out.

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from anyone who has read the blog.  Find me on Twitter at @phil_smith66 and follow for monthly WWFC updates and regular Peterborough Phantoms articles.

The beautiful game (1)

I was looking forward to this one – an all too infrequent opportunity to see the Wolves in action as part of a full day of entertainment in Nottingham.

Having set off in good time, we approached Nottingham from the direction of Grantham and soon ran into what seemed an endless traffic jam around Sedgewick.  After sitting in the traffic queue for an indeterminate number of minutes you are always faced with that ‘stick or twist’ question.  Well we turned round, drove up and down some country roads and the A1 again (why didn’t I put that new sat nav in the car?) and ended up back where we started.  Thankfully the obstruction had been cleared.

The Notts County Family Stand.

On to Meadow Lane, a ground I’d been to a number of times, and where I’ve always parked in that market opposite the ground.  More queuing at the car park, and more again to collect the tickets which had been sent for collection, as I’d only decided to attend the game late in the week, following Wolves’ decision to play, despite having key players such as Ricketts and Doyle on international duty.  There’s nothing like the relief of getting to your seat at 2.54pm.

The Wolves contingent for this fixture was 2,730, and considering the uncertainty over the fixture, was another example of the loyalty and fortitude of the Wanderers’ support.  A glance at the home stands showed what happens when your club becomes mired in the lower leagues; passionate though the support was in the Spion Kop, incessant though the drummers may have been, the County faithful were probably matched in number by away fans.

Even Notts County’s appointment of Shaun Derry as manager hasn’t stopped the rot, though throughout the first 45 minutes it was pretty tough to distinguish the money bags promotion contenders elect from the team propping up the division.  Jake Cassidy manfully led the line in a pretty inexperienced,and relatively defensive Wolves line up, and McDonald and James Henry stood out in a period punctuated by poor passing leading to unnecessary County pressure.

Great Wolves support at Meadow Lane

Following the introduction of Leigh Griffiths for the stuttering David Davis, the Wolves performance improved.   Griffiths was quick of thought and willing to do the hard work required in a fixture such as this.  The County keeper, Bialkowski, saved well from both Griffiths and Cassidy, when both should have scored, and with 16 minutes to go Ethan Ebanks-Landell swept in the winner from a James Henry free kick on the left wing.   A first goal on his first league start – it can’t get much better.

There was still time for Bjorn Sigurdarson to hit the post with his first touch, and for County to go close at the other end.

How Wolves kept a clean sheet is hard to fathom – some last ditch challenges from Batth and Stearman were key, as was the poor finishing from the County forwards.  In truth, Ikeme had little to do on the day.

Wolves could’ve scored 4, but equally looked vulnerable through the middle; on another day they’ll be punished.  The management’s decision to get the game on was vindicated as Wolves reached the League One summit.  There’ll be tougher fixtures this year, but a promotion winning team needs to get the job done on days when they don’t have everything their own way.  Like today.

Well played Notts County, who pushed Wolves throughout, and kept the top team in the division to a single goal victory.  Good luck to the club and their fans on the impending relegation battle.

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from anyone who has read the blog.  Find me on Twitter at @phil_smith66 and follow for monthly WWFC updates and regular Peterborough Phantoms articles.

WWFC Monthly Update – October 2013

5/10/2013 Final Score:  LG1 Colchester United 0-3 Wolves
Scorers Griffiths (2), Doyle
Position – 3^rd

Loan signing James Henry makes his debut as Sako is absent following further interest from Nottingham Forest.  Wolves have rejected a bag full of money, loan fees, and potential new additions to the squad in order to make a clear stance on wanting retain the French man.  You can’t help but think that Sako will be on his way if he’s unsettled by the interest from the Championship high fliers.   Not present in the squad today, it appears that his mental state may not be sufficiently focused for him to appear.

I don’t know much about Colchester, though I seem to remember that we drew 0-0 at home in the old Fourth Division play-off semi-final, before ultimately losing out to Aldershot in that first year in the bottom flight.

This was another fixture where Wolves didn’t concede in the first half – making something like 12 games where the defence has held tight in the first 45 minutes.  Wolves didn’t concede in the second half thanks to a terrific penalty save from Ikeme.  With Posh winning and Orient slipping up at Oldham, the gap at the top is narrowed.

Jackett suggested we check the table out after 10 games if we wanted an indication of how Wolves have settled in League One.

WWFC (3^rd)  P10 W8 D1 L1 F20 A6 Pts25

So far so good.

8/10/2013 Final Score FLT Wolves 0-0 Notts County (County win penalty shoot-out 3-1)

Despite a late flourish, this was a pretty turgid 90 minutes where County dominated, had more chances, and put the home team through their paces at a sparsely populated Molineux.

Sigurdarson, Foley and James Henry missed their spot kicks and unfancied Notts County knock out the tournament favourites.

Carl Ikeme comes out with some credit for another fine performance, but most Wolves fans will feel that this is an opportunity missed; with the squad Wolves have, there would’ve been a real chance of a cup run, and possibly a trip to Wembley.

True, we can concentrate on the league, but disappointment from this corner of Lincolnshire.

19/10/2013 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 1-1 Coventry City 
Scorer – Griffiths             
Position – 3^rd

A bumper attendance of 22,983 saw Wolves’ West Midlands rivals equalise in the 86^th minute, to send the home fans away from Molineux disappointed.

Bakary Sako was back in the side following illness and the attempts by Nottingham Forest to attract him to the City Ground.  Fair play to Jez Moxey and Steve Morgan – holding out for a big fee has seen the French Winger stay in League One.  Kenny has talked about the need to re-focus the player; rumours of Sako going ‘on strike’ have been refuted.

Leigh Griffiths had scored the first goal of the game in the 68^th minute and despite chances at both ends, Wolves will feel that this is two points thrown away.

Wolves’ fans face allegations of throwing coins into the Coventry City support.  The reputation of the club is tarnished again – these activities invariably are perpetrated by a minority, but make unwanted headlines.

Coventry City have been a club in turmoil, though their fall to League One from the Premier League has taken eleven years, rather than the two it has taken our beloved Wolverhampton Wanderers.  Financial problems and a subsequent ground share with Northampton Town had suggested that the club would struggle this year.  The truth is that Steven Pressley and the payers have done well, winning eight out of their opening 14 fixtures.  City are upwardly mobile and could be a shout for the play-offs.

Up front for the ‘sky-blues’ is Leon Clarke, scorer of nine goals so far this season and second top goal scorer at the club.

A local to Wolverhampton, Clarke started his career at Wolves.  Despite having shown some promise, Clarke was moved on by Mick McCarthy and was picked up by Sheffield Wednesday in January 2007 following loan spells at Kidderminster, Plymouth and QPR.  Oldham Athletic, Southend United, QPR (again), Preston North End, Swindon Town, Chesterfield, Charlton Athletic, Crawley Town, Scunthorpe United, and Coventry City complete the list of clubs that Leon Clarke has played for subsequently.  To date, Wednesday and Wolves are the two teams that Leon has notched a notable number of appearances for, though he looks settled in Coventry and has found his level in League One.

My abiding memory of Leon Clarke is his celebration following scoring the winning goal in an FA Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle in January 2006.  At the time Wolves were managed by Glenn Hoddle.  Not my favourite Wolves manager, which I’ll keep for another time.  This was a team that featured a mixture of youth and experience, with Paul Ince, Mark Kennedy, Colin Cameron and Kenny Miller playing alongside Clarke and Mark Davies.

Anyway, back to the point.  Clarke had received some stick for poor performances and it was being alleged that he had been out in the town on the night before the previous meeting with Argyle, in the league in December.

So the local lad scores the winning goal in an FA Cup tie (at the South Bank end if my memory serves me correctly), raises his index finger to ‘shush’ the crowd and is promptly booed by the massed home support.

Once you’ve lost the crowd …

22/10/2013 Final Score:  LG1 Wolves 2-0 Oldham Athletic
Scorers – Henry, Griffiths           
Position – 3^rd

This should probably be regarded as something of a routine victory, with Wolves prevailing over Oldham thanks to a first goal for the club from loanee James Henry, and another from Leigh Griffiths.  Griff has scored 5 in the last 4 league games and is very relishing his role as pivotal striker and crowd favourite.

The game is memorable for four other reasons.  Firstly, the torrential rain that marred the first half.  Proper rain that.

Secondly, the attendance (15,959) was the lowest at Molineux for a league game in 13 years.  I know it was midweek, I know that the weather was dire, but if we stay in League One, this is a sign of things to come.

Thirdly, this was the twelve consecutive game in the league where the Wolves defence had held firm in the first half.  Add to that the 3 cup games played this season which have also seen the Wanderers’ opponents draw a blank at half time and that makes 15 games without conceding at in the first 45 at the start of this season.  That is a real accomplishment – of course, goals have been conceded later in games, but as a firm believer in strength in a team coming from stout defence, it is clear that the foundations are promising.

This is a bubble that will inevitably burst – you simply don’t go through a season without conceding in the first half, ever.  Nevertheless, it is an achievement to be proud of.  The key will be how the team react to going behind to a first half goal when it happens.

Finally, Leyton Orient suffered their first defeat of the season tonight, and Peterborough United drew a blank against beleaguered, managerless, Sheffield United.  Wolves stay third, but make ground on their rivals at the top of the table.

28/10/2013 Final Score:  LG1 Bradford City 1-1 Wolves
Scorers – Henry, Stearman
Position – 2^nd

So October finishes with another win, in what feels like the sternest test of Jackett’s men so far this year.  In the run up to the game, the Bantams’ boss Phil Parkinson announced that he wasn’t afraid of Wolves; City are a good, strong side, were League Cup finalists last year, and had Nakhi Wells returning to their line-up.

Rather unexpectedly, Jamie O’Hara, the final member of ‘The Compton Four’ featured on the subs bench for the first time this year.  Perhaps this was an indication that Kenny knows that there have been weaknesses in the midfield in recent weeks?  Redemption for O’Hara?

In no time at all the ‘clean-slate first half’ bubble burst, in the sense that Bradford scored in the 13^th minute, the first time this season that Wolves have conceded in the opening 45 minutes this year.

Nevertheless, Wolves responded well.  James Henry has scored for the second consecutive game, and Richard Stearman, in for the injured Matt Doherty, bagged the winner.

Though Kevin Doyle started on the bench, he was introduced after 24 minutes and was instrumental in kick starting an improved performance.

At the death Ikeme saved well from Wells tice to preserve a second half clean sheet.

Elsewhere, Orient returned to winning ways, and Peterborough somewhat surprisingly fell to strugglers Colchester United.

Wolves move up one place to 2^nd, 3 points behind Leyton Orient, with a game in hand.

If you have any comments or observations I’d love to hear from anyone who has read the blog.  Find me on Twitter at @phil_smith66 and follow for monthly WWFC updates and regular Peterborough Phantoms articles.