Definitely a game of two halves.
Phew!
In the last few minutes of the match at Burnley, I bit all my fingernails off! When Johnson scored the 2nd goal all I could see was a disastrous equaliser going in to ruin that had looked like a great day out.
It was a game that definitely coined the football cliché "A game of two halves".
In the first half we were back to our awesome best. Rae and Cameron totally dominated the midfield and Cooper slotted in well on his full debut. Sturridge scored a trademark goal and then should have added a second just minutes later.
However, Deano’s second wasn’t long in coming and the chorus’s of ‘Barmy Army’ were echoing loud and clear around the Lancashire hills. By the time Cameron fired in a spectacular 3rd on the stroke of half time the 4,000 at Turf Moor and the several thousand back in the Billy Wright were expecting a rout to take place in the 2nd half.
However, it could have started differently if Taylor’s header hadn’t been ruled out for a push. To be honest I thought it was a good goal with Oakes not getting there ahead of the Burnley forward.
We had seen the introduction of Gunnar Halle for the unfortunate Sean Connelly as Burnley were ripped apart. Gascoigne had made very little impact and looked every one of his 34 years. Combined with the ageing Kevin Ball they just couldn’t cope with the running of Rae and Cameron. Butler injured himself in a tackle and this almost did lead to an opening for Johnson but we were saved by several tackling back challenges. However, this was back to the Wolves of February.
So at half time, 3-0 up, surely it was all over?
This co-incidentally had been the score in the reverse fixture at the Molineux earlier in the season, both at half and full time.
Unfortunately not as Stan Ternant obviously decided to go for broke in the 2nd half by wringing the changes at half time. Off went Gazza and on came Little. I personally think that Little is a class player and when he came on at the Molineux his right wing runs caused problems, so it was surprising he didn’t start.
I knew that if we could keep them out for 15 minutes then Burnley would lose heart.
So what did we do? Concede almost immediately from the kick-off!
Wolves failed to clear several times and Burnley kept coming at us and scored through the other substitute, Moore, from a corner. Game-on for Burnley – not again from Wolves!
However, another refereeing decision was to give us another lift. To be honest the sending off of the other Moore, Alan, was harsh. Sure he didn’t jump for the ball, more at Halle, but I was surprised to see him go off for the challenge – not that I was complaining.
So, 3-1 up, playing against 10 men – game over?
Bizarrely the sending-off seemed to throw Wolves more than the hosts as we lost our way badly for the remainder of the match. We didn’t know what to do with the spare man and you would have thought it was us that were a player short.
Substitutions of Blake and Sturridge seriously weakened the team as neither Ndah nor Miller could hold the ball up to link in the midfield. Therefore all attacks broke down immediately and Burnley kept coming back. I was just watching the clock run down and was happy with 3-1. However, another poor bit of defensive play undid us again. Another failed clearance, the ball getting stuck under Cameron’s feet led to the opportunity, taken, by Johnson to sweep home the 2nd.
Panic-stations!
4 minutes of extra time, Burnley being urged on by their support – Birmingham and Forest all over again?
Well, no. We hung on for a much needed 3 points. Relief after 90 minutes after exhilaration after 45. Overall, a great performance but definitely not for the feint hearted.
We certainly won’t get away with the 2nd half performance against Man City on Monday. We’ll have to play like we did in the first half for the full game to get anything out of such a vital game.
However, back to winning ways which all the travelling support I’m sure enjoyed when they eventually got past the coach blockade to make their journeys home.
Player ratings:
- Oakes – mixture. Nervy early on, then in command then his goal kicking was awful.
- Connelly – playing well until injury forced him off.
- Camara – good defensively, linked well with Cooper in the first half.
- Lescott – solid as ever, great tackle in the area towards the end.
- Butler – possibly carrying an injury. Slip almost proved costly, some wayward passing.
- Newton – in and out of the game.
- Cooper – good first half, faded in the second.
- Rae – excellent in the first, quieter in the second.
- Cameron – great goal, explosive midfield running.
- Blake - battled hard against defence
- Sturridge – excellent finish – great to have him back – vital he plays against Man City
Subs:
- Halle – despite his age, showed class and overlapped well. Bit less composed second half
- Ndah – awful!!! Doesn’t know how to use his assets of height or pace and seemed unfit (or just lazy)
- Miller – usual headless chicken routine when coming on late in the match.
Bring on City – it’s up to us now!