0-0 at half-time and with Walsall playing the better football, I was quite happy for the whistle to sound so that Dave Jones could re-group the team.
A full-house at the Molineux did not get what they were probably expecting in the first-half. Walsall were resilient and thoughtful in their approach play and had the better of the goalscoring opportunities but fortunately were denied by Oakes and poor finishing where it counts.
Steve Corica, ex-Wolves, was linking the play well and bringing the ball into threatening positions in the Wolves half.
Wolves had several half chances but were off the pace with a void between the forwards and the midfielders leaving Walsall to clear the danger when Wolves did manage to get forward. Walsall also doubled up on Kennedy and were able to reduce him to wasting crossing opportunities.
Half Time Wolves 0 Walsall 0
The second-half started with Blake picking up the pace. However, it was to be a sending off that was to change the game. Wolves won a free-kick out on the right. As the ball was swung in several players stopped but the ball found itself into the back of the Walsall net. Confusion reigned as I thought the referee had pointed for a penalty but he was indicating an elbow by David Holdsworth as the ball came over. Holdsworth was sent off for serious foul play the free-kick retaken but no goal forthcoming.
However, the extra space that the sending off afforded Wolves was to come into play just five minutes later. A sublime ball from Muscat released Sturridge running in on the right. As the keeper and defender came to intercept he curled a beautiful lob over the advancing Walker and into the net.
The goal helped to settle the fans nerves but the way Walsall were playing I didn't think that one goal would be enough.
Blake had a great chance to make it two but side footed his shot straight at Walker when clear.
However, Blake made amends soon after by holding off the Walsall challenges to square the ball across the box to Sturridge running in to slide home the second.
And with the minutes running down he capitalised on a mistake by Barras to coolly slot home over Walker to complete the scoring.
Although the Wolves fans would have liked a fourth it wasn't to be and a series of ironic cheers greeted Wolves retention of the ball in the closing minutes of the match.
At the end Wolves were loudly applauded off the field, there was the added realisation that West Brom had lost, the gap between 1st and 3rd was now 10 points with just 10 games remaining.
Analysis:
Wolves didn't play well in the first half. They looked off the pace and Walsall more than held their own.
The sending off did change the game as Walsall couldn't cover the midfield runners and several Wolves players came more into the match, Blake especially. Sturridge's fantastic first goal knocked the wind out of Walsall and then defensive mistakes made the scoreline a flattering 3-0.
The crowd does finally seem to believe that Wolves are going to get promoted. A real buzz (even in the John Ireland stand !) about the place and lots of happy people leaving the ground talking about winning the league and not just finishing 2nd to Man City.
The next fixture can't come soon enough!
Man of the Match:
Difficult to call. Friends afterwards had their own opinions, take your pick from Rae, Sturridge or my pick Muscat.
Match report by Dave Burgess
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