Tony Mowbray believes Albion did just enough to take all three points in the first Black Country derby draw of his reign – and his first goalless stalemate at The Hawthorns.
Mowbray believes the two old rivals delivered another highly-enjoyable Sunday duel which the Baggies looked likely to pinch five minutes from time after Craig Beattie forced a penalty out of Neil Collins.
But the Baggies boss insisted there would be no recriminations for Zoltan Gera after his late penalty miss denied the Baggies a fifth win in six games.
Mowbray duly gave a nod of respect to the two top-class saves from Wolves’ young keeper Wayne Hennessey which resulted in the Baggies’ first goalless draw in 73 games.
Hennessey finger-tipped Filipe Teixeira’s brilliant 56th-minute curler onto the far post before beating out Gera’s spot-kick.
But the point was enough to lift Albion back into the second automatic-promotion spot on goal difference and close the gap on leaders Watford to five points.
“I thought we did enough to win it,” said Mowbray. “But I think it was a good game of football – and the first-half was pretty fluent.
“It was a case of two styles of play.
“One team was probing, trying to create an opening and being patient against another team that was counter-attacking, getting lots and lots of men behind the ball and breaking well.
“If you’re a football purist, it was a very entertaining game to watch. I thought there were two good teams out there who produced another good derby.
“It was a nervous derby for our supporters because Wolves always had a threat on the counter-attack and set-plays.
“We would have loved to have got that 1-0 which would have sent our supporters home happy. But in the end, no pride was hurt and we move on to another day.”
The draw extended the Baggies’ unbeaten run to six games, but that is going to be given a serious examination with tough back-to-back trips to Plymouth on Wednesday and Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Whether or not Gera will remain as the penalty taker remains to be seen – although the Hungarian international certainly has the experience to cope with the disappointment.
But there was nothing but sympathy from The Hawthorns boss for Gera, who Mowbray revealed was his fourth-choice penalty taker.
Principle spot-kick taker is the injured Kevin Phillips while the next two in the pecking order, Ishmael Miller and Chris Brunt, both played yesterday but had been substituted by the time the opportunity came around.
“It was a fantastic penalty save ,” added Mowbray. “That, and his save from Teixeira, denied us the other two points.
“Gera is our fourth nominated penalty taker. Phillips is No.1, Miller No.2 and Brunt No.3 – but they weren’t on the pitch.
“But Zoltan is No.1 penalty taker for Hungary so it should have been good enough for us. But I don’t criticise players for missing penalties.
“The keeper made a decent save. That’s football.”
41 Comments
TM is wrong for once, I don’t think that we did enough to win. A draw was a fair result.
According to the express and star (suprise suprise) this match is going to be known (in the Express and star) as the Hennesey derby - and I think that gives some indication of how the match went.
TM is giving rightly wolves credit for being a threat on the counter attack, but Albion played the real fluent football. I also thought the wolves free kicks and corners were much better than ours too.
However, overall I think the result was fair enough - we didn’t break them down and the keeper had a great game.
We were never gonna score even if we were still playing now - that happens sometimes, but overall I’m pleased with how we played the game.
Albion did enough to win? pahh! a lone striker up front who is really fast but is headless. 5 across midfield at home? One real save from Hennessey until the penalty miss? Enough to win? don’t make me laugh. What’s Mowbray gonna do now? go from playing 4-5-1 to play 4-6 haha no strikers that anyone rates. Oh it feels like we won that game just to here the Tesco’s whinning on the post match analysis. Reality was at times Wolves cut you open like a knife through butter and we had the better chances. All things said Albion in the premier would be stuffed out of site. Oh and Baggies… say bye bye to Mowbray as he’ll be off very very soon.
still looking good and despite injuries,squad strength will suffice.
bednar and beattie will score providing midfield keep creating chances
was a bit disappointed we didn,t go 4-4-2 from the start but we move on to 2 tough away trips.4 points would be nice and we,d be another week nearer getting 4 players back
baggy boy…wolves fans will tell you there man of the match was hennesy.that tells you TM was right.
Well said Baggy Boy
TM clearly looks through Blue&White tinted glasses!
Good Game - Draw fair result
Apart from score!
What planet is he on!
Both sides had chances to snatch a win, but in the end a draw was a fair result.
Give credit where its due. If albion had their spell of domination in the first half Wolves in the second.
What planet is he on!
Both sides had chances to snatch a win, but in the end a draw was a fair result.
Give credit where its due. Albion had their spell of domination in the first half. Wolves had theirs in the second.
Mind you he has to say something to keep you lot happy.
Did you eck!!
With 3 of our next 4 games being away we can at least play the
4-4-1-1 system with Bednar up front if TM decides to go that way - away from home teams come at us more allowing Tex and Brunt to open them up.
If we were playing 3 at home I would worry about our options when teams sit back more.
I disagree with him for once as well, chatting after the game, most of us decided we HADN’T done enough to win the game.
We had a lot of possession in the middle of the park, but not nearly enough in and around their penalty area. They sat deep and let us play in front of them.
We’re an attacking side, lets play to our strengths. 2 strikers please TM.
3- Big Bad Wolf, don’t get carried away, there were no hot knives on show yesterday and it’d have been a different game with KP on the pitch.
Congratulations to the Wolves on a deserved point, but there is something deeply ironic about Big Bad Wolf ridiculing us for being defensive!!
A draw was a fair result for this game - if both games this season end up as draws then I think both sets of fans can be happy. There are much easier games to win in this league than a black country derby (these derbies can go either way) and it is the other results that you get that will decide whether you will get promotion this year. At least we don’t have to worry about playing Birmingham as well this year.
This reminds me of his comment that the boggies would finish higher than sunderland last season ans we all know what happened then.
0 - 0 FAIR RESULT BUT WHY CANT EXPRESS AND DINGLE BE FAIR
happy-baggies must be a real sad bloke and have serious identity issues, he’s always on here knocking Wolves and first on these message boards to have a dig at Wolves. The facts from yesterday are simple Wolves played the perfect away tactics against a good side. We defended deep and broke enough times to grab a win.
Happy-baggie has obviously got a real problem that his team didnt hammer wolves 3 or 4 nil, forcing him to rethink his attitude. Wasn,t it the baggies that got promoted once on the back of 1 nil wins and defensive style football, all the baggie boys were bragging then and saying how good they are. So my message to happy-baggie is for him to get himself a hobby and try to widen his horizons but i suppose when he hasn,t got anything in his life then he needs to keep his obssession with wolves and reading his comments i don,t think he was at the game anyway, he sounds like a radio WM listener
Great game - fair result - Wolves have come on as a team (i’m a Baggie) there seems to be a little less hatred between the teams these days.
He’s got a big fat head…!!!Mowbray has lost the plot.i thought a draw was a fair result.Wll done Mick and the lads.
tm it was a fair result in a g8t local derby,so get on with the league now because with all your injurys piling up you’ll need some luck ,so well done the wolves and the boggies lets hope we’re both at the top come may!.
16, I don’t think he was at the game either.
Sandwell thought they was gonna walk it against us especially Happy No Life.
Thourougly enjoyed yesterday, thought the Wolves fans were fantastic, sang their hearts out whilst you could hear a pin drop in the home sections as the Tescos all realised they had got a game on their hands.
Leading scorers in league, our defence to slow?? win 4-0 against the Dingles?? well you all got that one wrong didnt you!
There’s alot at stake for the Albion this season and last season you never got back on track after we beat you at Molineux, (we all saw you crying at Wembley) I hope the same doesn’t happen again this season, still at least you have Philips & Miller…oops!
Hennessey, Hennessey…
We are Wolves.
A totally fair result - cant believe anyone would think otherwise!
Enjoyable match, very absorbing but not one to live long in the memory.
Oh…and well done to the ref - called pretty much everything correctly.
we used to get these sort of comments from Hoddle when he was our manager, if TM keeps telling the team the same thing you’ll end up playing pretty football in the middle of the park and end up going nowhere like we did.
I agee with every word Tipton Wolves has said. Mowbray`s got tunnel vision….give credit where its due, both teams could have won and lost the game..
Baggie fan here,Fair result thought craddock was best player for wolves had miller in his pocket, more worring for us is another injury we dont need, get nuggent on loan from pompey reserves proven scorer in this league.Beattie is not the answer.
16 - if you read my comments you will see I said wolves deserved the point. Try reading before commenting in future.
Are you obssessed with me as you mention me by name 3 times in your post - your the one who needs a hobby pal..preferably not stalking me.
I cant understand how everyone thinks we played 4-5-1 we played a 4-4-1-1 .
I think albion just edged it but only just, but if you dont score you dont win!!
The media overhyped the game it was not a big game you get the same points as if your playing norwich for example.
The aim of the day was not to lose ground on the top of the table infact we gained a point on Watford and regained 2nd spot so all in all a decent weekend.
one minor moan the idiot that threw at and hit miller whilst he was injured on the ground I bet your family and fellow wolves fans are so proud of you you utter idiot. Do people throw things at you whilst your working its a game of football not a war!!!
Was Mowbray watching trhe same game as the rest of us?
He nose nuffin’ !
David Bartley, Tipton.
2.
Happy i’d actually say you give a pretty fair analysis. Most of your fans on WM after the game seemed to feel it was a fair result too and i’d agree too.
5-What are you on about? Yes Hennessey played well but also Karl Henry was fantastic so was Craddock and Kightly. My MOTM was Henry TBH
Who are you trying to kid Mr Mowbray, our fans are not so stupid as yours to believe all that …. Over the past 12 months Wolves are the team who have come forward the most.
They were losing 3-0 in the early Derby games last year and have spent the least money out of the two teams and the Wolves fans are the most loyal too, just look at the gates of both teams.
Well done Mick…
A Team and Fans to be Proud of…
Like i pointed out before the game Albion arent as good as they think they are,they are a decent team but will suffer from the injuries they are picking up, we are four points behind and i think its fair to say we havnt really hit top form yet, so if we can just step it up a notch we could just finish in the top 2. ps you only sing when youre winning!!
He makes me laugh! A draw was fairif anything wolves edged it.
And I Sayy..
WIN YOUR HOME GAMES!
AND DRAW YOUR AWAY!
We nearly there wolves keep it up!
OK. Simple.. Kiely didn’t make a save!!!!!!!
Wolves played ok but only 1 team went out to win. As for 1 up top.. well
Cov 0-4 Albion!!!! If you have that much quality in midfield it ain’t a problem.
You lot know nothing about football, mowbary plays 4-4-2 with attacking footballers you lot play 4-5-1 it would have given wolves a chance to win midfield battle and snatch a win! Think about it. And dingles, well done you got a 0-0 in your cup final!! Clap clap clap.
Also someone said miller ran around like headless chicken.. why are you all raving about kightly? He was crap v us last year and sunday he…. run round like a headless chicken. It’s true.
Oh and mowbary will probably go to boro’ but it’s a club he has strong connections with. Not a problem I would wish him luck.
3. You’re a complete twit.
TM shouldn’t whinge about Wolves tactics. Tesco’s did exactly the same at Watford. The better play came from the home side but your forwards were lethal and you got what you deserved because you scored the goals.
Fluent play without goals is the story of many of our games this year so it is ironic that your lot did play well in parts. The draw was fair so TM should just say so.
I am amazed at the comments about Hennesay. His job is to stop goals but the impression I get is that Albion were in some way ‘robbed’ because of his form. This keeper is going to be great. He is going to break a lot of forwards hearts during his career and I only hope we can keep him.
I don’t agree with TM`s assessment
per-Se,
but to any Wolves fans wound up by his comments………….i think it`s just a case of rightly or wrongly,
taking the party line.
E11 London Wolf
I ALWAYS respect your views,
but regarding the Watford game,
are you quoting the press?
or did you see the game?
I did see the game,
and maybe i could be accused of bias,
but i DO endeavour to tell it like it is,
and i can tell you my friend,
that the better play certainly did
NOT come from the home side.
When Watfords hoof-n-hope tactics
were nullified,
they had no other game plan and the Albion were comfortable winners.
34.
Rattled.
wots he on abou. yes maybee we were a bit under the cosh 4 a bit of the 1st half bt we still had the better chances and in the sewcond half we bossed it. they only had 2 chances second half n thts y u need a good keeper lyk hennessy cus he kept us in in bot saves. so tht mobray cn shut his mouth
mnathan 10-3 your the twit. complete idiot. 0-0 in our cup final you sill little man. were the bigger side look at our tradition compared to yours. whos won the most cups whos the bigger side. not sandwell town anyway.so go back to school and learn something. wolves were the better side sunday. silly teco bag
38 - try taking the mittens off next time.
oh come on now, lets face it. baggie boys were by far superior in a football sence. wolves are a bunch of kick it and chase its.by the way jimmy twiddle or what ever your moniker is, we are the tesco carrier bags from sandwell town.not tecobags.we can loff at ourselves. not like you big time charlies. our clubs bigger than yown mar ball better than yowes is .stop living in the past. wake up and smell the coffeeyou .wednesfield town netto bag. its a loff aye it