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Wolves 1 Birmingham 1 – verdict
Saturday 29th November 2008, 2:40PM GMT.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s strike 16 minutes from time gave Wolves a priceless point against Blues.
The striker finished off a flowing move down the left involving Michael Kightly and Stephen Ward to draw Wolves level, following Cameron Jerome’s strike for the Blues three minutes into the second half.
Jerome pounced on a poor backheader from Richard Stearman on 48 minutes, after only just coming on for the substituted Kevin Phillips.
Ebanks-Blake equalised, to keep Wolves six points clear at the top of the Championship.
Sub Sam Vokes had a chance to win it for Wolves with two minutes left but fired straight at Maik Taylor.
The draw was a fair result with both sides going at full pelt in the first half, with the second half not quite living up to the opening 45.
In a feisty first half, tempers flared and three players were booked in a game full of fight.
Birmingham had the ball in the net after six minutes when James McFadden broke through to slot home, only to be flagged offside.
Wolves also went close, when Liam Ridgewell deflected the ball against his own post.
The home side made three changes from the side that made it seven successive wins on Tuesday with a 3-1 victory against Sheffield United.
Wayne Hennessey returned in goal for the injured Carl Ikeme after an absence of 10 games, while Michael Mancienne returned after missing the last two games with flu at the expense of Neill Collins.
Wolves’ other change saw Michael Gray recalled for Dave Edwards, who dropped to the bench alongside new goalkeeper Shane Higgs, signed on-loan from Cheltenham on Thursday.
Blues were without Seb Larsson, after his wife fell ill. The visitors started with dangerman Phillips up front, alongside Marcus Bent in a 4-4-2 formation.
Mick McCarthy’s side kicked off in swirling fog attacking the South Bank and there was almost a headed chance for Ebanks-Blake, from a Kightly cross only for Radhi Jaidi to nod away.
Play was held up while Ward was treated after being caught at the back of the head, but he was soon on his feet.
McFadden was then left frustrated as he slotted home before the linesman ruled his effort out, but Phillips was beginning to cause problems with his clever movement off the ball.
Wolves had a second chance in the seventh minute, following a mix up between Franck Queudrue and Lee Carsley, which presented Iwelumo with a chance to race towards goal.
The ball appeared to take an unfortunate bounce in front of the 15-goal striker, but he sliced high and wide into the South Bank.
Quashie saw a fierce drive blocked by Mancienne, as Blues showed their teeth.
There was a controversial moment in the 11th minute, when Iwelumo was penalised for backing in, despite it appearing as if Jaidi had gone right over the top of him.
Some neat interplay between Wolves defence and midfield eventually saw Gray released for a cross after a one-two with Ward, although the veteran utility man’s cross was disappointing, Wolves almost took a bizarre lead from the resulting throw in.
Ward’s long throw hit the shoulder of Ridgewell and the ball hit the post with goalkeeper Maik Taylor caught unawares. Blues hit back and twice went desperately close to taking the lead themselves.
First, McFadden split the Wolves defence to send Bent racing clear and the former Charlton striker seemed to have scored, after lobbing Hennessey who had come to the edge of his area.
But Stearman made a superb clearance to save the danger. From the resulting corner swung in by Murphy, Hennessey punched off the line.
The game was reaching boiling point and there were angry words exchanged between Iwelumo and Nicky Hunt in a head to head confrontation.
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Decent point
Thought Blues played well & looked a good team.
We were leggy after 3 tough games in a week.
13 points clear of 3rd
Happy Days
Keep the faith
Wolves forever
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A hard earned point today but Wolves finished the stronger team. A good battle against a strong Brum side that will be up there come the end of the season. Great to maintain our 6 point lead against them!
‘Stears’ made a mistake for their goal nut more than made up for it with the great tackling.
Must give Wardy credit for his great run to set up SEB. As usual, super Kites was involved in the build up. Great finish by na na na na na na na na na Sylvan Ebanks Blake, Ebanks Blake!!!!! :-D
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Good point but without being too critical I felt our tactics today were geared up to get a point, which is a dangerous game. I felt we never pressurised the Blues until we were behind and then we played well. I just feel if we had set out our stall to attack them from the beginning we would have won comfortably. Lets keep being positive with our approach.
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We didn’t start playing until we went one down!
And why did we persist with the aerial ball all the time?
Once big chris went off we were forced to play it on the deck and then there was only team in it.
Well done, cos we didnt lose, we are still top of the league and blues haven’t gained any ground.
Also with so many young players they inevitably are going to make poor decisions occasionally and today proved it a couple of times but rather watch young hungry players than some of the washed out has beens we have had to suffer at Molineux for the past 10 years or so
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Draw a fair result after a good Birmingham first half but Wolves finishing the stronger. Keeps the 6 point lead intact. Birmingham at their best did not trouble Hennessey much. Wolves were disappointing on the day but still drew against the team second in the league. The fixture list gets easier for Wolves in the weeks ahead and we might be even further clear at the end of 2008.
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Our kids were up against a team of battle hardened Premiership players and we held them to a draw! That is fantastic, and the kids are smart enough to learn from it, and watch out Brum in the away fixture!
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Our youngsters did well against the most experienced team in the Championship. Most of their players are ex-Premiership and have played all around the world.
Our babbies did great, and Brum can watch out next time when we take ‘em apart!
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Exactley the game Wolves sides of old would have lost. Mick has changed the teams culture. I never doubted that even when one behind we would score.This is unlike any wolves team I have ever supported and I am so pleased I’m around to enjoy them. Well done lads.
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Well done Wolves a good point today.
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Staying 6 points clear at the top…
SEB scoring again…
West Brom blowing it to stay bottom of the league…
Wolves old boy contributing to their demise….Priceless
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Must have been watching a different game to me?
I thought we were very fortunate to get a point out of this game.
Aside from having a perfectly good goal disallowed, Blues created twice as many clear cut chances as us, with Bent, Phillips and Jerome all missing good chances.
Aside from Vokes chance, we had a lot of possession, but didnt create a lot in the final third.
Having said that, I thought the side showed real character pulling a crucial point back against strong opposition – especially on a day when we weren’t on top of our game.
Good point boys, now lets stuff them at St Andrews!
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definitely a point won, lucky to get anything out of the game because i reckon Blues were easily the better side.We would have been howlig if w ehad those 2 goals ruled out.Fair enough , I’m happy with a draw, and we move on.
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A tough game and a hard earned point.
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I’m delighted with the result (although obviously a win for us would have been even better). Prior to the game my secret and darkest thoughts were that Blues would win owing to our youngsters being overwhelmed by the occasion. Now, Wolves know they have nothing to fear when they visit Smallheath. Seemed like a fairly typical local derby: the pre-match build-up being more exciting than long chunks of the game. Come on me babbies!
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Well done lads. I thought Stearman was superb. A special mention should also go to Stephen Ward. He was instrumental in the equaliser and generally played exceptionally well.
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Ok performance by us, McLeish calling us a ‘decent’ team.
I thought we could have won the game at the end, and sorry to be negative but who agrees Keogh is not good enough anymore?
Anyway hopefully when Jarvis is back we will perform to somewhere near our full potential.
Up the Wolves!
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stears wa man of the match but if u were actually watching the game, i think Stephen Ward was by far the best player on the pitch. solid defending, and wat a set up for SEB!! that bloke is the player of the season for us so far, although it will most prob go to a goalscorer. really pleased with a point, could have won it in the end, but credit to blues, they bossed the game in the first half, but we came strong 2nd half. iwelumo was tired, maybe it was too many games for him too quick!mcleish said that was the best they played away this season! well i thought they were tired 2nd half! fatty blues aint fit boys!!
come on u wolves!!
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wow this is becoming a bit of a habit now,saying well done lads good fight out there against a good blues team plus the boggggggies lost AGAIN a good weekend all round then ,up the wolves.
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Next time we meet Brum we should have Matt Jarvis and the rest of the first choice ready.
After what our kids learnt from playing them, I think that we’ll give them a proper botty spankin’ next time!
Well done you Wolves!
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This was a top result; the lads showed grim determination against the next best team in the Championship with some grat performances from Stearman and Mancienne. Keogh would look good in a tutu such was his fancy footwork. Creativity and a killer instinct are missing from his repertoire. No matter, what I saw on Saturday will take Wolves up – NO WRRIES
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Super 2nd half performance but credit where its due Blues dominated 1st half.Draw was a fair result and 4 points against 2 very good teams is a good result.Hoping Coventry can do us a favour 2 nite.Roll on Saturday.
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great result….wouldve ripped yor arm off before kick off if you offered me a point. was never going to be easy, maybe blues shaded it, i dont know but the records will say a draw and thats what counts, 4 points from arguably our 2 hardest fixtures for a while is a great return, come on sky blues!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The last few weeks was the month from hell – if you look at the teams we had to play. Cardiff, Sheff Utd, Birmingham and with Blackpool playing well…and we remain undefeated. next month is ‘seemingly’ easier with us playing mid table teams but as we all know, if the team becomes complacent then the wheels could come off. the good points are jarvis is set to return which will take some pressure off kites and craddock is ready to fill in when needed. It seems that our little ‘gem’ from Chelsea is going to stay and perhaps the competition in midfield is excellent. meanwhile I’m sure Mick will be able to spend on ‘real’ quality in January because it will be far easier to attract experienced premiership players at the moment.
Moses Mick taking us to the promised land..in style.
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If and when complacency set in the team, then all the hard work so far truly had come to naught.
Playing against Birmingham, had shown some weakness in midfield and attack the need to give a more consistent performance must not be found wanting.
Up the Wolves!!!!
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Really proud of the lads today.Ok they were better 1st half but after they scored there was only one team in it.The defence now looks solid and the attack will always score goals.My only concern is our central midfield which I am not convinced about.Am I being too critical?
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Saw it on tele next door we looked feable at times but scraped a point so well done, Me andd Brid don’t do draws and loses only when we win UP THE WOLVES
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Apparently there is £10million in the kitty for Mick in Jan.
I thought AK is shot of confidence. I am hoping Ledley King will be our first signing, as well as carlo edwards. another biting midifielder and possibly one extra forward, maybe as a swap with AK… Any thoughts….
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Kites a brilliant player love him, BUT i can see signs of Kenny Miller appearing , you must pass the ball against teams like birmingham dont please try to be a glory hunter all the time, it pays sometimes but only against certain teams.
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27,Ledley King are you sure you dont mean Joe Ledley?
Good point saturday thats all that counts in the end!
UP THE WOLVES!!!!
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lots of comments regarding their experience also nobody has mentioned that mc fadden (who is quality) cost as much as our whole team and their wage bill is triple ours. they made me proud. referee was absolutely shocking.
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no.27 michael mancienne and a ballwinning midfielder.
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SUPERSTARDJWOLVES
where did you hear about £10m – would be nice if true…
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i was stephen wards biggest critic but hes been superb. keogh is frustrating.
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apparently ,Mick is getting 10 million to spend in january, it says so on bbc, dont know wheter to believe the bbc
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Sheff Utd was a tough tough game.
& our boys were a bit leggy.
Though our 2 centre halfs were ‘too square’ with manncienne getting caught under the ball too often, he was a little off the pace, but that’s being ultra critical.
The desire we showed to get something from the game was fantastic.
12, I’d have only been disapointed for their second goal being disallowed if we were playing netball, their are rules you know, the first one was marginal, but we have had a couple of those this season, swings & roundabouts.
Keep the faith
Wolves forever
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Also says in The Sun, so yeah its gotta be true. Yep Joe Ledley I meant.
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Stearman is a class act, in fact I believe he is better than Lescott. For me Karl Henry is the weak link. Gives the ball away too often, unless he is passing it backwards (which is most of the time). Time to purchase a really decent centre mid and would love to see us sign Mancienne, but I very much doubt Chelski will do business.
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33 – I agree Ward has done really well at left back, fair-play to the lad
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4, Actually I think it was Brum’s tactics that changed when they went 1-0 up, not ours. Before their goal they pressed on us and looked the better team. After they scored, they sat back and tried to hit us on the break. That’s when we took control. And Mick was quite right. At the end of the game, we looked the more likely winners.
12, I was at the game, and both disallowed ‘goals’ had been flagged before they went in. You’ll note that none of the Brum players celebrated. They knew they weren’t going to be allowed. So, no, I wouldn’t have been howling.
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that’s great 10mil to spend!but we don’t need to spend really and if we are doing the job borrowing then let’s carry on doing that. what we don’t want to do is to demoralise what we have going at present..
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Reading some ridiculous comments at the mo!!!!
Yes we were crap in the 1st half & Brum played us off the park!!! They thoroughly deserved their goal!!!!
But look at it this way, in recent weeks all I’ve heard & seen from the Blues is boring, slow, weak football!!! Even their own fans got fed up with it!!!! Which says to me Brum really brought their A game to us Sat!! they played their hearts out throwing everything they got at us!! & I mean everything!!!!
Yet they failed to beat us!!!!! They had to come to us Sat & win!! They’re the team in 2nd 6 points behind!! Our goal was not to lose!! Which we didn’t!!!!
In fact as soon as the wolves decided to play football we were all over them!! It was only us in the last 30mins or so!! Kites played em off the park!! SEB looked big & strong!! Vokes fantastic in the air!! Dave Edwards showed his class to!!!
For me that game showed that this team shouldn’t fear anyone in this league cause no matter what the Blues had it still wasn’t enough to knock us off our perch!!!!!!!
Also Stearman man of the match for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Up The Wolves!!!!!!!!!!
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41- I could’nt agree more – we could have been 3-0 down at half time and i feared the worst when they scored and then McFadden narrowly missed with a volley.
A point is a good result for us – we have’nt lost any ground.
The Blues had injury problems before and during the game so maybe we could have expected 3 points but a point will do!
Parts of our game were better than theres,parts of there game were better than ours – the overall m-o-m for me was Carsley – maybe we are missing someone like that – with his knowledge experience and appetite?
Jaidi also suprised me for them – slow yes I expected that – but he is a far better footballer than I thought – again maybe we could do with an older head at the back – Stearman was exceptional – especially his tackle on Jerome – but I thought Mancienne was off his game a little
Saturday showed we dont have to score early to win a game and it also showed we can battle when the front 3 are shackled – which has very rarely been the case this season.
I read Collymore this morning who thinks we will both go up – although he thinks they’ll shade the title – I’d love to go up as Champs – but as last season proved – the teams finishing second and third start on “0″ points next season just the same as the Champions and ofter out-perform the Champions…
PROMOTION IS A MUST HAPPEN – whether its first or second I dont care ID GLADLY TAKE SECOND PLACE RIGHT NOW!
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Some excellent positive comments.I think the Blues are at the top of their game whilst the Wolves will keep improving.
Wolves forever!
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