Wolves 0 Everton 0
Saturday 27th March 2010, 5:30PM GMT.
Battling Wolves hung on to equal their longest Premier League unbeaten run with another priceless point towards survival against Everton at Molineux.
Watched by England boss Fabio Capello, Mick McCarthy’s side continued their solid form that has seen them earn seven points from the previous nine by making it four matches unbeaten.
Hull’s victory over Fulham reduced the gap in the scramble for survival, but Wolves remain five points clear of safety with six games left.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between but Everton had the better attempts as the home side, who controlled much of the possession, kept a first clean sheet in eight games.
But their search to improve their goal drought at home went on, with just one in seven games in front of their own fans and 10 for the season after seven in three on their travels.
The home side rarely looked like breaking the deadlock and ultimately they had goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann to thank for superbly smothering from substitute Dan Gosling and Jody Craddock for clearing Tim Cahill’s overhead kick off the line.
Wolves created the first chance when Matt Jarvis poked wide after three minutes.
The home side then dominated possession until the midpoint of the first half, but it was Everton who had the chances.
Leon Osman, who scored after three minutes into his debut at Molineux six years ago, had three attempts, the first of which was a major let-off after the impressive Steven Pienaar teed him up.
Wolves looked a little shaky defensively to start with and Everton found gaps with Osman again finding room to fire into the side-netting.
Osman’s third attempt was a deflected effort that thankfully for Wolves flew straight at Hahnemann, after Louis Saha’s deflected curler forced the American into a simple save.
Leighton Baines also fired a firm drive into the arms of the goalkeeper, as clear chances remained at a premium.
But Saha broke the malaise with a superb rising shot that bounced off the top of the bar, after the striker held off Christophe Berra following Sylvain Distin’s fantastic pass.
Tim Cahill also blazed over from Saha’s knockdown, as Everton continued to pose the bigger threat on goal, despite Wolves’ bossing possession.
The hosts finally had a couple of efforts on goal just before half-time when Jarvis’s goalbound shot on the run was blocked by Distin, before Jody Craddock volleyed over after Phil Neville’s poor header after Ronald Zubar nodded back David Jones’s corner.
Saha wasted the best chance of the game on 53 minutes in crashing a header over from Osman’s cross, although Craddock did as much as possible to put him off.
Three minutes later Leighton Baines saw a dangerously curling free kick deflected inches over, hitting Kevin Doyle in the wall.
Wolves created the next two chances but couldn’t threaten goalkeeper Tim Howard as first Kevin Foley curled a first time effort over then Ronald Zubar, looking to add to his first Premier League strike in Tuesday’s 3-1 win at West Ham, swept over.
As the game opened up late on, Everton returned fire and Osman dragged wide from 20 yards after being given too much space before Pienaar saw a goalbound, bouncing effort deflected wide with Hahnemann at full stretch.
Pienaar also crashed a volley into the ground from a superb position 15 yards out.
In the dying minutes the game was there for the taking, as substitute Adlene Guedioura with an overhead kick over and Doyle with an over the shoulder volley fired over.
At the other end, Hahnemann reacted superbly to smother from Gosling after the substitute was left free from Yakubu’s header across goal.
But Wolves survived to continue their march towards safety.
Latest Blog — A week is a long time in football
This time last week we were staring down the barrel, third from bottom with a worse record than at the same stage last year, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.
Saddlers Blog
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.

Jody Craddock ! MOTM today ! Capello was there to see it aswell! Takehim to south africa !!!
Report abuse
Another good result for us,made better by Stoke beating West Ham. Would like to have seen some attacking players bought on in the second half, which may have relieved some pressure on the defence, Hanneman had another solid game.
I see the ever green Kevin Phillips nicked a goal against Arsenal in the dying minutes.
Good luck against Arsenal next week.
Report abuse
great stuff boys, thats everton we can now add to the list of tottenham and villa who have all failed to beat us this season, keep up the good work…
Report abuse
Wolves have had the tendency to disappoint at home after some good results away.It’s another point towards safety.
Report abuse
Another priceless point. We just have to keep playing with the same determination and effort, and I have no doubt we will achieve the task in hand! Up the Wolves!
Report abuse
great result 2day. Well done lads
Report abuse
An old fashioned battle, but another valuable point.
Jody Craddock was outstanding in defence and should win Man of the Match for Wolves. We were also indebted to Hahnemann.
Report abuse
Splah the cash Morgan. Wim ere to stay.
Report abuse
Big Marcus, our bear of a goalkeeper, again marshalled the d-crew with firm authority, as it carried through the entire team. We defended from box-to-box like tigers, er, Wolves! Completely a workman-like performance, as we totally deserved a share of the points! By the way, let’s hope M3′s get big Marcus to sign that new contract, as we need his consistency and leadership between the sticks!
Report abuse
a point is a point , dont care about performance!!!…. pity hull won but , hey, another point nearer safety
Report abuse
Tomwolvo, completely agree, if Craddock was 5 years younger, City would be lining up a £20m swoop.
Walkin in a Craddock wonderland!
Report abuse
great point dont forget everton have beaten man u and city they were the better team but we hung on we would have lost this match a few weeks ago but we have the belief now come on blackburn tom keep the faith lets hope morgan and moxley spend the cash next season binda maan sunny spain
Report abuse
Good point today and moved up another place thanks to United hammering Bolton.
95 minutes of football AT Molineux and NOT one shot on target from us. How much longer can we ride our luck?
Report abuse
wolves playa playing up again,good point,what action will be taken against hodgsonfor leaving players out ?,none watch
Report abuse
Good workmanlike performance against the Toffees today I thought. Everton have improved a lot since the draw at Goodison and were on a good run of late. Then again, the same can be said for us! Nevertheless, we should not play down how important this result is in the context of our fast improving “business” end of the season.
We rode our luck several times and didn’t really threaten except Zubar and Foley’s chances, although it was a good attempt by Adlene with the overhead!!! It just needed a better connection but I liked the effort from him, well done lad. Doyle and Jarvo were excellent again and ran themselves into the ground, Doyle particularly. Mind you I think the team played well as a whole today, from defense all the way through to attack. So maybe it’s unfair to single out only certain players.
A point was earned and was hard earned too. Everton gave our defense a stern examination but we passed with flying colours imo.
It has to be said that if their strikers/midfielders, who are usually clinical had taken one or two of their chances then we would certainly have lost today.
I know Saha hit the bar but they will have left wondering how they didn’t win with the amount of decent chances they had, let’s be honest about that one.
I think this goes down as a “ground out the point” result for me, but it leaves us 8 points clear of the bottom 3 now and THAT will do nicely for me thank you.
Arsenal away is a different animal though. Our away form has been very good so far but make no mistake, the Gunners will NOT be allowing us too much room. That will have to be earned through a match performance calibre of the WHU game (or better).
We should be extremely pleased with our defense imo. They took all that was thrown at them and cleared it back up field. Craddock’s brilliant clearance at the death was typical of our resolve of late, WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED.
Nothing is as yet concrete regarding us staying up, but I believe the mix has already been made and is awaiting being poured into place.
ANYTHING positive at Arsenal will be fine. IF we do lose though (positivity), I doubt it will be by the boatload that will no doubt be banded round by the media and other clubs fans (again). We have improved greatly since the 4-1 loss to them at home imo.
So far so good lads and lasses, let’s all keep it going and we will be able to enjoy the Sunderland home game as opposed to dreading it. The support for the lads has been A1, please keep it up. The players are starting to believe in themselves due to it, and are giving their all for the cause.
Loving being a Wolves fan and I’m very proud of my team, it feels SO much better than the last time in the Prem at the moment and long may it continue.
Oh almost forgot, I’m delighted to say that I think Elokobi is getting much better at defending and picking passes imo. Nice one, keep it up Big George!
Come On You Wolves.
Report abuse
What am I like? 8 points clear? DOH!!!!
I’ll try again, we are now 5 points clear of the bottom 3 but, thanks to Man.U. we are now 14th in the table. It’s looking good but we can’t afford to be complacent, or as Mick would say “we will get slapped” lol.
It could still change when Burnley play Blackburn. COME ON ROVERS!!!
I think we may give Stoke a shock at home, I hope so. Nothing would be give me greater pleasure seeing as most of thier fans will view it as an easy game. Here’s hoping.
Up The Wolves.
Report abuse
What a Great team performance, against the in-form team 2 defeats in 17 games,and the team who beat the ‘Multi Multi Million’ Man City 2-0. Not bad for a team with a value of about £25M+, i thought Jody and Marcus were outstanding both players put a ‘Double Shift’in. So was Zubar again. I said yesterday 1pt today and 1pt next week v Arsenal would do for me,and i will still settle for that total by 5pm next Saturday. It was good to keep a ‘clean sheet’ for a change. Sorry to go on again but the standard of ‘Referee’s’ in the PL leaves a lot to be desired, he booked Jones for taking a quick free kick, yet let tackles from behind by an Everton player go, not even a word with him at least 4 of their players should have got booked but he didnt even speak to them.Anyway like i said a Great Performance by the entire team today.WELL PLAYED LADS. UTW
Report abuse
Not the best of games but great result! 14th, wow!! Not far from the bottom three but at least we are now 6 involved in the race.
Please Bob and the others jerks, don’t start complaining if (when) we get nothing away at Arsenal…
Allez les gars, ça ne prend que deux victoires d’ici la fin!!
Report abuse
This is getting silly now!
When I said it could still change. I meant the Man City/Wigan game, not BURNLEY/BLACKBURN!! (sigh) I know it’s unlikely, but the Latics could (yes could) win at Eastlands although I very much doubt it somehow. If they did though it would push us down a bit, but not into the bottom 3 again at least.
I have to stop myself getting carried away now, because Hull also have a game in hand along with Burnley and Hull got 3 points today. A lot can still happen. Complacency is no longer on the menu at the moment from me.
One game at a time Wolves, we can do it.
Ok reality check over, I’m quitting now while I’m ahead (numpty).
We Are Wolves
Report abuse
another point today played well if we keep playing like that who knows might get something against the gunners !!!!
Report abuse
Good result today, perhaps a better on than last Tuesday ? we were second best for most of the game today, Everton superior in most departments, YET we though hard and ground out an excellent point, we rode our luck at times, and had we have conceeded I could not see where we would create a goal.
MM, you and the boys should be proud of yourselves tonight, this kind of fighting spirit and hard work ethic, is what will keep us in the prem.
Report abuse
13 – English Exile – How manay games earlier in the season did we have numerous clear cut chances which we failed to take. If a team doesnt put the ball in the back of the net, they dont deserve to win, simple as. Even though we didnt have a shot on target we had a few chances just over, so its not like we didnt attack.
Fantastic result, and a resilliant performance, im going to stick my head out and predict a win against arsenal, even though i dont expect a win, i just have a feeling that we might just steal the result.
Report abuse
A great point, one more towards safety. The next week or so may see our hearts flutter, with the trip to Arsenal giving the teams below us a possibility of getting nearer to us. After that though are run in is no more difficult than our rivals for survival and I think that 38 points will be more than enough.
Report abuse
Happy with a point after a battling performance by the boys in Gold and Black. Ok it was not the same as against the Hammers but still happy in the circumstances as Everton are the team in form.
A pat on the back goes to all players but Marcus Hahnemann deserves a big thank you with his usual solid performance. He is one of the reasons that Wolves have a good chance of stay up and today’s match was another MOTM display. By coincidence did any one notice that for the successive Saturday the opposing goalkeepers in Wolves matches were from the USA. Against villa it was Marcus and Brad Friedel and today Marcus and Tim Howard. Incredible but true!
Now for the Gunners next Saturday. Wolves can get something as this will be sandwiched between the matches against Barcelona and they will surely be massive ones for Wengers’s lot. They surely don’t come bigger than this. So come on Wolves there’s nothing to fear about as we start 11 v 11 and everything can happen.
Report abuse
Awesome! Another valuable point against an in form club! Sure Arsenal will be a challenge. But let’s keep our eye on the prize!
Report abuse
We rode our luck, particularly at the end, but deserved our point for the sheer lung-busting in-your-face effort. Which is exactly what Mick had promised.
Hahnemann was superb.
Report abuse
GREAT PERFORMANCE LADS!!!! ONLY GOT BACK 2 HOURS AGO WHAT A LONG DRIVE BACK DOWN TO MARGATE!!! WELL WORTH IT SEEING US GET A WELL DESERVED POINT!!!!! KEEP IT UP MICK YOU ARE THE MESSIAH!!!!! UP THE WOLVES COME ON!!!!!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Report abuse
Come on the Wolves! Good point earnt! Who would have thought that at this point in the season we would be where we are! At last we can think of safety and being in the top flight where we belong! The spirit of the Doug would be proud!
Report abuse
Nice one fellas! Great point against the in-form team and one point closer to safety. Keep the confidence up and keep playing like this and we will stay in the promised land. Please,please Mr Morgan, get ready to dip your hand in the pocket – we want to be fighting for Europe next year – not worrying about the fizzy pop league, and to do this we need some more class players.
Report abuse
Good result against an on form team. Gonna be a challenge at Arsenal. Gotta keep our eye on the prize.
Report abuse
We were up against it today. They didn’t let Jarvis have a look in & didn’t let Doyle anywhere near the goalmouth. We didn’t make any mistakes, but they created countless chances against us through good play and luckily for us they lacked clinical finishing.
But our defense was immense and kept us in it to the end and we got a point where better teams haven’t. Craddock & Berra, Zubar & Elokobi all impessed today.
Report abuse
Today was a point won not two lost, Everton are a top six club.
Man of the match the Wolves fans we were loud and proud.
Seeing as Arsenal will be playing Wolves sandwiched between the two Barcelona legs, will Arsenal be playing a weakened side against the Wolves?
If they do will the FA fine them?
I don’t think so
Report abuse
Happy with that!
One more point kepts it all bubbling along!
Report abuse
Good result lads keep this up and you`ll have me praising MM.What do you drink Bullybeef so I can remember to keep off it?
Report abuse
great point. shame hull won tho. craddock, jones, zubar and hahnemann were excellent again for us! we rode our luck a bit i guess but then its only fair that lucks on our side now after all the times its been against us! lets go for the 40-point mark!
THERE’S ONLY 1 JODY CRADDOCK!!
Report abuse
The fans were fantastic again today, we look like we belong at this level. Are the rumours true abot Matty Jarvis, Capello at Molineux, could the little fella be going to South Africa?
Fulham made 6 changes V Hull I am waiting to hear that they have been fined on Monday morning.
Report abuse
Great point! About weakened teams we got fined at Man U but our best away win at West Ham involved :
Hahnermann
Zubar
Elokobi
Mancienne
Foley
Halford sub at West Ham
Jarvis sub at M U
Iwelumo sub at M U
Jones sub at M U
Henry and Berra both unused subs at M U
Premiership make their own rules for the top four.
Never mind I think we will be there next season come on you wolves!!!!!!!
Report abuse
the game had draw written all over it. Two teams playing 4-5-1. Very pleased with the result but we could be right back in it come next week when we play Arsenal away. Not expecting anything from that. We can beat Stoke and Blackburn at home tho. That will keep us up.
Report abuse
Good result.
Christmas came early for Hull. Nice of Fulham to leave out their best 5 players.
Report abuse
WHERE IS Bob Wolf and his mates?
I am so so sorry that Wolves have done so well recently (NOT really!!)
Well done MM & the Board for not listening to these idoits.
UTW
Report abuse
A draw at Arsenal next week (Who might be resting players for Barca) and then a win at Stoke.
What no one has said about though is the four games unbeaten, That is what’s going to keep us up I hope
Capello should have come to watch us at west ham though, We would have Javo on the plane to SA for sure
UTW
Report abuse
Compare and contrast – in 03/04, we were virtually everyone’s whipping boys. This time, we can hold the team who’ve beaten Man U, Man C & Chelsea and are European regulars. I never thought being hard to beat, no matter how unpretty it can be, could be so thrilling (or nerve-shredding). So, let’s leave ‘playing our way out of trouble’ to the likes of West Ham and West Brom. Long live pragmatism!
PS Not happy with Fulham yesterday. Doesn’t matter if it’s three changes, six changes or ten changes to the team – isn’t it a breach of Prem league rules to deliberately field a weakened team? And don’t give me hogwash about Fulham’s schedule – if it wasn’t good enough for us, it’s not good enough for them. I knew Scudamore and his idiots had opened a can of worms when they pressed sanctions against us.
Report abuse
Fulham threw a game they would normally expect to win to save themselves for a Europa game which could potentially get us relegayed. Arsenal will probably field a weak side v Wolves but still expect to win, but will we make 10 more changes against them, err…and play the side that beat Spurs that we got fined for not playing in the first place?
Report abuse
Without kckng a ball, feet up, enjoying a Sunday roast on the back of a well deserved Mol result against Everton, we saw both Liverpool and Blackburn, respectively, do some big favors for our lads this afternoon! Regardless of a possible poor showing at Arsenal, we can chip away and at least pull out two more wins in our run-in, or six points by whatever combination allows. Yes, not getting complacent, just being positive and away from the suckng sound of those “doom and gloomers,” now finding little rocks and stones to crawl under! Where are you now, my fair weather supporters? UTW!
Report abuse
For the first time in my 26 years wolves are competing in the top flight. Couldnt be happier. Proud to be a Wolves fan as always.
Report abuse
Simon in Oklahoma! – what??? Sort of get what you mean, i think??
Report abuse
No. 2 John Spain bit confused by your comment about should have put attacking players on in second half to relieve pressure!! So Guediora for Mancienne, and the subs of Stephen Ward and Chris Iwelumo were obviously in my imagination then!!
Anyway absolutely fantastic result yesterday, definately one that we would have lost a few weeks ago.
One note of concern was how jaded, Doyle, Jarvis and Foley looked – but still gave their all. Quite relieved to hear MM say their off til Tuesday in rest for Arsenal match.
I have stated that I feel Arsenal will rest a couple of players in our match, and I do believe we can at least get a point there. Fabregas is an injury concern, I’m gutted to say I think he will be prioritised for Barcelona than us (Gutted?? Not!!)
I hope Wolves raise their disgust about the Fulham team with the PL, part of me thinks the acceptance of the fine for the Man Utd team is because they dont want to upset the the applecart whilst relegation fight is on – hopefully they will kick up at end of season.
Come on Wolves lets give the Gunners a kick up the Arsenal!!!
Report abuse
Capello was at West Ham and Villa!!!
Report abuse
I couldtn care less what fulham did against hull. It is entirely up to them what they do in a match. The FA should have no say in who managers should be fielding whether it be waeker or stronger. I just hope, the FA actually be consisteant and either fine fulham and whoever else rest players, or dont fine us and issue a formal appology.
Its ridiculous how the FA can claim who a teams best 11 is, when the majority of players that played against man utd, played against west ham. Also, our resting of players clearly affected less teams than fulhams did, simply because our strongest team would have struggled aginst man utd anyway, and fulham should have been looking to beat hull. The FA needs sorting out.
Report abuse
49 wolfhedd,The FA Always bows to the bigger clubs,and will do nothing.Did you see Gerrards Elbow in the week? No Charge.Yesterday Olssons penalty what a joke the FA should look at the video and give him a ban.
Any Saturday gritty fighting performance.
Looking good for Safety which from a selfish point of view means live tv again next season.
Flying over for the Blackburn game maybe the game that will secure our premiership status.
On a lighter note see the forecast is for snow this week,British summer time ha.ha.
Report abuse
Hi 47, WolfyTor74.
I don’t consider two players being put on at 90 plus minutes plus to relieve second half pressure, especially as one has been playing LB all season. Hope that clears your confusion of my comments.
From a Sunny and very warm Spain, saw the rain over the week in England.
shame for Burnley!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report abuse
Well done the team! Our best 11 played in the same places = stability and we are getting results.
Not really magic, and why not in the first half of the season as well? Anyway, enough carping, let’s just enjoy our end of season run in.
Report abuse
Another priceless point, and against a team in such good form. Come on Man City tonight.
Now only a single point from our tally the last time we paid the Prem a visit, and still with 6 games remaining – I hope all those Wolves fans who have supported and been positive about this squad and this manager all season long are enjoying our current form and carry on supporting until we are over that line.
Report abuse
Great result against one the form sides of the division. After three tough away games, one or two of the players, including Kevin Doyle, looked a bit ‘leggy’ and no wonder. Nevertheless the whole team gave another totally committed performance and with a week’s rest between now and the Arsenal match we should be back up to speed. just a few more points and we’re there.
Report abuse
good win, well it feels like a win to me, against a top 6 side. We have done fantastically well with a slice of luck.At this stage the result is the most important thing, but I feel the team actually believe now they can and will stay up.I think 2 wins will secure it, but it still will be tough to get them.
MM may have to consider a few changes over the next few games, as jarvis,doyle,zubar and henry have worked their socks off, and maybe getting a little jaded. The problem is who we have in the squad to replace them.
Report abuse
I fully agree with the comments regarding Fulham, albeit that there were genuine mitigating circumstances. We were naive in ‘Owning Up’ to our changes, MM should have kept his mouth shut. I bet Roy Hodgson will not admit resting players in readiness for a more prestige game, nor should he !
Wenger will rest players and probably his captain, lets hope our tactics reflect that because they do adopt a different approach without him. One thing is certain as proved by Birmingham, they don’t like it up ‘em.
As for Doyle and Jarvis looking tired, nothing of the sort, they were up against a team who knew how to keep them quiet, it’s up to them break the hold.
Report abuse
Crockett, I am sure I have seen an interview on Sky with Hodgson,where he stated he rested players because they have an important match next Thursday.Sounded like an admission to me. At the end of the day all that matters is that we stay up.
Report abuse
Good point last Saturday. I still reckon we need 6 more and going into next season another creative Midfielder and a couple of proven goalscorers to support KD and allow us to play 442 when necessary.
This weekend is going to be telling I think. If we can scrape a point we will have done well. Our goal difference is in our favour at the moment and we can’t afford any big losses because it may come down to that in the end.
Not trying to be negative, just realistic!! :-)
Report abuse
A good lucky point for us, we may stay up yet!
Report abuse
The PL rule B.13 relates to each PL club behaving “towards each other Club and the League with the utmost good faith.” Rule E.20 stipulates that “in every League Match each participating Club shall field a full strength team.”
Fulham may field a full strength side at home against Wolves on April 17th in which case the PL relegation process continues to be flawed.
Lets hope Wolves don’t become another victim because PL rules aren’t enforced.
Report abuse