Express & Star

Stevenage 0 Wolves 0 - match report

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Wolves edged closer to promotion but they had to settle for a point in a pulsating battle at Stevenage.

The recalled Leon Clarke missed two excellent chances while keeper Chris Day denied substitute Lee Evans in a relentless game that never reflected the top and bottom positions of the teams.

Stevenage forced two fine saves from Carl Ikeme, who tipped over volleys from Jimmy Smith in the second half after saving the blushes of Kevin McDonald in the first after slicing a corner behind him to keep Wolves' 22nd clean sheet of the season, one off the club record 23 in 1923-24.

Jackett made two changes to the side that beat Milton Keynes Dons, with the team that finished that game, with Clarke and Saturday's matchwinner Liam McAlinden in the starting line-up at the expense of Jack Price and Nouha Dicko, who dropped to the bench.

McAlinden was making his first League start for the club and enjoyed a lively first half.

But it was only after Wolves were disrupted by an early injury to James Henry, who signalled he was struggling early on and had treatment, only to be forced off with just 11 minutes on the clock.

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Dicko didn't have long to wait to re-appear as he was Henry's replacement in a change that initially saw McAlinden switch to wide left, and the inspired Michael Jacobs from left to wide right.

The whole game was played at a relentless pace with the hosts determined to try to hassle Wolves out of their stride at every opportunity.

But thankfully for the visitors, the pitch was far batter than it was on Saturday and at Crawley when they were beaten 2-1 two weeks ago, and they were able to pass it on a slick surface.

Wolves also looked to have a lot more energy than they did a fortnight ago, but struggled in front of goal, while there were a string of shots blocked, particularly in the second half.

Despite the huge effort from both teams, chances were thin on the ground in the first half however.

Wolves had a sight of goal in the 22nd minute when McAlinden and Dicko combined to free Clarke, but his toe-poked shot lacked the power required and keeper Chris Day scampered across his goal to collect.

Despite the determination of Stevenage to get into their faces, the visitors started to enjoy more possession as the half wore on, with McAlinden in particular finding pockets of space in which to run into.

It was Clarke however who was also the beneficiary of Wolves' only real opportunity of the first period when he was presented with a free header at the far post on the half hour.

But the burly striker, leaning back, could only nod inches wide after Dicko's fiercely-hit cross had been parried by Day.

Wolves had a scare on 39 – and it was all of their own doing.

Defending Smith's low corner, McDonald attempted to hook the ball clear at the near post, but only succeeded in slicing it dangerously behind him.

It forced Ikeme to make a diving save to claw the ball away and save his blushes.

Wolves, who switched to 4-3-3 at the restart with Dicko and McAlinden wide either side of Clarke, made a determined start to the second half as they probed for a breakthrough.

Dicko and McAlinden had shots blocked but Wolves were having trouble breaking down a resolute defence superbly marshalled by their captain and centre-back Jon Ashton.

In fact it was Stevenage who threatened next, on the break as Francoi Zoko's pass gave Smith a sight of goal and he got a yard on Danny Batth and saw an angled volley tipped over by Ikeme on the hour.

More Wolves pressure saw Jacobs put Clarke clean through on 71, but he again failed to produce a clinical finish as he sidefooted too close to Day for the save.

Stevenage broke again two minutes later and Smith was again the man to benefit from Zoko's touch that put him in but he sidefooted a volley over with only Ikeme to beat.

Wolves brought on Evans for McAlinden on 73 in a bid to break Stevenage down and he went desperately close in the 80th minute when his first-time shot forced a fine reflex stop from Day after Jacobs found McDonald for a cross.

Evans had a half chance for a spectacular winner on the stroke of the end of normal when he lashed over a full-blooded volley after sam Ricketts's free kick had been headed away.

But Wolves had to settle for a draw, which was probably a fair result against such determined opposition fighting for their lives.