Wolves v MK Dons - five talking points

Wolves slumped to yet another disappointing result as they were held at home by MK Dons.

Despite dominating the game Kenny Jackett's team just couldn't find a way past goalkeeper David Martin.

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers picks out five talking points.

The numbers don't lie. One win in eight, consecutive goalless draws at home, two victories at Molineux all season, a goal difference of -1 and a league position of 15th.

Wolves are closer to the relegation zone than the top six. They've scored one Molineux goal in 362 minutes of football. And just 19,814 were there to witness it - the fourth time the attendance has dipped below 20,000 this season.

Those who did turn up noisily voiced their frustration at full time. In fact they did so twice, after a dress rehearsal 20 seconds before full time when confusion was caused by the referee blowing his whistle over-exuberantly for a foul.

Frustration at Wolves' form and lack of anything resembling a promotion challenge is growing.

Kenny Jackett knows patience will only grow thinner if victories aren't forthcoming soon.

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Yet, in terms of a performance, Wolves produced their third positive display in succession, after being the better side against Burnley and showing great spirit to come back twice at Ipswich.

The first hour in particular was a barrage of attacks with cross after cross pumped into the MK Dons box.

Benik Afobe, David Edwards, Jordan Graham, James Henry and Mike Williamson all had great opportunities to score. But every one was either spurned or saved.

They created enough chances to win three matches and it should have been a shellacking.

Their build-up play was excellent at times, with Kevin McDonald and the excellent Jack Price quick to play the ball wide for Graham and Henry who, with Scott Golbourne and Dominic Iorfa as back-ups, pummelled the flanks.

Dons keeper David Martin said he'd never had to work harder for a clean sheet in his career. And his manager Karl Robinson admitted his team didn't deserve to draw.

What did irk, though, was that considering it was such one-way traffic and MK Don's ambitions were primarily limited to playing for a goalless draw, Wolves on occasion didn't have enough players in the box to take advantage.

For a side whose principle game plan was to get the ball out wide and cross into the box, this was deeply frustrating, particularly against arguably the poorest team Wolves have faced this season.

Jordan Graham followed up his promising debut at Portman Road with another impressive display, this time on his Molineux bow.

The winger was a regular source of creativity, using both feet to good effect.

His decision making needs a bit of work - he has a tendency to shoot when a cross would be the better option - but that's a minor criticism that can soon be ironed out.

Otherwise his delivery was of a good standard, he was positive and energetic.

Despite not starting the second half with the vigour he had showed in the first, it was still a big surprise to see him withdrawn.

Tight hamstrings played their part, Jackett suggested afterwards, and to be fair his replacement Sheyi Ojo has more often than not come up with a goal, an assist or a creative spark when coming off the bench this season.

And a word too for James Henry, who was equally as lively as Graham and on another day could have had four assists.

While he too made a couple of bad decisions when well placed, he put in several excellent crosses and created two chances for Afobe, the second with a driving run and pass from midfield.

For some reason social media was awash with bile directed at Henry's performance. Some people just have to have a scapegoat.

A stat doing the rounds showed that Henry produced eight 'key passes', the highest number of any Championship player this weekend.

What a 'key pass' actually refers to is unclear, but it's an interesting aside.

The Afobe/Edwards partnership was quite productive in terms of link-up play against Burnley.

But last week against Ipswich and yesterday against MK Dons, it didn't work.

Afobe continues to cut a frustrated figure and on several occasions he was playing far too deep.

Even before Adam Le Fondre was sent on Afobe was too often not in the box when he needed to be, guilty only of trying too hard, of trying to be lone frontman, target man, goalscorer and playmaker all in one.

Jackett needs to concentrate Afobe's mind and efforts on playing off the last man and being in the right place at the right time where it counts.

It might mean Afobe sees less of the ball, but he needs to leave the creativity to others, otherwise there's no one there to finish these endless through balls/crosses off.

There is too much pressure and emphasis on him and almost him alone being Wolves' primary source of goals.

As for Edwards, since the international break he has lacked his usual vitality.

He worked tirelessly, but in such an attack-minded performance was too often anonymous.

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Despite the bad run and the league position, this isn't yet a crisis.

Wolves aren't playing badly. And until they don't look like they're capable of turning their form around, Jackett should remain in post.

Curiously they once again edged closer to the play-offs in terms of points, as they did last week, with sixth-placed Blues' second successive defeat meaning Wolves have seven points to catch up, and 28 games in which to do it.

But there's only so long that you can play well and draw matches.

It's wins that Wolves need. Jackett knows it, the players know it, Jez Moxey and Steve Morgan know it, the fans know it.

And looming large is next week's trip to another struggling team in Rotherham United.

Neil Redfearn's team beat Bristol City 3-0 at home yesterday, following on from their 1-0 victory at Leeds United in the Steve Evans Derby.

A third successive victory would close the gap between them and Wolves to just three points.

But more importantly it would put another nail in Wolves' play-off hopes - and considerably ramp up the pressure on Jackett.

Conversely an overdue Wolves victory could spark the run of good form they have been threatening of late, ahead of home games against Nottingham Forest and Leeds.

And my how a club that is in danger of looking rudderless and bereft needs to win a few football matches.