Fan column: Molineux performances provide some hope for Wolves

The support for the players vociferous and unwavering with many a neutral observer commenting that when Molineux strikes a note of harmony, the ambience and the passion of the old stadium takes some beating. And leaving aside the second-half of the cup match, Wolves delivered the most positive outcomes that they have achieved all season. 

Any team retrieving a two-goal deficit against an Arsenal team intent on exploiting the dark art of time-wasting beyond any rational determination deserves full marks for perseverance. 

Hoisted by their own petard, it was profoundly satisfying to witness their shameless temerity in complaining bitterly to the referee that Wolves having equalised so late were deliberately using delaying tactics. For sheer cynical hypocrisy, this wasn’t just taking the biscuit, it was scoffing the entire packet. Crass beyond words. 

To follow this with successive wins against two teams with genuine Champions League aspirations proved if nothing else that amidst the debris of this stunningly disappointing campaign, the players have belatedly rediscovered the confidence and application to compete at this level. 

As much as the competence of performance, and in stark contrast to much of previous games, it was the bloody-minded refusal of our players to back off and display the slightest deference towards either Villa or Liverpool that was heartwarming. 

Two thoroughly merited victories and naturally Molineux responded; fans of all persuasions kid themselves about vocally intimidating opponents but this sure sounded sweeter than listening to a heap of derision directed at our own players. This clutch of games gave us a reminder that we still have some quality operators. 

The first half against Liverpool saw Joao Gomes exhibiting his influential range of skills quite superbly; he dovetailed beautifully with Andre’s anchoring presence and exploded the myth that these two cannot operate together. 

The Buenos, Hugo and Santi excelled alongside the imperious Krejci whose ability to snuff out danger before it occurs has been a principal contributory to our improved defensive stability. Alongside them, the boundless enthusiasm of Mosquera challenging with the alarming suddenness of a skidding motorbike.  

Rodrigo Gomes and Bellegarde making immediate and telling impacts from the bench. 

Inevitably, some will depart; it should never have come to this. The turmoil has been self-inflicted, the pieces picked up too late.