Boss dismisses spat as 'passion'

Wolves boss Terry Connor today dismissed the angry spat between Wayne Hennessey and Roger Johnson as "passion."

The pair squared up to each other after 34 minutes of Saturday's 3-2 defeat against Bolton in a heated row which Connor admitted spilled over into half-time.

He said: "It was two players committed to getting the right result showing passion and determination and the heat of that passion during the game. It showed they were demanding of each other and of the team.

"But I don't like to see a disagreement shown openly.

"I spoke to them at half-time and they said their piece and shook hands and went out in the second-half determined to play with exactly the same passion as in the first half.

"I don't know precisely what it was about or what tactical point they were trying to resolve. It might have spilt over but it was all dealt with at half-time and they are both fine now."

Johnson has looked a marginalised figure on the pitch and the fans quickly made known who they backed in the row by chanting Hennessey's name.

The decision to replace Karl Henry as captain with Johnson remains unpopular in the dressing room.

But Connor denied the exchange showed tensions in the camp and dismissed suggestions that the players aren't behind the captain.

He said: "Roger had a disagreement with the goalkeeper over a defensive situation. They had it and it was sorted out.

"They gave their views at half-time, I gave mine and said I didn't like to see it.

"But they went out in the second half united in what they were trying to do, which was win the game."

Left-back Stephen Ward said the spat soon blew over.

He said:?"It wasn't a case of falling out or not liking each other – it was a case of both men not wanting to make sure that ball didn't end up in the net. People fall out on the pitch – you get on with it and it blew over straight away.

"It was just pure passion – it was two lads who wanted to win."