Express & Star

Bristol City 1 Wolves 4 - match report

Resurgent Wolves provided the perfect response to a turbulent week after crushing Bristol City to end their nine-match winless run.

Published

Resurgent Wolves provided the perfect response to a turbulent week after crushing Bristol City to end their nine-match winless run.

Man of the match Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (21), Kevin Doyle (25 and 41) and Bjorn Sigurdarson (45) banished all talk of players and manager Stale Solbakken's debate by half-time in their best 45 minutes of the season.

Derek McInnes' poor side were booed off at the break to chants of 'what a load of rubbish', just like Wolves were after Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Millwall.

In a chance-laden second half – with virtually all of them going to Wolves – City bagged a consolation through Neil Danns in the 85th minute.

The only downside to Wolves' biggest victory since beating Blackpool 4-0 in February 25 2011 and their heaviest away since a 4-1 win at Leicester on May 6, 2007 was the worrying sight of midfielder Dave Edwards being stretchered off in the 60th minute with a mystery injury away from the ball.

The Wales international became Wolves' 10th casualty currently out.

Solbakken made three changes.

Kevin Foley, captain Karl Henry and Ebanks-Blake replaced Richard Stearman, David Davis and Jermaine Pennant, who all dropped to the bench.

Ebanks-Blake fully justified his recall with his best game for many months, having a hand in all four goals, but Doyle and Sigurdarson were worthy man of the match contenders.

Tongo Doumbia missed out on a place in the 18 after he was sent to France on a special training programme to rid him of mental and physical fatigue.

Wolves looked the better side from early on and should have been ahead as early as the fourth minute, but Ebanks-Blake stabbed wide from six yards out after Bakary Sako's cross.

But Ebanks-Blake and Wolves didn't have too long to wait as they took the lead with the next attack of the game and were 2-0 up four minutes later.

The striker flicked home Stephen Ward's stunning 18-yard volley in a crowded box after City partly cleared Sako's corner.

Doyle doubled Wolves' lead when he slid in to convert Bjorn Sigurdarson's cross after Ebanks-Blake started the move with a pass to the Icelandic forward overlapping on the right and he drew keeper Tom Heaton before crossing.

Doyle's second was arguably the best goal he has scored for Wolves.

Picking up possession about 15 yards inside his own half, he burst through two City players then set off towards goal, with Ebanks-Blake taking out two defenders with a run to the right as the Ireland international went left before firing a low left-foot across Heaton into the bottom corner from 12 yards.

Just before half-time, Sigurdarson sent Wolves fans into dreamland when he rounded off another superb move, sending a first-time left-foot drive across Heaton from a similar position to Doyle's second after a move between Sako and Ebanks-Blake.

Doyle was twice denied a hat-trick in the five minutes after half-time as Wolves blew away any fears of yet another second-half fade-out.

First the Ireland international beat keeper Tom Heaton after cutting in from the right only for his shot to be cleared away from in front of the line by Matthew Bates.

Moments later his shot hit Heaton's legs with Ebanks-Blake and Sigurdarson waiting for a pass in the box.

To City's credit though, they carried the fight to Wolves and created half chances, one-time Wolves target Marvin Elliott firing just over from 20 yards before Danns forced a falling save from Ikeme with a sidefooted effort.

With the game becoming increasingly open, Wolves hit back and should have added several goals to their tally.

Sako stung the palms of Heaton with an angled drive before Roger Johnson sent a looping header against the bar with Heaton beaten.

Substitute Sam Baldock flashed a rising effort over before three chances for Ebanks-Blake in 10 minutes.

First the striker's drive was palmed away by Heaton after he 'rolled' defender Matthew Bates, then he ballooned over leaning back inside the area before he missed Sako's cross from six yards out.

Substitute David Davis, who replaced Edwards, curled a shot over before Danns struck.

But the game was long won and the day belonged to Wolves and Solbakken.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.