Wolves v Bolton - five talking points

The draw was the most Wolves deserved after being outplayed by Neil Lennon's side for long spells.

The play-offs look further away then ever. Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers picks out five talking points from a Molineux sickener.

Is there a more suitable word to describe last night's performance?

Soulless would be a candidate. Feeble another.

But whatever your chosen adjective, it was night to forget for Wolves.

Even a 2-0 lead (secured with their first shot of the second half, 33 minutes in) was fooling no one - Wolves had been sleepwalking through what was such an important game in respect of any lingering and far-fetched play-off hopes.

Victory would have put them within range. As it is, they're nine points off, having been outplayed by the worst team in the division.

As Kenny Jackett admitted afterwards, the formation played its part in the garbage that was served up.

A return to 4-2-3-1, disbanding the 4-3-3 that has served Wolves well since Christmas, was a mistake.

Not because the system in principle doesn't work, but because the personnel didn't fit it.

Bjorn Sigurdarson won a few headers, but they were either misdirected or he didn't have team mates close enough to latch onto them.

Understandably rusty, the Icelandic striker was ineffective, and will undoubtedly take a while to get up to speed.

Tommy Rowe was often too narrow, and with the pace of Rajiv van La Parra negated with Bolton targeting the Dutchman, Wolves had zero pace whatsoever.

A one-paced, ponderous performance ensued. Without the sorely missed David Edwards, there was no link to join the attack with Kevin McDonald and Conor Coady.

Distribution from the back was absolutely dreadful, bar some impressive work from Ethan Ebanks-Landell who channelled his inner Lother Matthaus to impressively bring the ball out on three occasions in the first half, taking on two players on one occasion.

But as for a coherent team gameplan? Very hard to decipher. Cue the rock-bottom visitors enjoying 60 per cent possession, much of it around the Wolves penalty area, and having three times as many shots (Wolves had just five).

And the fans duly let the players and management know what they thought, booing loudly and with some feeling after Bolton's equaliser and at the full time whistle.

There were even a few boos at misplaced passes when Wolves were 1-0 up, such was the tripe they were being forced to watch.

A crowd of 17,825 witnessed it (the second lowest home attendance of the season) and were noticeably quiet - until the apathetic despondency turned into anger at the end.

With frustration at Wolves' inability to buy a Benik Afobe replacement, disillusionment over the absence of anything resembling a promotion campaign and confusion and uncertainty over the ownership of the club, many supporters are deeply unhappy.

If results and performances continue to be so inconsistent, and Wolves' season disintegrates over the next few weeks, those negative emotions will only be exacerbated.

One of the biggest problems Jackett has is a lack of attacking options.

What exactly can he change for Saturday? Adam Le Fondre has struggled of late, James Henry's form has been below his high standards set before Christmas (although last night's goal was, in a word, special, and hopefully hints that his mojo is back), while Jackett seems to have taken a strong disliking to Nathan Byrne.

It's no excuse in the slightest, and Jackett wouldn't use it as one, but injuries are really hampering him.

Edwards, Jordan Graham, Michal Zyro and Nouha Dicko in that team would surely have meant a different outcome.

But with them out, the squad looks distinctly unbalanced. That old chesnut, the loan market, may be Wolves' only salvation for this season.

All of which took the gloss off Joe Mason's quite remarkable introduction to Wolves life, scoring two minutes and 30 seconds into his debut.

It rivalled the impact made by Bright Enobakhare (who is surely deserving of a spot on the bench, by the way, with his ability to change a game with pace, power and unpredictability) on his debut, in the third minute against Barnet in the League Cup.

Otherwise Mason was pretty quiet and rarely on the ball in areas where he could cause problems.

With Wolves' passing range off-kilter (summed up by Kevin McDonald scuffing one up in the air and out of play in the second half), Mason was forced to come too deep to see the ball.

He needs the right players buzzing around him to feed off. And he certainly didn't have that luxury last night.