Wolves Fans' Verdict v QPR: Three points closer

Rob Cartwright

What's your verdict on the match? There was no stopping Wolves in the first half. We were entertained by more great football and some individual pieces of excellence.

That pass from Neves, outside of foot, was perfect and defence splitting to Cavaleiro who crossed to the advancing N’Diaye to score. He rather bundled the ball across the line, but the move and intent was top drawer. That was on 12 minutes and it was pretty much one way traffic from then on.

We created numerous scoring opportunities and it didn’t take long for the second.

Short, fast passing between Cavaleiro, Jota and Costa left QPR defence reeling and Costa found time and space to score in an almost empty net.

We would go on to score four or five, or would we?

The only other thing of note was the usual skulduggery on Jota from the entire QPR team. I’m not sure why opposing managers make this part of their game plan, as he never fails to get up bigger and stronger. At one point, he appeared to be assaulted by a QPR defender in their box, off the ball. Ref just waved play on, as is usually the case.

Not sure what Peaky Blinder Holloway said or did at half-time, but it worked a treat.

Two subs helped too, with the introduction of Smith and a change of formation unsettling Wolves rhythm. They quickly scored and the pendulum shifted. This just shows how things can quickly change in football.

Nuno responded with two substitutions of his own and these both had a positive impact with Afobe making intelligent runs to stretch the QPR defence. Gibbs-White came on for the final 17 minutes and had his best spell in the first team.

We did hang on at the end, with Coady coming to the rescue with a goal line clearance as Ruddy was beaten by a shot from the edge of the box.

On balance, we deserved the win and with other teams at top all dropping points it was another big step towards promotion.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? N’Diaye adds a different dimension to the starting XI. He can tackle and break play up, like Saiss; but he can also make runs from his own half into the opponent's box. This is something we need with the pace of Jota, Cavaleiro, Doherty and Douglas going forward.

Neves was again at the top of his game, along with Jota and Cavaleiro who are both in fine form. It’s pleasing to see Costa improving with every game now he’s having a run in the team.

I’m not really sure what happened defensively, as we looked solid on the first half and you wouldn’t have expected them to concede. The QPR goal was a bit calamitous with chances for us to clear.

Russ Cockburn

What's your verdict on the match? Well that was a game of two halves. The first was like waking up between Cameron Diaz and Sandra Bullock...exciting, fast paced and hugely gratifying. The second half was like waking up to the Chuckle Brothers.

Having followed Wolves for best part of 30 years I’m not sure why I expected anything different. We can’t make life that easy for ourselves, it’s just not what we do...it’s all about praying for those closing minutes, holding your breath whilst a needless corner was given away and then the collective groans when your forward doesn’t retain possession.

Sometimes you have to win ugly and that’s what we did second half. QPR had us on the ropes near the end – a combination of Smith’s aerial presence and our own complacency after the break.

Yet, at the end of the day, the result says 2-1 Wolves and our lead has been extended to 13 points over second place…we’d have all taken that at the start of the day.

Anyway on to the good bits. After a sloppy first five minutes, we played some delightful stuff with Cav and Neves linking up expertly to pull the QPR defenders all over the place.

Some of the interchange, movement and one-twos had Ian Holloway blowing his top, sorry I mean cap, as the c**p Peaky Blinder stood back in awe at the footballing lesson his side were being given.

The first goal was duly delivered by Alf, thanks to one of his best pieces of control all day. And boy did Molineux enjoy the second. Jota with a clever defence splitting pass around the corner, Cav sprinting away and Costa free to his right...the ultimate FIFA goal and Wolves delivered.

It was just too easy. Even Boly couldn’t be bothered to tie own shoe laces, getting Douglas to do it for him instead.

Most of us were expecting three, four, maybe five second half, but credit where credit is due, Holloway bringing on an additional midfielder threw us.

There was still decent attacking moment second-half, mainly around Afobe who is looking a bit too eager to score. It will come, just relax Bennik.

Seventy-one points and it’s not even Valentine’s Day. Think I might send a card to Nuno to say thank you.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Might as well just repeat the same paragraph every week about Neves, the guy is a genius. However, I’d like to focus on Conor Coady this week - the captain, the heartbeat of the club.

His reading of the game continues to impress and was typified by the one off the line in the closing stages. He called it instinct in his post-match interview and that’s something you struggle to teach.

Nuno saw something he liked in the summer and that one decision could well be the best he makes this season. The ability to start our attacks from the back has become his trademark and, despite a very tough game against Smith, he managed to adapt to start winning the second balls instead.

He’s C O A D Y, he’s gold and black, he plays centre back...

Natalie Wood

What's your verdict on the match? We made it a lot more difficult than it needed to be but not every game is going to be a walkover. QPR played some great stuff at times and really gave us a good game.

First half we played some of the best football I have seen us play this season. Neves, Costa and Cavaleiro were just looked a class above, running rings around QPR for fun. I spent most of the first half was spent wondering how many we would score and really we should have been 3-0 or even 4-0 up. We looked unstoppable.

Second half saw the arrival of Matt smith and the chaos ensued! We were suddenly on edge making silly mistakes and unable to deal with the QPR onslaught.

Communication seemed to break down between the players...especially between Ruddy and Douglas which led to a bizarre collision to give away a corner. A couple of great saves from Ruddy and heroic off the line blocks from Bennett and Coady saved our blushes later in the game.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Gibbs-White and Afobe’s arrival did bring a little spark into our play...if only Afobe could have buried the chances he was given!

I think all inside the Molineux were relieved when that final whistle was blown. There were a few nervous moments but ultimately we rode it out for three big, big points.

Clive Smith

What's your verdict on the match? Those mythical neutrals who watch football, they would have enjoyed this one. Plenty of open play, edge of the seat stuff, right to the final whistle. None of us wanted to be on the edge of our seat – but we will take the happy ending.

We started both halves second best. In the first though we quickly took control. We had done our homework and rather than play our usual diagonal passes to Doherty, instead we played down the QPR right side. One of our rotating front three invariably chased a long ball down that channel. Cavaleiro twice benefited from that position.

A Boly diagonal from halfway saw him catch the ball near the corner flag and his cross had Jota misfire but N'Diaye make good contact. Ten minutes later a Boly header started some neat passing from Jota to Cavaleiro to Costa who made it 2-0 early and we expected nothing less than a comfortable win from then on.

We played well in the rest of the half and looked lilely to score with every attack. Near goal though we tended to overplay too often and too many passes were just not precise enough. Too few of our attempts ended up on target. We looked in charge and there was no hint of what was to follow after the break.

We started off being careless and conceded a needless corner. Then we lost concentration, allowed an uncontested short corner and failed to get a head on the cross. Ruddy saved but could not palm the ball wide enough. QPR were back in it and our clean sheet had gone.

The momentum had certainly swung and there was more threat from the QPR long ball to their big man / little man combination. QPR won too many headers in our half, too few 50-50's went our way and our passing was careless. Too many half chances went their way and our defence had a game on.

It was not all one way by any means. Boly from corners looked a threat, Jota and Afobe could each have done better and forced the keeper to make a save.

We worked hard to preserve our lead. Our organisation and shape helped limit the attempts on our goal. We closed down well and challenged in the air too. It was a deserved win, if a little too nervy. It might sound corny, but over the years, we have not been used to seeing our team so resolute.

It is not the first time we have shown this and I am confident we will show it again. Our attack won the first half, but it was our defence who won us the game overall. The league table continues to look pleasing on the eye.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Ruddy was far busier than in most games. It was not one of his best. He did make a good save in the first half and two in the second, but he was less commanding than usual. There was a mix up with Douglas, another with Bennett and he was bailed out late on.

Doherty had a relatively quiet game by his usual standards. He made some forward runs but was not picked out with passes besides one late chance he wasted.

Douglas was below par. When he was rushed his passing was wasteful.

Boly looked so impressive at times. At other times though, when he looks like he is coasting, he made some errors. Somehow he always manages to get the job done. Puzzling why we have not secured him on a permanent deal – surely he would be a starter next season.

Bennett was busy, especially in the second half. He did well, making several good clearances. Probably one of his best games for us.

Coady continues to surprise. Don't really know why because he has been consistently good all season. Man of the match and a standout performance. Equivalent to bagging two goals if he was a striker with his covering at the back.

N'Diaye started poorly. Caught in possession he could easily have cost us a goal. Often he looked uncomfortable when on the ball but he made some good lung-busting runs into the box and got rewarded for it.

Neves looked to be controlling the game in the first half. Rotating the ball quickly even when he was being closed down. As he lay deeper and deeper in the second half he was less influential. Perhaps there is some fatigue there – he has only missed 20 minutes in the past 11 league games. Or perhaps he is trying to avoid his 10th yellow.

Costa really does now look like the player of last season. Full of running and quick feet he had a good game. Deserved his goal and hopefully his confidence will be boosted.

Jota was well below par. I was surprised he was not the first one to be replaced. Usually his touch and pace are better. Too often he dwelt too long on the ball and lost possession.

Cavaleiro led the line well, even when not playing centrally. Made both goals with good passes. We look a better side when he doesn't give the ball away.

Afobe came on and looked desperate to score. Once the hype dies down maybe the goals will start to flow. He needs a tap in, like the Costa goal.

Gibbs-White had a few minutes. A more defensive midfielder would have been a better option if available. He upped our energy levels going forward when we needed to give our defence some respite.

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

What's your verdict on the match? The first time for a while where, certainly in the second half, some of the team performed as though the job was already done.

Too many extra touches and time spent on the ball which we were nearly punished for, yet we still carved QPR open at will and could – and should – have had a few more goals to savour.

In the first half some of our play was outstanding, culminating in another team wonder goal from Costa after big Alf had scared the ball into the net early on.

In years gone by we may have blown this one but it's further proof that this is a different beast and one that is getting further clear at the top.

The fact that we have sold nearly 10,000 tickets for the next two away games sums up the belief and the dreaded expectation that surrounds the club right now.

And let's start the “Conor Coady must go to Russia” campaign now!

Adam Virgo

What's your verdict on the match? The first half, apart from the opening five minutes, was like watching the 1970 Brazil team. Some of the football being played was outstanding. Both of our goals were quality pieces of play and we just made it look so simple.

Then it was as if we had been made to stare at Ian Holloway for the entirety of the break. We looked like we had been rocked and Matt Smith coming on caused us problems just like he did in the reverse fixture at Loftus Road.

We did ride our luck at times but it’s another three points gained. As poor as we were in the second half, there was also some brilliant defending which just goes to show that however delightful our attack can be, we still have the setup to be strong defensively.

With all of the last ditch blocks, tackles and clearances, we certainly put our bodies on the line and did everything we could to hold on despite the pressure from QPR.

We’re not always going to blow teams away and in games like yesterday, you have to be strong defensively and sometimes that results in grinding out a victory which we’ve been fantastic at all season.

The opposition more often than not, coming to top of the league are going to raise their game and in the second half, QPR definitely did that.

We did have opportunities to kill the game and almost got punished late on but thankfully, captain Coady was in the right place at the right time to save us from doing a Bristol City (who are still coming for us despite being 19 points behind) and bottling a comfortable lead.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Ruben Neves, once again a class above the rest. Some of the passes he played were just ridiculous. The one in the first half with the outside of his foot, straight to Cavaleiro was mind blowing. I could just hear everyone around me making noises that you wouldn’t normally hear inside a football stadium.

I’m sure he tried and succeeded a few times with that type of pass. He makes the difficult stuff look so easy and he’s normally the only player on the pitch attempting certain passes that even Kevin De Bruyne would be proud of.

In the second half he seemed to keep a cool head, made some important challenges and got the team moving forward on the counter a few times by picking up the ball and finding teammates quickly. He’s so effective for the way we play and I’m dreading the time when he gets a two match ban for 10 yellows as he’s only one away.

Ivan Cavaleiro first half was superb. The architect for the two goals. Fantastic ball for N’Diaye for the first, credit to big Alf for making the run and then he pretty much spoon fed Costa for the second. He didn’t really make much of an impact in the second half but he’s got nine assists for the season now. Major improvement from him compared to last season, just shows how good a player can be when managed by someone they get on with and that knows what they’re doing.

Costa seems to be getting better recently. Fantastic bit of skill last week to beat a Sheffield United defender and he made a brilliant turn yesterday to send a QPR player for a hotdog. Great to see him back on the scoresheet albeit a tap in. The front three can all be electric at times and when they’re constantly interchanging, it’s difficult to deal with.

Alfred N’Diaye just does what he wants, a bit like Willy Boly and no one tells either of them not to. When big Alf wants a make a forward run, he’s going and you’re not stopping him. In ways I think he offers more than Saiss because he’s willing to break forward and give us that extra option in attack. Neves never really goes into the opposition box so I think that gives N’Diaye more freedom to be a box to box player which suits him perfectly.

Boly, Bennett and Coady all solid again. Coady’s clearance on the line was as important as scoring a goal, the determination to get back was fantastic and it goes to show we’ve got players putting bodies on the line to get results. The togetherness between everyone is there and it’s great to see.

Boly was a bit sloppy in some of his play during the first half, holding onto the ball a bit too long and almost got caught out but defensively and aerially he has no problems. No idea why he couldn’t tie his own laces though, it’s probably something to do with him not wanting to take his gloves off, bit surprising for a man of his size.

Bennett just does the simple stuff and defends well all the time. Rarely seen him put a foot wrong when he’s played this season and we have something like 16 clean sheets in the 21 games he’s played in which goes to show how effective he is. Not your most fashionable type of defenders but he gets the job done and doesn’t take too many risks. Only 27 as well and I remember when Norwich fans laughed at us for getting him, I wonder who’s laughing now?

John Ruddy had a poor game and he knew it. Made a couple of good saves but he didn’t half have some mistakes in him. He can be error prone and there has been times this season where he’s made stupid mistakes, but on the other hand he’s also made some very important saves to keep us in games.