Derby draw shows where Wolves are

Wolves columnist John Lalley believes the draw with Albion displayed everything that is wrong about his team as the dust settles on the Black Country derby.

When the dust has settled and the emotions have calmed, the ultimate winners of last Sunday's Black Country derby are the teams sharing the relegation zone with both Wolves and Albion.

A draw certainly suited the likes of Wigan, West Ham and Blackpool and Saturday's game against the Seasiders is, for Wolves, another clash of monumental importance.

Time is running increasingly short and we must start to make inroads soon, otherwise we will be left playing catch up at the fag end of the campaign as our rivals grimly cling on to what they already have.

At the Hawthorns, Wolves came within seconds of what could have been a defining moment in the struggle for survival.

With so much to gain and having come so close to attaining it, to stumble so late on was devastating. The disappointment of stoppage time is a microcosm of our whole season.

Superficially, at least, there has been an unabashed air of confidence exuding from Molineux since the conclusion of the previous campaign.

An air of certainty that just about everything in the operation of the club is functioning with maximum efficiency ensuring a future almost too bright to contemplate.

In reality, we saw against Albion exactly why Wolves sit bottom of the league and why this season has been one of immense frustration. The present it seems has been left to look after itself and we may well be left paying a heavy penalty.

After comfortably subduing a very ordinary Albion outfit for 45 minutes and turning round in front, our nerve faltered. We became introspective, inhibited and uncertain, almost frightened to take the win that was invitingly on offer.

We surrendered a hard won initiative to opponents who themselves were sitting uncomfortably on a knife edge and desperately facing the prospect of another catastrophic defeat.

Albion were clinging to the precipice and the moment to kick them over fell to Matt Jarvis, but his nerve and his composure failed him.

As had been evident at Bolton recently, Jarvis simply could not trust the courage of his convictions and facing the decisive moment of the match, he failed to deliver.

Albion, holding on by their fingertips, were reprieved and the entire shape and direction of the game shifted accordingly. Sensing our lack of a killer instinct, they were revitalised from that moment onward.

Wolves had been doing all the talking but we pressed the mute button. We retreated into the comfort zone opting for caution, rather than showing a positive attitude which was likely to reap a rich dividend.

The final self-inflicted wound was a massive source of frustration but, in truth, it came as little surprise. We invited it and, in doing so, missed a great opportunity to make a really decisive statement of intent.

Wolves have listened to many plaudits this season, a number of them from managers who have just taken three points at our expense.

Manager Mick McCarthy invariably begins a post match television interview with the words,"we played well," regardless of the final result and, on occasions, he makes a valid point. But, equally at times, the statement is a mirage.

Unexpected triumphs against top teams led to understandable euphoria and confident predictions of 'our season starts here.' But the desired lift off never quite seems to occur.

No manager or coach can put in what God has left out, players can only maximise their inherent capabilities and intermittently Wolves defy logic, set the pulses racing and raise the bar of expectation.

But a shroud of frailty has wrapped itself around the team this season, a naivety which is compounded by the continuing saga of a calamitous catalogue of glaring individual errors perpetrated at the most inopportune moments.

We pose minimal threat in the opposition penalty area, our offensive play is based around hoping for a successful set piece and, while it worked wonderfully well at the Hawthorns, the limitations of this approach are glaring.

It's a 'smash and grab' mentality, nick a goal early in the piece, hold on for dear life and hope fortune smiles in your direction.

It could and indeed it should have sufficed against Albion, but such a limited game plan leaves you with the minimum of trump cards in your hand against heavier hitters.

But, all of the teams sharing the relegation zone, Wolves have their own deficiencies and weaknesses that will continue to haunt them as the season draws to a close.

Wolves certainly don't hold a monopoly on failings and the spirit at Molineux so recently evident against Manchester United can resurface and confound just about everyone.

No, Wolves are far from finished but we have to accept that anymore substantial giveaways cannot be sustained.