Championship 2007-8   Aug 2007 Sept 2007 Oct 2007  Nov 2007 Dec 2007  Jan 2008 Feb 2008 Mar 2008 Apr 2008 May 2008 preseason07

Championship season 2007-8

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Score

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Goal Diff

42	Sunday	6th April	12:00	FASF	Wolves	P	P	Cardiff City		0.0
43	Saturday	12th April	15:00		Bristol City	0	0	Wolves	62	1.4	7	+2
37	Tuesday	15th Apri	19.45		Wolves	0	1	WBA	62	0.0	8
44	Saturday	19th April	15:00		Wolves	1	1	Ipswich	63	0.0	9
42	Tuesday	19th April	19.45		Wolves	3	0	Cardiff City	66	1.5	7	+4
45	Saturday	26th April	15:00		Coventry City	1	1	Wolves	67	1.5	7	+4
46	Sunday	4th May	14:00		Wolves	1	0	Plymouth	70	0.0	7	+5

 Copyright © and Database Right The FA Premier League/The Scottish Premier League/The Football League/The Scottish Football League Limited 2007. All rights reserved. No part of the Fixtures Lists may be reproduced stored or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of Football DataCo Limited.   Reproduced under licence from Football DataCo Limited. All rights reserved. Licence no. FZ070842/118101

Congratulations to Dave Jones at Cardiff City for taking his team to the FA Cup Final at Wembley in May.

Sun 4th May Wolves v Plymouth - Player of the Season presentation to Wayne Hennessey. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was top scorere and also won the Golden Boot for division top scorere with 23 ahead of Kevin Philips and James Beattie.   A minute’s applause preceded the match in memory of Mark Kendall, keeper in the Sherpa Van winning team at only 49. London Wolves will be sending a tribute.    Best wishes also go to Argyle captain Krisztián Timár who was taken to hospital after a clash of head swith  George Elokobi.  Although Seyi scored just after that the game went really flat.  Plymouth info www.pafc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10364~1305638,00.html

To make the playoffs we needed to win and either Palace draw or lose to Burnley (where was Adi?) or Watford lose at Blackpool or we win by 3 clear goals and Watford draw .  But poor finishing and crossing screwed it up.  Notable culprits were usually heroes Kights and Andy Keogh

Seyi Olofinjana's late goal against Plymouth wasn't enough to propel Wolves into the play-offs.   Agonisingly, Mick McCarthy's team missed out on an extension to the season by goal difference after Watford came from behind at Blackpool to take a point. Karl Henry returned from injury in place of Darron Gibson as the only change to the Wolves' starting line-up.

Wanderers kicked-off attacking the South Bank end and that was where the action was centred in the opening stages with a first minute Andy Keogh cross being booted clear before Krisztian Timar had to head a Matt Jarvis centre over his own crossbar. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake turned his marker before firing wide from 20-yards as Wolves continued their siege on the Argyle goal. In the first 15 minutes, Wayne Hennessey's only action was to field a Jody Craddock back pass.  Former Molineux youth player Jermaine Easter was booked following a shove on Gary Breen after Plymouth had been awarded a free-kick.  Both sides had an opportunity in the 18th minute. Timar's attempt to clear Keogh's low cross hit Ebanks-Blake and bounced to Michael Kightly who fired wide, and when the visitors broke clear Rory Fallon shot into the side netting although Hennessey had his near post covered.  Wolves continued to press and Matt Doumbe had to head clear a searching cross from Kightly. But there was a moment of danger for the home goal when Russell Anderson cut into the box and delivered a low cross that Hennessey managed to cut out at full stretch.  Doumbe was yellow carded for a terrible tackle on Jarvis who had to receive treatment before continuing. But Kightly's free-kick, from the left of the area, was over-hit and the ball drifted harmlessly wide.  Jarvis raced onto a short pass from George Elokobi but his shot from an acute angle hit the side netting, and in stoppage time Keogh just failed to get a foot to Olofinjana's driven centre.

Half-Time: Wolves 0 Plymouth 0

The breakthrough almost arrived shortly after the restart when Kightly sent a sent a short diagonal pass to Ebanks-Blake who fired in a low cross that hit a defender and then Keogh before bouncing narrowly wide.  Plymouth responded with a glancing header from Jamie Mackie that Hennessey took at the second attempt after a cross from Steven MacLean.   Kightly's low cross was just too far in front of Keogh and, after Henry had been booked for a late challenge on Mackie, Anderson's last ditch tackle stopped Ebanks-Blake from having a clear run at goal.  Anderson's trip on Elokobi just outside the Argyle box resulted in a yellow card for the Scottish defender shortly before Freddy Eastwood was sent on in place of Keogh.  Henry miscued a 20-yard shot after Ebanks-Blake had laid the ball into his path, then Jarvis had a fierce shot blocked by a defender after Olofinjana had delivered a short pass into the area.   Play was then held up for several minutes when Timar suffered a nasty head injury after connecting with the back of Elokobi's head. The Plymouth skipper was eventually carried off on a stretcher with his head and neck in a brace.  There were just three minutes of normal time remaining when Olofinjana struck the winner. Kevin Foley found Eastwood whose lofted pass dropped into the path of Olofinjana - his lob beating Luke McCormick and bouncing into the net.  Then, shortly after the goal celebrations had died down, the crowd erupted again after a radio report had wrongly announced that Blackpool had been awarded a penalty against Watford. But the euphoria quickly died down when it became apparent that it was misinformation.  In the eight minutes of added time, Luke Summerfield's long-range shot took a hefty deflection and flew narrowly wide but Wolves deserved their win after lengthy periods of dominance against the south coast side.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley (Elliott 90), Elokobi, Henry, Craddock, Breen (capt), Kightly (Gray 85),  Keogh (Eastwood 65), Ebanks-Blake, Olofinjana, Jarvis. Unused subs: Collins, Stack. Booking: Henry (61 - foul).

Plymouth: McCormick, Doumbe, Timar (capt) (Folly 78), Anderson, Abdou, Mackie, Fallon, Sawyer, Summerfield, Clark (Teale 69), Easter (MacLean 45). Unused subs: Smith, Larrieu.  Bookings: Easter (15 - ungentlemanly conduct), Doumbe (30 - foul), Anderson (61 - foul), Fallon (83 - ungentlemanly conduct).

Refree: M. Pike.  Attendance: 26, 293.

Sat 26th April Coventry City 1 Ward Wolves 1 SEB pen

Coventry City 1 (Ward 17) Wolves 1 (Ebanks-Blake pen 52)

Coventry controlled midfield in the first half and had the majority possession, but Wolves worked that out for the second half only to be foiled by Kaspar Schmiechel in the Sky Blues’ goal.

Match reports are at Wolves.co.uk here http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10307,00.html

Wolves' play-off hopes will go down to the wire following the point they took from a one all draw with Coventry City at The Ricoh Arena.

Whilst Mick McCarthy's men will be hoping for three points from their final League fixture of the campaign against Plymouth, there will be no shortage of a demand for news from the games involving Crystal Palace and Watford - the two teams that Wolves can catch to claim a top six placing. Wolves were unchanged as they defended the end of the Ricoh Stadium that housed 5,000 travelling supporters. 

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake got in the first goal attempt of the game in the second minute when he took a long clearance from Gary Breen and shot over the near angle from the left of the City goal.  After just nine minutes Darron Gibson went into the book for tripping Jay Tabb whilst a similar challenge on Matt Jarvis by Isaac Osbourne a few seconds later was punished only by a free-kick.  Elliott Ward's attempted clearance from Michael Kightly's cross went behind for the first of two successive Wolves corners. Both were taken by Kightly with Breen's hook getting deflected behind from the first and Gibson's volley cannoning clear off a defender after the second had been headed out.  Ward, the brother of Wolves' Darren, figured once more as he gave the Sky Blues a 17th minute lead.  He was fouled by Seyi Olofinjana just inside the visitors half and, after the Molineux midfielder had joined Gibson in the book, Stephen Hughes floated the free-kick into the area where Ward's back-header beat Wayne Hennessey.  Matt Jarvis curled an angled effort over the bar after he had been fed by Gibson, and George Elokobi had to head clear a Michael Mifsud cross as Leon Best ran in. Wolves were inches away from an equaliser in the 37th minute when Andy Keogh's header bounced off the floor and just over the bar following a fine centre from Jarvis.  Gibson was wide with a low 20-yard drive after Kightly had laid the ball into his path in the 37th minute, but there was little else in the way of goalmouth action before the break.

Half-Time: Coventry 1 Wolves 0

Wanderers made a brighter start to the second-half with the home defence having to clear crosses from Kightly and Kevin Foley before City's Danny Fox took two corners in quick succession with Gibson eventually clearing the danger.  In the 51st minute Wolves drew level through an Ebanks-Blake spot kick. There were no protests from the City players when Scott Dann upended Kightly for an obvious penalty  (picture on Wolves site) and Ebanks-Blake beat Kasper Schmeichel with ease to register his 12th goal for the club. Seven minutes later Keogh almost gave his side the lead as he ran on to Kightly free-kick and hit a first-time volley that was brilliantly saved by Schmeichel who deflected the ball onto the top of the bar.  Kightly was causing countless problems for the City defence and, after Michael Doyle had been yellow carded for tripping him, the winger wasn't far away with a 20-yard ground shot.   After a tame opening half the game had turned into an end to end affair with Mifsud dragging a shot wide before Ebanks-Blake volleyed over after a build up involving Keogh and Kightly.  In the 70th minute, Hennessey was quickly off his line to block from Mifsud who was clean through and after Stephen Hughes had been booked for fouling Jarvis, Breen made a vital last gasp tackle on Tabb who would have had the goal at his mercy had the Wolves skipper not intervened.  Kightly was replaced by Michael Gray for the closing stages as play continued to have the large crowd on the edges of their seats.  Hennessey made a great save to beat away Mifsud's 12-yard drive before Schmeichel made a hash of his attempt to keep out Gray's curling long range effort with the ball spinning off the keeper and out for a corner.  Hennessey was forced into another full length save to deny Mifsud before Ebanks-Blake almost won it for Wolves with virtually the last kick of the game.  His low shot looked destined for the bottom corner of the net until Schmeichel somehow got down to block before pouncing on the loose ball. 

Coventry: Schmeichel, Fox, E. Ward, S. Hughes (capt), Doyle, Osbourne, Mifsud, Tabb, Best, Dann, M. Hughes (Hines 90).  Unused subs: Marshall, Hall, Simpson, J. Gray. Bookings: Dann (51 - foul), Doyle (60 - foul), S. Hughes (74 - foul).

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Elokobi, Gibson (Elliott 88), Craddock, Breen (capt), Kightly (M. Gray 78), Keogh, Ebanks-Blake, Olofinjana, Jarvis (S. Ward 88).  Unused subs: Stack, Collins.  Bookings:Gibson  (9 - foul), Olofinjana (16 - foul), Ebanks-Blake (90 - dissent).   Referee: P. Armstrong.  Attendance: 27,992.

Tue 22nd April Wolves 3 (Keogh 8, Ebanks-Blake 43, Kightly 56) Cardiff City 0

Cardiff dominated the first half as Dave Jones went sick and missed the game, but, for once the predatory instincts kicked in for the 3 goals while Wayne Hennessey’s saves kept his 18th clean sheet of the season to overtake Matt’s record.  Kights’ presence was what made the difference - he started the move which led to the corner before the second goal and scored the third.  Please visit the Wolves site for this match report and pictures http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10307,00.html

Wolves play-off hopes are still very much alive after a comfortable 3-0 Molineux victory over FA Cup finalists Cardiff City.   Gary Breen and Michael Kightly retained their places after coming on as substitutes in the previous game, against Ipswich, and Darron Gibson returned in midfield. Missing from the team that started against the East Anglians were the injured duo of Michael Gray and David Edwards, and Neill Collins who was named as a substitute. 

City kicked-off attacking the North Bank end and, after an uneventful opening few minutes, the visitors won the first corner of the game.  Peter Whittingham's flag-kick was cleared upfield to Matt Jarvis who cut inside before being tripped by Stephen McPhail 22-yards out and in a central position.   Andy Keogh's free-kick hit the wall but just a few seconds later the Irish striker headed Wolves into an eighth minute lead. The loose ball bounced out to Kightly who picked out Kevin Foley in the right of the Cardiff area. He nodded the ball back into the heart of the box and Keogh ran in to power a diving header past Peter Enckleman who got a hand to the ball but couldn't keep it out

Jody Craddock charged down a well struck effort from Whittingham and then Matt Jarvis chased the ball to the by-line and crossed to Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. He, in turn, passed back to Seyi Olofinjana who quickly laid the ball off for Gibson to hit a low drive that forced a diving save from Enckleman.  A fierce shot from Joe Ledley hit a defender and bounced behind for a corner and then Gavin Rae headed down a long ball into the path of Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink whose shot was saved by the legs of Wayne Hennessey.   Wolves had a two on one break in the 38th minute when Jarvis raced along the left flank with Ebanks-Blake keeping pace in the middle. But, when the winger tried to find his team-mate, Glenn Loovens just manage to intercept at the expense of a corner.  Two minutes before the break Wolves increased their lead when Ebanks-Blake, sandwiched between two defenders, forced the ball over the line from point-blank range after Keogh had nodded Foley's centre across the face of goal.

Half-Time: Wolves 2 Cardiff 0

Shortly after the restart, Ebanks-Blake's cross from the left fell to Gibson who drove narrowly over bar.  But the respite for the Bluebirds was brief as Wolves went three up in the 56th minute with Kightly marking his first start since November in style. His short pass on the edge of the area was deflected to Ebanks-Blake who powered in a shot that Enckleman couldn't hold.  Kightly was in like a flash to turn the ball over the line before the keeper had chance to recover.

 Kightly was withdrawn shortly afterwards and he left the field to rapturous applause to be replaced by Stephen Ward.  As the half neared its midway stage, Hennessey made another class save from Hasselbaink. Ledley threaded a pass through to the Dutchman whose shot from the edge of the area was turned away by Hennessy as he dived to his right.  George Elokobi hooked clear Ledley's dangerous short cross from in front of goal and, at the other end Olofinjana's goalbound volley bounced back to his feet off a defender and his second effort also hit a Cardiff man before going behind for a corner.  A series of substitutions followed with Stephen Elliott and Neill Collins coming on for Jarvis and Foley respectively for Wanderers.  The best piece of goalmouth action in the closing stages came following Keogh's 86th minute corner which led to efforts from Olofinjana and Ebanks-Blake before the ball was eventually cleared.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley (N. Collins 87), Elokobi, Gibson, Craddock, Breen (capt), Kightly (S. Ward 60), Keogh, Ebanks-Blake, Olofinjana, Jarvis (Elliott 76).  Unused subs: Eastwood, Stack.

Cardiff: Enckleman, McNaughton, Capaldi, Rae, Loovens, Whittingham (Blake 82), McPhail (capt), Johnson, Ledley, Ramsey (Scimeca 63), Hasselbaink (Thompson 63). Unused subs: Purse, Oakes.

Referee: M. Halsey.  Attendance: 20,862

Sat 19th April Wolves 1 (Ebanks-Blake 72) v Ipswich 1 (Miller 90) Vote for your player of the season

Plonker Breen blows the season on Kights return.  a draw left Wolves behind Ipswich by a point but, worse, effectively 6 behind Palace in the last play off slot.  Returning club captain Gary Breen gave away a stupidly unnecessary free kick in the 93rd minute from which Miller scored, keeping the Tractor Boys a point ahead of Wolves and 4 points behind Palace.    Mind you the should have been put away ages earlier.   Incredible saves from Bywater, and a bad miss from SEB combined with Andy Keogh's inability to shoot conspired to leave the opening for Ipswich to equalise.   Congratulations though to emergency midfielder Kevin Foley on an outstanding match, Wayne Henessey for yet more saves, and S E-B for a great goal.

A somewhat better refereeing performance than usual from Mr Mathieson, although it felt he wasn't penalising Ipswich's bookable offences but quick to get Wolves players.  But Ipswich probably had one or penalty claims that were waved away.

WoW said

Wolves 1 (Ebanks-Blake 72) Ipswich Town 1 (Miller 90)

Ipswich's Tommy Miller delivered a kick in the teeth to Wolves' play-off aspirations with an equaliser five seconds from the end of added time. (ed - thanks to a stupid free kick given away by Gary Breen) Mick McCarthy's men had finally broken through a stubborn Town rearguard in the 72nd minute with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's tenth goal of the season for Wolves looking enough to secure the three points until Miller struck.  David Edwards was named in midfield in place of Darron Gibson whilst, as expected, Michael Kightly took a place on the bench. There was no place, however, for regular substitute Freddy Eastwood. 

Wolves made a bright start after kicking-off attacking the South Bank end of a blustery Molineux. But, after a Michael Gray corner had been cleared, the first real chance of the game fell to Town's Jon Walters who fired an angled shot over the bar after running on to Miller's short through ball. Edwards was injured and had to receive for treatment after a midfield challenge, and whilst he was off the field Ebanks-Blake fired wide with a shot on the turn from just outside the area.  Although Edwards returned to the pitch he was clearly struggling and after a few minutes he was replaced by Gary Breen who took up his normal position in central defence with Neill Collins dropping to right-back and Kevin Foley moving into midfield. Matt Jarvis pushed a pass through to Andy Keogh to the left of the Ipswich goal, but the striker's shot was too high before, in the 21st minute, Ebanks-Blake blazed the ball over the bar from point blank range after George Elokobi's low centre.  Seyi Olofinjana's attempted chip got caught in the wind and drifted wide after Jarvis and Keogh had created the chance and, within a minute, Ebanks-Blake saw his drive deflected wide after Keogh had laid the ball into his path.  From Jarvis's corner, Breen headed the ball back into the six-yard box where Jody Craddock, with an overhead kick, hit the side netting.  Ipswich looked odds on to take the lead when Pablo Counago ran onto David Wright's short cross but Breen, in a nick of time, took the ball off the striker's foot.  Two further scares for the home supporters followed in quick succession with Wayne Hennessey making a smart save at his near post after Walters' shot on the turn, and then the Welsh keeper had to turn behind a long range effort from Alan Quinn.   Wolves were soon back on the attack and when Ebanks-Blake helped on Jarvis's cross to Foley his first-time shot flew into the arms of Stephen Bywater.   Play swept straight to the other end where Hennessey saved a low drive from Counago.  Keogh was only just off target with a bullet header at the far post after a Jarvis corner, and then the Irishman set up Olofinjana who hit a volley wide from 20-yards.

Half-Time: Wolves 0 Ipswich 0

Kightly was a half-time replacement for Gray and one of his first duties was to take a free-kick from the edge of thearea after Alex Bruce had tripped Keogh. The defender was booked and when Kightly's kick curled into the area it took a deflection before being hacked clear from inside the six-yard box by a defender.  A teasing cross from Jarvis was cleared from in front of goal by Wright and from another precision centre by the Wolves' winger, Keogh's diving header was deflected over the bar.  From the corner, taken by Jarvis, Kightly's header was palmed out by Bywater and Ebanks-Blake's follow up shot smacked against team-mate Collins and bounced clear.  But the relief for Town was brief for seconds later Ebanks-Blake struck. He chested down a long punt into the box from Elokobi and let the ball bounce before hitting a low shot on the turn past Bywater.  Olofinjana was booked after a collision with Counago, then a Bruce foul on Kightly 22-yards out led to a free-kick that was taken by the popular midfielder with the ball hitting the wall and looping up onto the roof of the net.   Foley joined Olofinjana in the book after he had pulled back Jordan Rhodes before, in the final seconds of the three added minutes, Breen was penalised for a shove on Alan Lee 22-yards out. Miller planted the free-kick over wall and into the net to stun the large Molineux crowd. Just five seconds after the restart, the referee blew for time.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Elokobi, D. Edwards (Breen 18), Craddock (capt), Collins, Jarvis, Keogh, Ebanks-Blake (Kyle 86), Olofinjana, Gray (Kightly 45).  Unused subs: Elliott, Stack. Bookings: Ebanks-Blake (72 - taking shirt off after scoring), Olofinjana (77 - foul), Foley (87 - foul).

Ipswich: Bywater, De Vos (capt), Walters, Miller, Garvan, Bruce, Quinn, Haynes (Lee 77), Simpson, Wright, Counago (Rhodes 84). Unused subs: Colgan, Sito, Williams.  Booking: Bruce (52 - foul).

Referee: S. Mathieson. Attendance: 26,072.

Wolves 0 WBA 1 Gera 59

Lots of effort and at least we didn’t capitulate like last season’s cup and away playoff matches; but, poor finishing and too many mistakes at the back, coupled with some strong performances from the Baggies meant our playoff hopes were severely dented as WBA went top.  Now our game in hand over Palace advantage is reduced to 1  so we’re 4 points off the playoffs.  Once again our goal shy strikers let as down as we made plenty of opportunities to get into the match - 4 shots in a minute with 2 possible handballs and panic in the WBA defence being one simple example.   In the end though, it was a fair reflection of both performance and capability.

Wolves world saw it like this

It turned out to be a night of derby disappointment as West Bromwich took the honours and boosted their chances of automatic promotion with a 1-0 victory over Wolves at a rain swept Molineux.

Wanderers were unchanged for the visit of their arch rivals as Albion kicked off attacking the North Bank end in front of a capacity crowd.  An early move saw Ishmael Miller heading onto the roof of the net after a probing cross from Carl Hoefkens and the two combined again in the ninth minute when Miller turned and fired into Wayne Hennessey's arms after a low centre from his team-mate.  Matt Jarvis raced past Hoefkens and centred for Sylvan Ebanks-Blake who headed over in Wolves' first meaningful attack. There was a let off for the home side in the 12th minute when Jonathan Greening's free-kick dropped to Zoltan Gera and the Hungarian's shot smacked against the angle before bouncing to safety.  Neil Collins was penalised for a challenge on Kevin Phillips on the left-hand corner of the home area and Albion's leading scorer just failed to make contact as Gera's free-kick skidded through the six-yard box and out on the far side.  Then Hennessey got a hand to an angled Miller shot and the ball bounced off the inrushing Phillips and over the bar with the striker knowing little about things. Michael Gray won possession the edge of the Albion area and rode two challenges before hitting a shot on the turn that was saved by Dean Kiely.  Seyi Olofinjana's drive went behind and the two Jarvis corners that followed led to nothing. But the next flag-kick from the winger resulted in a tremendous scramble in the Albion goalmouth with Jody Craddock, Collins and Andy Keogh all having shots blocked before the danger was cleared.  The visitors immediately broke from defence and Hennessey had to turn away a dangerous cross from James Morrison.  Three minutes before the break Hennessey came to the rescue with a fine save when he tipped over Neil Clements' free-kick from the edge of the box after Collins had fouled Miller.  In stoppage time Morrison took a pass from Greening and after his shot had been blocked by Craddock, Miller drove the rebound over.

Half-Time: Wolves 0 Albion 0

Roman Bednar replaced Miller at the start of the second-half which began with a Gray corner that came to nothing. In the 51st minute a Jarvis centre was left by Robinson and Gray, sliding in at the far post, was a yard wide as he tried to convert.  The woodwork came to Wolves' rescue once more in the 58th minute when Phillips low drive stuck the far post after he had taken a pass from Bednar.  Worse followed a minute later when the unmarked Gera sidefooted home Phillips' cross from the left to give the Baggies the lead.  Kiely pushed away Jarvis's cross as Wolves looked to hit back but Albion went close again with Morrison hitting a 25-yard shot narrowly over the bar.  Midway through the half came Wolves best effort of the game - a searing 25-yard volley from Darron Gibson that Kiely managed to turn around the post at the last moment.  Freddy Eastwood replaced Gray for the final quarter of an hour. Three minutes later Jarvis' low centre went across the face of goal just too far in front of Keogh.  Shortly before the end there was a chance for Olofinjana who worked a shooting position for himself deep in the Albion box but Kiely saved at his near post.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley (Kyle 81), Elokobi, Gibson, Craddock (capt), Collins, Jarvis, Keogh, Ebanks-Blake, Olofinjana,  Gray (Eastwood 76).  Unused subs: Breen, Potter, Stack.  Booking: Elokobi (81 - foul).

West Bromwich: Keily, Hoefkins, Robinson, Barnett, Clements, Koren, Greening (capt), Gera, Miller (Bednar 45), Phillips (Pele 85), Morrison (Moore 90).Unused subs: Martis, Brunt.  Booking: Greening (87 - unsporting behaviour).

Referee: M. Clattenburg.  Attendance: 27,883.

Bristol City  0  Wolves 0

... to the referee nil nil  - from Wolves - http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10307,00.html

Mick McCarthy insisted Wolves should have had a penalty at the end of an open game that saw his side enjoy the best of the chances.   The encounter ended goalless but Adriano Basso was the busier of the two keepers.
The Molineux boss said: "Everybody thought it was a penalty except the man that counts.
"The ground went quiet. It was stonewall but it wasn't given.
"We don't get many (decisions given for us) but there's been some awful ones against.
"People say it evens up by the end of the season but I'm still waiting for that to happen.
"However, we should have won the game over and above a referee's decision.
"We played well and were the dominant side with the better chances - but we didn't finish off our good work. We did everything we could, we just needed a goal.
"Our corners and free-kicks were disappointing.
"It was an open game and both sides tried to win it. The fans saw a good contest.
"We were disappointed coming off but nevertheless it's a good point.
"Things won't be decided today or Tuesday but it's a big game coming up in midweek."

Wolves were denied a penalty shortly before the end of a game that they had dominated for long periods. The Molineux men had to be satisfied with a point from their clash with Bristol City.

City kicked-off attacking the away end of Ashton Gate against a Wanderers side that made just one enforced change from the game at Charlton with Darron Gibson coming in for the injured Karl Henry.    There was almost a sensational start to the proceedings with Michael Gray forcing a fine save from home keeper Adriano Basso. Sylvan Ebanks-Blake dispossessed Jamie McCombe on the right and pulled the ball back for Gray who missed his kick with his first effort and forced a full length save from the Brazilian with the second.   George Elokobi and Darren Byfield both needed treatment after an accidental clash of heads on the halfway line before Seyi Olofinjana was a foot wide with a 25-yard volley after he had spotted Basso off his line.  Wolves had made the much brighter start to the game and they were almost gifted the lead in the tenth minute when McCombe's attempted pass out of the area rolled straight to Ebanks-Blake. But the striker was quickly closed down by two defenders and his shot was blocked.   Matt Jarvis fired over the angle after he had run onto a short cross from Gray whilst Elokobi made a crucial block as Byfield threatened in a rare City attack.   Bradley Orr went into the book after a trip on Jarvis then, with 34 minutes gone, Gray's right-wing cross was helped on by Olofinjana to Jarvis whose eight-yard drive drew a superb save from Basso who got down low to his right to turn the ball behind.  Three minutes later came Bristol's most dangerous moment as Cole Skuse chased Jamie McAllister's long clearance into the Wolves' box.  Wayne Hennessey managed to block as Skuse threatened and then he raced from his area to block again as Steve Brooker hammered the loose ball towards goal.

Half-Time: City 0 Wolves 0

Basso took a Gray centre off the head of Jarvis shortly after the restart, and then Louis Carey found the back of the net following a Michael McIndoe free-kick but the City skipper was yards offside.  Olofinjana almost conjured an opening with a well struck 20-yard drive that drifted literally inches wide of Basso's far post.  Kevin Foley ventured forward but his shot was blocked on the edge of the box after he had cut in from the right, and seconds later Byfield blazed high over the bar from the left of the visitors' area.   A long throw from McAllister eluded Hennessy and dropped to Ivan Sproule whose fierce shot was blocked by the keeper who was situated near the penalty spot in a crowded area.  Play swept straight to the opposite end Basso made another fine save as a tipped a 20-yard volley from Andy Keogh over the bar. From Gray's corner, Neill Collins' header was taken by Basso.  Brooker, twice in three minutes spell, went close for City with shots from the 18-yard line with Freddy Eastwood replacing Gray between the City man's efforts.   Jarvis, after a good run down the left flank, found Olofinjana in the home area but the Nigerian was tackled by Skuse as he prepared to shoot.  Then, four minutes from time, Mick McCarthy angrily held his head in his hands after the referee waved play on after Jarvis had gone down under a joint challenge from McCombe and Orr. The Wolves players looked on in disbelief as the ball was cleared upfield.  In the 89th minute, Elokobi hooked the ball goalwards following a Jarvis corner but Brooker was positioned on the post to clear off the line and deny Wolves the three points they deserved.

City: Basso, Orr, Carey (capt), McCombe, McAllister (Fontaine 82), Sproule (Carle 85), Elliott, Skuse, McIndoe, Brooker, Byfield (Adebola 85).   Unused subs: Weale, Trundle.  Booking: Orr (29 - foul).

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Elokobi, Gibson, Craddock (capt), Collins, Jarvis, Keogh, Ebanks-Blake, Olofinjana, Gray (Eastwood 76). Unused subs: Breen, Potter, Stack, Kyle.  Booking Olofinjana (90 - foul)

Referee: P. Taylor.  Attendance: 19,332 (2,103 away supporters)

Meanwhile - here’s how the Sunday Times saw it (ignore the return of McIndoe though!)

From The Sunday Times April 13, 2008  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article3736100.ece

Bristol City slip again   Bristol City 0 Wolves 0  Nick Parkinson at Ashton Gate

CIDER is a popular tipple in these parts, and Bristol City look as though they have had too much of the
stuff. The West Country side continued their recent wobble after escaping with a point from a game visitors Wolves were left disappointed not to have won.

City managed to cling on to second place, at least ahead of the evening kick-off between West Bromich Albion and Watford, while Wolves were left one place off the playoffs.
Gary Johnson, the City manager, has spoken about the need for his players to handle the pressure, but the continuing evidence is that they are crumbling as the promotion race enters the final straight.
That City came to be occupying one of the two automatic promotion places with a few games remaining owed as much to their admirable consistency, achieved without a big budget, as to the failings of the usual promotion candidates, such as Wolves.
City now match their rivals’ inconsistency, and they were relieved to reach half-time on level terms yesterday. City have been carried along since winning promotion almost a year ago as League One runners-up by the ebullience and intelligence of their manager. But there have been signs that his side are beginning to unravel as the season reaches its climax, and nerves were clearly apparent in City’s stuttering start.
Centre-backs Louis Carey and Jamie McCombe both made errors early on that Wolves were unable to punish. As early as the first minute, McCombe was dispossessed by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who pulled the ball back to Michael McIndoe (ed:!!!!), but his shot was plucked out of the air by Adriano Basso. Basso seemed to be caught by surprise five minutes later when he was left nervously scampering across his goal-line before breathing a sigh of relief when Seyi Olofinjana’s 30-yard shot bounced just wide. Matthew Jarvis shot well over after Wolves exploited another hole in the City defence, but the midfielder did test Basso with another attempt on 33 minutes.
Michael Gray’s right-wing cross was allowed to filter through the City defence and drop at Jarvis’s feet, but Basso turned the ball around the near post. The Robins’ one moment of excitement at the other end came eight minutes before the interval when Wayne Hennessy raced off his line to clear with Cole Skuse chasing the loose ball; the Wolves goalkeeper then had to throw himself in front of Steve Brooker to block the City striker’s attempt at an open goal from the edge of the penalty area. City finished the half better than they started it, but Wolves would have been disappointed not to lead at the interval.
However, Wolves were back on the attack early in the second half when Olofinjana swapped passes with Ebanks-Blake before just missing the target with a 53rd-minute shot. City were especially vulnerable down the right wing, where Gray was operating to good effect.
On the same flank for City, McIndoe was struggling to have the impact he had wanted against his former club, and when Darren Byfield, starting ahead of the dropped Dele Adebola, got himself into a good position, he could only shoot well over the crossbar.
City came closer moments later on 69 minutes when Ivan Sproule had a shot pushed wide by Hennessy after the Wolves goalkeeper had again charged off his line.
In the closing minutes, Andy Keogh had a 20-yard shot tipped over by the agile Basso. Then Steve Brooker cleared George Elokobi’s shot from Jarvis’s corner in Wolves’ final chance of a game they created enough chances to win.

Star man: Wayne Hennessy (Wolves)

Player ratings. Bristol City: Basso 7, Orr 7, Carey 5, McCombe 5, McAllister 6, Sproule 6 (Carle 85min), Skuse 8, Elliott 6, McIndoe 5, Byfield 6 (Adebola 85min), Brooker 7
Wolves: Hennessey 9, Foley 7, Craddock 7, Collins 7, Elokobi 8, Jarvis 6, Gibson 6, Olofinjana 8, Gray 7 (Eastwood 76min), Keogh 6, Ebanks-Blake 7

Referee: P Taylor   Attendance:19,322