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Next Match -  Away to Stoke - see September matches here

League newcomers Morecambe in the CC were by far the better side and deservedly went through.  If you  didn’t go  - good decision!

Mick made 7 changes from Saturday but the bulk of the squad could lay claims to starting places, although maybe not after this woeful performance.  Too much pressure was allowed on the centre backs Edwards and Collins.  Without them though it could have been much worse.  And they had more shots on goal than the attackers. They had a couple of good runs, but their attacking passes and control were poor. Foley, from “team of the week” performance last week was absolutely roasted by the Morecambe league 2 left  side attack.  His contribution probably was the key one in weakening our defensive reslove Keeper Stack playing for a permanent move had the worst goalkeeping performance seen by a Wolves keeper at Molineux for years.  Gleeson and Bennett made a good showing but were not very effectual.  Karl Henry’s return to a starting line up was in patches excellent but also poor - he was caught in possession too often and it led to one of the goals.  Potter’s arrival at half time made little difference and he made one of his customary huge mistakes, but at least it didn’t yield a goal.  Michael Gray was given a chance to make up for his error for the Blackpool goal playing in midfield.  He ran around a lot, made some good passes, made some poor ones and, just as on Saturday, was struggling to get near the attacker for the third goal.  Charlie Mulgrew’s crosses were 90% poor.    For the first time in fifteen months we saw Hungarian Denes Rosa on the pitch but he tried hard and couldn’t make any impact - unsurprising after no match since Norwich awayon the last day two seasons ago.  Kights had a few determined runs when he came on later.  Freddy tried a few moves but like Andy Keogh ended up with individual rather  than team efforts.  Andy forced a pen, but it and one other by Freddy, was really the only decent run into the box.  For most of teh 120 minutes Wolves didn’t play as a team, rather, a lot of individuals.

WoW reported that Mick was embarrassed.   He could have pulled all his hair out and broken his toe by his reactions.  The 11,000 present was down to less than 6000 by full time.  Here’s the rest.   Visit the official Wolves site for more, if you can bear it!!

AET: Wolves 1 (Keogh pen 84) Morecambe 3 (Baker pen 62,Newby 92, Thompson 105)

A goal apiece in the second half took Wolves' Carling encounter with Morecambe into extra time and then disaster struck.  Two strikes for the visitors gave them a 3-1 victory after a disappointing show from Wolves.  The home side played a patient passing game for most of the first half but found it hard to penetrate the Morecambe defence.  Boss Mick McCarthy made seven changes for this Carling Cup round two game - including playing Gray in left midfield.  The visitors enjoyed the more clear-cut chances, and had the ball in the net after 10 minutes, but the referee had flagged for off-side before Baker had crossed for Twiss to shoot home.  Stanley saw a thunderbolt of a shot flash off the crossbar on 27 minutes, and on the half hour mark Twiss was appealing for a penalty, claiming obstruction from Collins. But the best chance fell to Kevin Foley whoe header was denied by a fantastic save from Lewis.  Keogh let fly a volley from the angle of the area but it went high over Lewis' bar.

H-T: Wolves 0 Morecambe 0

Wolves began the second half with Potter replacing Gleeson.The opening period of the half followed much the same pattern as the first 45 minutes with Wolves unable to make meaningful inroads.  Keogh's persistence looked to have paid off on 56 minutes but, as he slotted the ball through for Eastwood to strike home, the referee flagged the Welshman off-side.  Morecambe went ahead on 62 minutes through a penalty taken by Baker after Twiss had been brought down by Stack. The Wolves keeper was booked.  Kightly then came on for Bennett.  Wolves threw everything they had at the visitors but the Shrimps were defending for all their worth.
Denes Rosa replaced Mulgrew on 82 minutes.  Keogh hit the side netting a minute later won a penalty after being fouled by Baker and scored from the spot on 84 minutes.  Stanley had a late chance but his shot went high and the game went into extra time.
F-T: Wolves 1 (Keogh pen 84) Morecambe 1 (Baker pen 62)
Wolves got extra time off to a terrible start, substitute Newby shooting past Stack on 92 after the keeper - at full stretch - had got a
hand to the ball (ed but it was a feeble attempt).  Minutes later Eastwood's shot was fumbled by Lewis but the ball ws eventually scrambled for a corner.  Morecambe did not sit back and Thompson flashed an effort past the post.  A Collins header following a Kightly cross went disappointingly wide on 103 minutes. Baker split the Wolves defence apart to set up Thompson who lobbed his shot over Stack to give Morecambe a 3-1 lead on 105 minutes.

The Shrimps dug in and there was no way back for the Molineux side.

TEAMS
25 Graham Stack         :    Joe Lewis32
32 Kevin Foley            :    Adam Yates2
12 Rob Edwards          :    Jim Bentley5
 3 Neill Collins            :    David Artell4
33 Michael Gray          :    Danny Adams25
35 Elliott Bennett 62   :    Carl Baker10
18 Stephen Gleeson46 :    Craig Stanley6
 8 Karl Henry             : 85 Neil Sorvel14
20 Charlie Mulgrew81  : 59 Damien Allen12
 9 Andrew Keogh        : 72 Michael Twiss7
23 Freddy Eastwood    :     Garry Thompson11
36 Lee Collins            : 72 Matthew Blinkhorn21
31 Wayne Hennessey  : 85Jon Newby20
14 Darren Potter   46 :      Steven Drench1
 7 Michael Kightly 62 :      Michael Howard3
39 Denes Rosa     81 :  59Gary Hunter8

Mick McCarthy did not mince his words after seeing his side crash out of the Carling Cup to League Two side Morecambe.
The Wolves boss said he felt 'humbled and embarrassed' after his much-changed team lost 3-1 in extra time.
"The exit is deserved," he said. "We were out-fought and out-played.
"It's not often I can say this but we were out-grafted. They played like we did last year, getting amongst it and stopping the opposition playing.
"There was some amateurish defending. Was the first goal a penalty? Well we shouldn't have given the ball away the way we did. There were enough mistakes made for that goal alone to write a book on mistakes.  "Then, after getting back into it, to go and lose is an outrage.
"When the third goal went in we looked a shambles.
"Maybe expectations are weighing a bit heavy. We have designs on being a Premiership side and we looked as far removed from that as Morecambe are.
"We had a lot of plaudits last year and that has brought us down to earth. We deserved to be booed.
"We've had a fantastic 12 months where everything in the garden looked rosy and this is a real knock back.
"In terms of personnel I couldn't have strengthened it much more because of injuries. But this is a squad game and the the squad should have been good enough to beat Morecambe.
"I've no worries we will be ready for Stoke on Saturday. We have always reacted well in the past."

More from WoW

Wolves 1 (Keogh-pen 83)
Morecambe 3 (Baker-pen 61, Newby 92, Thompson 105)
Wolves were embarrassingly dumped out of the Carling Cup after losing 3-1 at Molineux to League new boys Morecambe.
Two goals in extra-time saw the Lancashire side through to the third round of the competition and there could be no doubting that they were full value for their victory  Mick McCarthy made wholesale changes for the game with just four of the team that started against Blackpool - Andy Keogh, Freddy Eastwood, Kevin Foley and Michael Gray retaining their places. Gray played in the left of midfield rather than his accustomed full-back role. The first corner of the game went Wolves' way after a misplaced back pass from Adam Yates. Gray's flag kick fell to Karl Henry on the far side of the box and his headed return into the heart of the area fell to Eastwood whose hooked shot was blocked with penalty appeals for hands being waved aside by the referee.  Gray had a chance when he sprinted into the box from the left but he screwed his shot wide of the near post.  Michael Twiss found the net with a tenth minute header but the linesman had flagged for offside before Carl Baker had crossed the ball.The Morecambe defence were working well as a unit restricting Wolves' opportunities. Keogh did manage to get a shot in from the edge of the area but the ball flew straight into the arms of Joe Lewis in the Shrimps goal.  Damien Allen cleared Gray's cut back but it was the visitors who almost broke through in the 21st minute when a tremendous angled shot from Craig Stanley smacked against the face of the bar and bounced to safety.Twiss' run into the area was halted by Neill Collins' challenge with the referee ignoring appeals for obstruction from the visiting players, and then Twiss hit an angled drive that Graham Stack gathered easily. Morecambe skipper Jim Bentley was booked after a tackle from behind on Keogh then, three minutes before the break, Foley was denied by a tremendous reflex save by Lewis who turned aside the defender's close range header following a Charlie Mulgrew cross.  From Gray's corner Rob Edwards caught Lewis prompting a brief flare up. Edwards was shown the yellow card before order was restored. Just before the break Keogh wasn't far off the mark when he let fly from an acute angle on the left.

Half-Time: Wolves 0 Morecambe 0

Darren Potter was an interval replacement for Stephen Gleeson and the opening minutes of the new half saw more urgency from Mick McCarthy's men as they finally started to peg the visitors back. Potter was high and wide with a shot on the run from 22-yards and then great work from Keogh, who went past three challenges as he worked his way into the Morecambe box, ended with a short pass to Eastwood who found the net but was ruled offside.  With an hour's play gone Morecambe were awarded a penalty after Twiss had broken clear. He sprinted into the box and when down as Stack tried to reach the ball with a full length dive.  The referee immediately pointed to the spot and brandished the yellow card at Stack who furiously remonstrated that Twiss had dived. But Baker wasn't phased by the occasion and he easily netted from the spot.  Michael Kightly was immediately introduced in place of Elliott Bennett.  Henry got underneath a centre from Gray and his header went over before Lewis caught an Edwards effort on the line after a Kightly corner. In the 70th minute Twiss wasted a chance of virtually sealing the game for The Shrimps when he was wide with a free header at the far post after Garry Thompson had fired over centre in from the right.  In a heavy Wolves attack, Eastwood and then Keogh had shots blocked in quick succession and then Kightly turned and fired wide of the far post after Keogh had headed the ball on.  Denes Rosa came on to replace Mulgrew with Gray dropping back into defence before Wolves drew level in the 83rd minute. Keogh was felled by David Artell in the Morecambe box and the striker got up to send Lewis the wrong way from the spot.  Eastwood glanced a header across the face of the visitors goal after connecting with a Rosa centre, and Stanley drove over from 25-yards at the other end.

90 minutes: Wolves 1 Morecambe 1

Just two minutes into extra-time Morecambe regained the lead. Matthew Blinkhorn sprinted to the edge of the Wolves area and when the ball broke to Jon Newby, the Morecambe substitute scored even though he failed to make a proper connection. Stack got his fingers to the ball but it trickled agonisingly over the line.Lewis then fumbled a low shot from Eastwood but, with the help of Artell, he managed to force the ball behind before Kightly could take advantage.  Thompson flashed a shot narrowly wide but, after two of his team-mates had been booked, he gave Morecambe a two goal cushion.Lewis was yellow carded for time wasting and Danny Adams for a heavy challenge on Kightly before Thompson struck in the final minute of the first half of extra time, lobbing the ball over Stack after a through pass from Garry Hunter.The nearest Wolves came to a goal in the dying stages of a game was when Rosa cut into the area before firing wide. By that time, most of the home supporters were on their way home. Wolves: Stack, Foley, Gray, Henry (capt), Edwards, N. Collins, Bennett (Kightly 62), Gleeson (Potter 45), Keogh, Eastwood, Mulgrew (Rosa 81).  Unused subs: Hennessey, L. Collins.  Bookings: Edwards (42 - foul), Stack (60 - foul).
Morecambe: Lewis, Yates, Artell, Bentley (capt), Stanley, Twiss (Blinkhorn 72), Baker, Thompson, Allen (Hunter 59), Sorvell (Newby 85), Adams.  Unused subs: Evatt, Hills. Bookings: Bentley (38 - foul), Lewis (101 - time wasting), Adams (103 - foul).
Referee: A. Taylor. Attendance: 11,296.

Saturday 25th August Wolves 2 (Eastwood 69, 78)  Blackpool 1 (Taylor-Fletcher 51)

Mick McCarthy was absolutley right to call this daylight robbery.  Blackpool were in our faces from the off, both backs looked all at sea, and Houlihan promised to run riot.   Only replacement of Potter by Karl Henry bought some control and order to midfield, enabled Seyi to play his own game and gave us the strength and time to compete.   Should have been done long before half time.  Gray made up for his many roastings by making a goal line clearance.   Worst first half at Moli for over a year.  But now another debut for Freddy - this time home league and he scored again twice.  The South Bank are going to have to find something other than Gyppo to sing!  Freddy was the first attempt.   But, after a poor first half, the second half recovery took us to second in the table!!. Made slightly more pleasant by listening to the Blades defeat of Albion on the way home.  Here’s WoW

Newly promoted Blackpool had Wolves at full stretch as the sides battled it out at Molineux. But the Seasiders failed to capitalise on their chances and, despite taking the lead through Gary Taylor-Fletcher, they were undone by a brace from in-form Freddy Eastwood.  The Welshman, who made his international debut in mid-week, has now scored five times in four games.  Mick McCarthy named an unchanged starting line-up for the visit of the west coast team, and Wolves kicked-off attacking the South Bank on a cloudless afternoon.  Blackpool made the early running forcing three corners in the first three minutes. They were all taken by David Fox and from the first the ball was headed out to Kaspars Gorkss whose drive took a deflection before going wide.  A mix up between keeper Paul Rachubka and Gorkss almost opened the door for Andy Keogh but the ball wouldn't drop for the Irish international and he was crowded out before he could get in a shot on the vacant net.  Eastwood, fresh from his heroics in Bulgaria, sped past two defenders before unleashing a 25-yard shot that flew over the bar. Michael Gray came to the rescue when he cleared Taylor-Fletcher's shot off the line when a goal looked inevitable.  In the 20th minute there was another close call for the home goal when Wes Hoolahan dispossessed Kevin Foley and sprinted into the area before firing narrowly over the bar.  Darren Potter was booked for tugging at Hoolahan's shirt even though the Blackpool man broke clear and shot over.  The home defence had another scare when Ben Burgess shot across the face of goal - his effort going narrowly wide of the far post - after Hoolahan had played the ball in.  In the 38th minute Wolves finally went close when Stephen Ward slipped a pass through to Keogh who scuffed his effort. The ball fell to Eastwood whose hooked shot took a deflection and went narrowly wide for a corner.

Half-Time: Wolves 0 Blackpool 0

A challenge by Gary Breen on Andy Morrell to the right of the Wolves area led to a free-kick from Hoolahan that hit the wall and was cleared.  Keogh's cross-shot drifted wide of the far post after Seyi Olofinjana and Foley had created the opening. Then, after Wayne Hennessey had comfortably dealt with Hoolahan's low shot, Michael Kightly was high and wide with an angled shot from the right of the Blackpool area.  But, with 51 minutes gone, Simon Grayson's men deservedly took the lead through Taylor-Fletcher who made no mistake with a close range shot after he had taken a pass from Fox.  Olofinjana went into the book for a late challenge on Hoolahan before Wolves made a double switch with Karl Henry and Neill Collins replacing Potter and Gray respectively.  The visitors should have doubled their advantage on the hour mark after substitute Claus Jorgensen found Shaun Barker who in turn picked out Fox. The midfielder looked a certain scorer but he completely mis-hit his shot shanking the ball wide.  Keith Southern was booked after a challenge on Henry before Wolves boss McCarthy made a final change by sending on Jay Bothroyd for Stephen Ward.  In the 69th minute a moment of magic from Eastwood saw Wolves level. He took a pass from Keogh and sidestepped two defenders in working a shooting angle before depositing a low shot into the corner of the net.  Barker had to hoof clear a Kightly cross after Keogh's quickly taken free-kick. Keogh was fouled by Barker moments later - the referee brandishing the yellow card at the Blackpool man. In the 78th minute, Eastwood struck again with what turned out to be the winning goal.  Olofinjana took the ball out of defence and found Kightly on the right. The winger, with a trademark burst of speed, took the ball into the area before crossing to Keogh who saw his header parried by Rachubka. But the predatory Eastwood reacted quickly in the crowded area and he hammered the loose ball home.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Gray (N. Collins 55), Olofinjana, Breen (capt), D. Ward, Kightly, Potter (Henry 55), Keogh, Eastwood, S. Ward (Bothroyd 67). Unused subs: Edwards, Stack. Bookings: Potter (29 - shirt pulling 29), Olofinjana (53 - foul).

Blackpool: Rachubka, Crainey, Southern, Jackson (capt), Morrell (Parker 64), Hoolahan, Taylor-Fletcher (Jorgensen 58), Fox, Gorkss, Barker, Burgess (Vernon 83).  Unused subs: Evatt, Hills.Bookings: Southern (62 - foul), Barker (75 - foul)./
Referee: T. Kettle. Attendance: 24,294.

Sunday 19th August ko 13:45 Sheffield Wednesday 1 (Small 45) Wolves 3 (Eastwood 14, Kightly 48, Bothroyd 90)

After a motorway delay Wolves endured a tough match playting all in Gold although they were gifted Freddy’s first league goal for Wolves from a back pass to Kightly whose shot was parried straignt to Freddy.  Again new captain Breen had to leave the field.  Eventually Potter, over excited and likely to be sent off, was substituted by Carl Henry who resumed the captain’s armband.   A cracking route one goal at the end from Jay B sealed the win after a tense second half.  Wednesday had 19 shots on goal to our 4.

Wolves opened their League account for the season with a well earned victory over Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.  Kick-off was delayed for 15 minutes following an incident on the M1 that caused major traffic problems. When play did get underway there were early calls for a home penalty when Darren Ward challenged Deon Burton but the referee, who was perfectly placed, waved play on.  Michael Kightly caused the home defence some early problems and he played a significant role as Wolves moved into a 14th minute lead when he intercepted a Tommy Spurr pass before laying the ball into the path of Andy Keogh.  The striker sprinted into the area and unleashed a shot that Lee Grant managed to parry. But the ball ran to Freddy Eastwood who confidently took a touch before firing home from six yards.  A clash of heads between Gary Breen and Burton led to the Wolves skipper leaving the field for stitches to a nasty looking wound. In his absence, Wednesday lost the services of Francis Jeffers who limped off to be replaced by former Wolf Leon Clarke. Seyi Olofinjana went into the book for a challenge on Kenny Lunt before Wade Small headed over following a centre from Jermaine Johnson.  Keogh found the net after running on to a Kightly pass but the visiting supporters' cheers were stifled when they saw the lineman flagging for offside. Wayne Hennessey did well to get a hand to an angled shot from Small and, at the other end, Keogh lifted his shot over the bar after the scramble that followed Kightly's corner.  The cut on Breen's head finally forced him from the game and he was replaced by Neill Collins in the 32nd minute.  As the half drew to a close fouls by Collins and Darren Potter on Clarke and Lunt respectively led to Wednesday free-kicks in dangerous positions but on each occasion the defensive wall did its job.  But, deep into stoppage time, Wednesday drew level. Hennessey did well to push behind a deflected shot from Small. But the keeper could only get his fingertips to Glenn Whelan's corner and when Clarke helped the ball back into the middle, Small was in place to convert from point blank range.  Michael Gray went into the book after he appeared to handle before the ball went into the net.

Half-Time: Wednesday 1 Wolves 1

It took Wolves just three minutes of the new half to regain the advantage. Keogh found Eastwood who brilliantly beat two defenders before laying the ball into the path of Kightly who drove home a shot that Grant got a hand to, but couldn't keep out.  In the 54th minute there was almost a third goal after Keogh had released Kightly on the right. The winger drilled a low centre across the face of goal and Stephen Ward ran in at the far post but his was effort deflected behind off a defender.   Potter, who had been yellow carded for an innocuous looking challenge on Johnson, was replaced by Karl Henry midway through the half.
Kevin Foley and Collins combined to block a Small shot after the Wednesday man had raced onto a Burton pass in the left of the visitor's area. Then a deep cross from Johnson bounced off the top of the crossbar.  The home side were pushing hard for an equaliser and after Hennessey had dealt with a Burton header, a Frank Simek cross fell to Clarke at the far post but he couldn't control the ball which bounced off him and went wide.  Five minutes from time Small thought he had levelled matters when Hennessey took the sting out of, but couldn't hold, a fierce drive. But the Welsh international recovered just in time and dived on the ball as it was about to cross the line.  Jay Bothroyd came on for the last two minutes and stoppage time and he soon eased any nerves by netting Wolves' third goal.  He chased Olofinjana's lofted through ball and outpaced Richard Wood before coolly clipping the ball over Grant in front of 2,000 delighted Wolves supporters.
Wednesday: Grant, Bullen, Lunt (Hinds 88), Whelan (O'Brien 77), Jeffers (Clarke19), Burton, Wood, Simek, Johnson, Small, Spurr.  Unused subs: Burch, Gilbert.  Booking: Johnson (kicking ball away)

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Gray, Olofinjana, Breen (N. Collins 32), D. Ward, Kightly, Potter (Henry 68), Keogh, Eastwood (Bothroyd 88), S. Ward. Unused subs: Stack, Bennett. Bookings: Olofinjana (25 - foul), Gray (45 - handball), Potter (55 - foul).

Referee: P. Walton.  Attendance: 22,131.

Wednesday 15th August Wolves 2 (Eastwood 46 Craddock 47  Bradford City 1)

A wonder strike by Jody saw us trhough to the next round of the Carling Cup, but it probably followed a half time roasting as Wolves were going nowhere until then.   Freddy’s home debut - one of four - and with only Potter Kights and Andy Keough left in from Saturday -  a good debut goal put Wolves into the lead in a great 5 minute spell early in the second half.   They took the pressure off later and Bradford got back into it.

here’s how Wolves World saw it

Wolves 2 (Eastwood 46, Craddock 49) Bradford City 1 (Nix 77)

Wolves were forced to work hard by League Two Bradford City before claiming a place in the draw for the second round of the Carling
Cup.  Four players make their full debuts for the Molineux side, Elliott Bennett, Freddy Eastwood, Kevin Foley and Graham Stack, whilst just three men, Michael Kightly, Andy Keogh and Darren Potter, started in the opening League fixture against Watford.

City kicked-off attacking the North Bank end and, after six minutes Bennett's low cross was just inches too far in front of Keogh.
The Irish striker then looked to be upended by Darren Williams inside the box but the referee waved play on. Stack dived and got both hands to a 20-yards shot from Omar Daley with the corner conceded coming to nothing.  Kightly's angled shot was saved at the near post by Donovan Ricketts before Bennett was yellow carded for an over exuberant tackle on Williams.   On the half hour mark, Charlie Mulgrew limped off to be replaced by Jamie Clapham and the full back was soon involved in the action firing over a cross that Eastwood met with a first time effort. The striker miscued his shot and the ball flew up into the air before landing at the feet of Keogh who fired high over the bar with an attempted volley. A confident looking Bennett went on a run past three defenders before he lost possession. The ball broke to Eastwood who wasn't far off the mark from 25 yards.  The home goal had a let off in the 42nd minute when Paul Evans' free-kick from the side of the area glanced off the face of the crossbar before being cleared.  Then Stack had to dive to cut out a centre from Daley before Kightly pulled the ball back for Potter to strike a rising drive that was only a foot wide.

Half-Time: Wolves 0 Bradford 0

Stephen Ward was a half-time replacement for Bennett and the new half which was just a minute old when Wolves moved into the lead.  Ward's cross from the left was nodded on by Keogh to Eastwood who glanced a header past Ricketts.  Three minutes later it was 2-0 with a goal that would be a contender for any goal of the season award. Kightly's corner was headed out to Jody Craddock who, from 25 yards, hit a stunning volley past Ricketts who didn't move as the ball flew into the top corner.  Ricketts then made a fine save to deny Kightly who had run onto Keogh's short through pass.  Karl Henry went into the book for a late challenge on Eddie Johnson and then the Wolves skipper found Keogh who was inches wide of the far post with an angled shot. Ward tried a long range effort that hit a defender taking the sting out of the shot and allowing Ricketts to make a comfortable save before City cut the deficit in the 77th minute.  Substitute Guylain Ndumba-Nsunga's shot was blocked but the ball ran to Kyle Nix who converted from close range at the far post.  Three minutes later Ndumba-Nsunga almost equalized with a powerful header that flew wide following a cross from Williams.  But, in the remaining minutes, Stack wasn't unduly troubled and Wolves held out to progress to the second round of the competition.

Wolves: Stack, Foley, Mulgrew (Clapham 30), Potter, Craddock, Edwards, Bennett (S.Ward 45), Henry (capt), Eastwood, Keogh, Kightly. Unused subs: N. Collins, Gleeson, Hennessey.  Bookings: Bennett (29 - foul), Henry (55 - foul).
Bradford: Ricketts, Williams, Heckingbottom, Evans, Wetherhall (capt), Bower, Colbeck, Johnson, Conlon (Ndumba-Nsungu 66), Nix, Daley (Rhodes 66). Unused subs: Saynor, Ainge, Joynes.
Referee: S. Mathieson.  Attendance: 9,625.

Saturday 11th August Wolves 1 Watford 2 ko 17:20 on Sky with Doog Tribute

Some 23000 fans at Molineux celebrated Derek Dougan’s life with a minute’s applause with Doog’s partner Merlyn who later presented Seyi George Olofinjana with the man of the match award.  Watford were strong but we should really have been three up with two misses by Keogh and Seyi, and a great fllick over the keeper worthy of the Doog by Seyi just on half time.   We played good flowing football at times, interspersed with some abject defending - perhaps leading to the Foley signing on 13th.

But the three players who cost us the points were Potter with one of his trademark mistakes - a stu[i[d ;unger 25 yards put followed by Jay Bothroyd turning his back on the ball in the wall and deflecting it past Wayne Hennessey.  All wasn’t lost until Neill Collins, who had been struggling at right back, hacked Kabba down in the 4th minute of extra time.  Marlon King, looking fresh in spite of his year long layoff gave Wayne no chance.  Seyi didn’t give up and took play right down the other end - Mart Poom nearly let the ball in but was rescued by the post.

Breen was injured and the captaincy passed to Seyi - who certainly put in a captain’s performance.   Breen on the other hand, spent time shouting at the linesman instead of concentrating on the game and was nearly caught out.  He more than made up for that though in a one on three situation and came away with the ball.

Mick says he’s given up swearing.  More of this and he’ll be back on it pdq.  Here’s what WoW said.

Wolves 1 (Olofinjana 45) Watford 2 (Stewart 87, King-pen 90)

Watford ruined the Molineux party with two late goals to take the three points after Wolves had looked to start the new campaign in a winning fashion.

Before kick-off Sir Jack Hayward introduced the club's new owner Steve Morgan to a noisy and appreciative Molineux crowd who then, along with the Watford fans, paid homage to the late Derek Dougan with a minute's applause.

The game started in a brisk fashion with both sides looking lively going forwards although neither could muster an on target effort. With eight minutes gone Tamas Priskin beat the offside trap on the right but the Slovakian drilled a low shot across the face of goal with the ball eventually going out for a throw in on the far side.

Michael Kightly's free-kick drifted wide after Darren Potter had been fouled by former  Molineux youth graduate Gavin Mahon, and Marlon King volleyed high over the bar after a first time connection with Jobi McAnuff's cross. A spell of Watford pressure forced Wolves onto the backfoot and after Darren Ward had headed clear a Jordan Stewart free-kick, two successive corners from the visitors quickly followed with Wayne Hennessey confidently claiming the second at full stretch.  Wolves broke from defence and Mart Poom used his experience to take a cross from Potter as Stephen Elliott challenged.  In the 29th minute Elliott's chip just lacked the height to beat Poom after Andy Keogh had carved out the opening.  There was a moment of danger for Wolves after Potter had fouled King just two yards to the side of the home area but Lee Williamson's free-kick was nodded clear from a crowded six-yard box.  Keogh fired over from the 18-yard line after a pass from Kightly had fallen to him, and then Seyi Olofinjana, with a first time shot, cleared the bar with Keogh this time supplying the centre. 
But the Nigerian wasn't to be outdone and he opened the scoring as the first half moved into stoppage time. Darren Ward pumped a ball up from defence and Keogh helped it on to Elliott whose pass fell for Olofinjana to coolly flick the ball over the advancing Poom.

Half-Time: Wolves 1 Watford 0

Shortly after the resumption Elliott volleyed high and wide and then Keogh drove over the bar with a first time effort.  Good defensive work saw Neill Collins dispossessing McAnuff as he ran into the Wolves box, and Stephen Ward shot over after he had run onto a Keogh pass at the other end.  Midway through the half King and Tommy Smith combined to set up McAnuff in the left of the home area. The Watford man looked certain to equalise but Hennessey made a superb diving save.  Gary Breen, who suffered a groin strain, was replaced by Rob Edwards and then Williamson was booked for a foul on Kightly.  Jay Bothroyd, on as a substitute for Elliott, ended a 30 yard run with a low shot that tested Poom who saved at full length, before the Hornets drew level with just three minutes remaining.  Potter fouled Williamson 25 yards out and Stewart's free-kick hit Bothroyd in the wall and flew past Hennessey. There were four minutes of additional time and ten seconds from the end of it, Collins clattered into Watford substitute Steve Kabba right in front of the referee who pointed straight at the spot. King made no mistake with the penalty, lashing the ball high into the net.  In the seconds that remained the woodwork came to Watford's rescue. Bothroyd's pass found Olofinjana and his shot was deflected onto the post by Poom who then gratefully clung onto the rebound.

Wolves: Hennessey, N. Collins, Gray, Olofinjana, Breen (Edwards 69), D. Ward, Kightly, Potter, Keogh, Elliott (Bothroyd 74), S. Ward.
Unused subs: Henry, Eastwood, Stack.

Watford: Poom, Stewart, Shittu, Demerit, Mahon (capt), King, McAnuff, Doyley, Williamson, Priskin (Henderson 48), Smith (Kabba 81).
Unused subs: Lee, Bangura, Mariappa.
Booking: Williamson (77 - foul) Referee: N. Swarbrick. Attendance: 23,115.

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