February 2006 Click on month for reports: 2005-6 ReviewApr06Mar06Feb06Jan06Dec05Nov05Oct05Sep05Aug05preseason

Next Sat March 4th QPR v Wolves 15:00

Sat Feb 25th HULL 2 (L.Cort 51, Edwards og 81) WOLVES 3 (Aliadiere 28, Miller 59, C.Cort 89) - Hull (Green) missed pen, 39

WoW report: Please go to Wolves.co.uk for more details Wolves picked up their third consecutive victory in a dramatic game at the KC Stadium, meeting Carl Cort’s brother Leon, and Keith Andrews, who left Molineux after 9 years in the summer,captaining the Tigers. Wolves took the lead in the first half through loan striker Jeremie Aliadiere, who was making his first start in a gold (blue) shirt. Jeremie ran the length of the Hull half after a great through ball by Mark Davies. Hull missed a penalty minutes later but equalised early in the second-half through Leon Cort. Wolves again regained the advantage through Kenny Miller who dispossessed Thelwell on the half way line, took the ball to the penalty box, and slotted it home after a one two with Jeremie Aliadiere. But a Rob Edwards own-goal in the 81st minute looked to have denied the visitors the victory until Carl Cort powered in the winner a minute from time from a Ricketts cross
No place for Vio Ganea on the bench who was reported by Radio WM at half time to have been driven off in a taxi
First -half:

The first chance of the game fell to Hull, in the third minute, but Jon Parkin's low shot was saved by the diving Stefan Postma. Hull were granted a corner eight minutes later as they again attacked the Wolves goal but their efforts came to nothing. Another corner in the 13th minute saw Hull move closer to taking the lead when a Stuart Green corner was headed out by Paul Ince but only as far as Mark Noble, whose shot from the just outside the area was deflected wide. Stuart Elliott forced a diving save from Postma in the 24th minute with a long-range effort. Hull were dominating the attacking play, and Damien Delaney was wide with a shot from just outside the area two minutes later. But against the run of play, Wolves took the lead in the 28th minute. Mark Davies' through ball was collected by Aliadiere, who slotted home an angled low shot from 16 yards out.


A minute later it could have been two when Kenny Miller's close-range effort came off keeper Bo Myhill's legs and as Davies looked to follow up the ball was scooped over by the home defence.
Miller came close to finding the net again seconds later but his header was just over. Noble's attempt to draw Hull level in the 35th minute sailed inches over Postma's goal. Miller was the first player to be booked, in the 38th minute, after his challenge on Alan Rogers.
Hull were awarded a penalty a minute later when Jo Lescott was adjudged to have fouled Parkin, but Green's spot-kick went wide. Postma may have saved it as he dived well for the ball

Second-half:

A revitalised Hull side came out from the interval and their early attacking play resulted in the equaliser in the 51st minute. Leon Cort, brother of Wolves striker Carl, was the man to power the ball into the back of the net. Wolves fail to clear a Green corner, and Noble crossed the ball for Leon Cort to smash home.  Andrews had a powerful shot deflected over by Paul Ince in the 54th minute.  LeeNaylor was booked three minutes later.  After absorbing a period of pressure from the home side, Wolves regained the lead through Miller. The striker dispossessed Alton Thelwell before playing a one-two with Aliadiere and hitting a low shot past Myhill.  Darren Anderton was replaced by Mark Kennedy in the 63rd minute. 

Ince almost increased Wolves' lead in the 67th minute when Aliadiere set up the skipper, who was running in and unleashed a powerful shot which went just wide.  Maurice Ross was the third Wolves player to go in the book in the 76th minute after reacting to a strong Hull challenge which went unpunished. Aliadiere was replaced by Rohan Ricketts two minutes later.  Hull's equaliser came nine minutes from time in bizarre circumstances as Rob Edwards ran to clear a deep cross under pressure but the Wolves defender hooked the ball into his home net from a tight angle.



Bu t, Ed wa rds ' blu sh es we re sa ve d when Carl Cort powered in Wolves' third goal of the afternoon a minute from time after Kennedy passed to Rohan Ricketts who put in a beautiful cross to Carl Cort to run on to at the far post. With 4 minutes of injury time   Tomasz Frankowski replaced kenny

Hull: Myhill, L. Cort, Delaney, Andrews (capt), Elliott (Fagan 65), France, Green, Parkin, Noble, Thewell (Duffy 63), Rogers.Unused subs: Duke, Paynter, Welsh.
Wolves: Postma, Ross, Naylor, Anderton (Kennedy 63), Lescott, Edwards, Ince (capt), Davies, C. Cort, Aliadiere (Ricketts 78), Miller (Frankowski 90).Unused subs: Oakes, Rosa.
Bookings: Miller (38 - foul), Naylor (57 - foul), Ross (76 - dissent), Kennedy (86 - foul), Ricketts (90 - kicking the ball away after conceding free-kick).

Sat Feb 18th Wolves 1 (Kenny Miller 73 pen) Ipswich Town 0

Either side could have won this entertaining but see-saw match.  Denes Rosa (again) could have scored within 30 seconds as he could against Crewe, but his shot went high and wide.  But it was the introduction of Jeremie Aliadiere that unlocked the Ipswich defence.  His run - a throw out from Postma to Denes Rosa who turned to set Kenny free - a great through ball and Aliadiere was off and running. Although he was running wide Castro lunged from behind and brought him down. And ref Woolmer getting things right for a change (this was the ref who DJ nearly attacked on Tuesday night!) awarded the pen. Up stepped Kenny who put it straight down the middle and that was enough to take the points.

The Match Stats showed that Ipswich had more than their fair share of the play and Joe Royle was understandably unhappy with the result.

Goal Attempts 9 : 11
On Target      4 : 2
Crosses        11 : 27
Corners          6 : 10
Offside          4 : 1
Fouls            18 : 11
Free kicks     12 : 22
Yellow cards   3 :  3
% Possession 44 : 56%

Wolves: Postma, Ross, L. Naylor, Anderton, Lescott (capt), Craddock (Edwards 37), Rosa (Ricketts 89), Davies, Cort, Frankowski (Aliadiere 60), Miller. Unused subs: Oakes, Ganea. Bookings: Ross (31 - foul), Davies (40 - foul), L. Naylor (72 - foul).

Ipswich: Supple, Wilnis, Richards, De Vos (capt), R. Naylor, Currie, McDonald (Peters 58) (Magilton 74), Castro, Garvan, Barron (Proudlock 48), Westlake. Unused subs: Skard, Price. Bookings: Barron (30 - foul), Castro (36 - hand ball), Westlake (63 - foul), Magilton (90 - foul).

Referee: K.A. Woolmer. Attendance: 23,561

and the ST report by Brian Doogan was http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,2767-2047217,00.html

Wolves 1 Ipswich 0: Miller makes Ipswich pay

KENNY MILLER continued Wolves’ revival with a converted second-half penalty that pushed the Midlands club back to within striking distance of a playoff place. The driving force throughout, Miller’s energy and incisive running just off the front two constantly stretched the Ipswich defence.

The result generated optimism in manager Glenn Hoddle. Victory at Hull next weekend would provide three successive league wins for the first time this season. “If we can, that will give us a boost and maybe make a few other people around here believe we can do it. Kenny played well and Darren Anderton epitomised the way we had to dig in,” Hoddle said.

Miller’s blocked shot in the first minute fell perfectly for Denes Rosa but he finished wildly. Missed opportunities became the story of the half, with Wolves the more culpable. Jody Craddock missed their best chance when he blasted wide after Anderton’s effort had ricocheted inside the box.

Darren Currie was the visitors’ biggest threat, confidently moving forward from midfield and firing one powerful 30-yard shot that narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Shane Supple had to make a fine save from another Miller shot before Ian Westlake missed a glaring opening for the visitors, pushing his close-range shot wide from Owen Garvan’s penetrating pass. But the most penetrative ball of the match was struck by Miller to Jeremie Aliadiere. He glided into the penalty area where Castro Sito cynically brought him down. Miller’s shot from the spot sent Supple the wrong way. Now Wolves could be heading the right way at last.

STAR MAN: Kenny Miller (Wolves)

Player ratings. Wolves: Postma 7, Craddock 6 (Edwards 37min, 6), Lescott 6, Naylor 6, Ross 6, Davies 7, Anderton 6, Rosa 7 (Ricketts 89min, 5), Miller 8, Frankowski 6 (Aliadiere 60min, 7), Cort 5

Ipswich: Supple 6, Sito 5, Wilnis 6, De Vos 6, Barron 6 (Proudlock 48min, 6), Richards 6, Garvan 6, Westlake 6, Currie 7, Naylor 6, McDonald 6 (Peters 58min, 5; Magilton 74min, 6)

Scorer: Wolves: Miller 74 pen    Referee: K Woolmer  Attendance: 23,561

Tue Feb 14th St Valentine’s Day - Burnley 0 Wolves 1 (Ince 15)

A much more open game at Turf Moor and Wolves played with more confidence.   Originally Nayls was schecduled for bench duty with Kennedy at left back but he felt his hamstring pull and changed to the bench. The first ten minutes though were all Burnley’s possession and we didn’t get a cross in until the 10th. In the 13th Joleon looked as though he’s conceded a penalty but the referee doesn’t give it. The ball went down the other end for two corners in quick succession.  The first was cleared after a Cort knock down to Franek.  Mo Ross’s second was turned out for a throwin which Mo took.  It was centered then knocked down at the far post by Carl Cort into Ince’s path who slammed it home from 18 yards, courtesy of a small deflection. 1-0 to the Wolves.   Both teams had chances, and Wolves were more aggressive for Burnley set pieces by leaving players up, instead of letting the opposition move up on us. The Wolves fans appreciated the effort put in by the team and applauded them off at half time.

Stats:                 Half time            Full Time
                     Burnley   Wolves  Burnley  Wolves
Goal Attempts    6      :     5           16       8
On Target          2      :     5             4        6
Crosses              8     :    7            25     13
Corners              1     :    2              6        5
Offside              -      :     1               -         1
Fouls                1      :     5             7        19
Free kicks         6      :    1            22        7
Yellow cards       -       :     -             2        2
Red cards          -      :    -              -         -
% Possession   43      :  57             51      49

The second half started the same as the first with a lot of Burnley pressure and several corners but their shooting was as bad as ours has been.  12 minutes in and Joleon handled the ball in the box and again got away with it.  WOlves seemed content to sit back and take whatever Burnley could throw at them.  The midfield of Davies Ince and Rosa seemed assured.   16 minutes to go and Anderton came on to replace Denes Rosa who was applauded off.  He wasn’t as effective as his man of the match performance at Molineux but still contributed well.  Again Joleon pulled Branch back by his shirt - Burnley wanted a penalty but the linesman gave it outside of the box.  A bit of a contretemps occured with Mo Ross getting booked. Burnley wasted the free kick though. Play went straight down the left wing with Carl Cort laying the ball into Franek’s path but he shot wide from 15 yards. Kenny then had a go from 30 yards but his shot went over the bar. At 10 mins Jeremie Aliadiere made his Wolves debut replacing Franek.  Cort went past 3 defenders and put the ball through to Aliadiere with 4 to go but the defender got back to put the ball out.  The last two minutes and a lot of pressure in our box as we’re defending too deep.  A quick attack came from Nayls but Burnley cleared the ball. 

Mo Ross and Mark Davies were both singled out for praise and so was Carl Cort.

Mark Kennedy was named in the starting line up but failed to take the field because of a hamstring problem which started during the Crewe match.  Incey stretched his standing foot hamstring when scoring (with his right).  Nayls also felt a hamstring after 5 minutes but both played on.  Rob Edwards made the bench but has groin pull from Saturday.

Burnley: Jensen, McGreal, Duff, J. O'Connor, Hyde (capt), Ricketts, Elliott, Noel-Williams, McCann (Branch 64), Spicer, Harley. Unused subs: Karbassiyoon, Branch, G. O'Connor, Courtney, Pugh.
Bookings: Ricketts (72 - foul), McGreal (82 - foul).
Wolves: Postma, Ross, Naylor, Ince (capt), Lescott, Craddock, Rosa (Anderton 75), Davies, Cort, Frankowski (Aliadiere 80), Miller. Unused subs: Oakes, Edwards, Ganea.
Bookings: Rosa (61 - foul), Ross (78 - ungentlemanly conduct).
Referee: C.W. Oliver.  Attendance: 11,056

Sat Feb 11th Wolves 1 (Kennedy 47) Crewe Alexandra 1

An awful performances from both the teams and the fans, who have now decided to start booing Mark Kennedy during open play.  Although he had quite a few misplaced passes he was by no means the worst player - some 80% of Nayls’ passes went astray and none of his corners caused any trouble to an energetic and forceful Crewe.  Seol was rightly substituted by Kenny before half time.

Play started brightly with a Denes Rosa - clearly our man of the match by a country mile - breaking into the box in the first minute. Wolves pressed for all of 6 minutes until Crewe went down the other end for the first time.   Rob Edwards’ jockeying didn’t prevent a great cross and Billy Jone was on the end of it. 0-1, and the crowd discontent started and grew and grew.  In truth, Crewe were unlucky to not be two or even three ahead by half time.   Joleon’s string of bad games continued and let Crewe’s Luke Rodgers get the better of him several times. Nayls also had his worst match since before he was injured - he went missing too often in defence, barely 20% of his passes were successful, and none of his corners caused any problems.

So the attendance fell to 21,700, and the gaps at Molineux are really obvious. Even worse, the South and North Bank stayed seated.  It didn’t take long, too, after several dangerous Crewe breaks, with a couple of wasted shots and saves by Stefan Postma, that choruses of “what a load of rubbish” echoed round the stadium.   Then some “fans”, who really should be ashemed of themselves started booing Mark Kennedy.  And to answer them he saved the points in the dying seconds of the first half with his first goal for nearly two years.  A cracker it was too, he cut in from the right wing, jockeyed the defender (Seol were you watching?) cut left and let fly.   Fortunately Franek standing offside didn’t get near the ball and it went in.

         Phone-ins: Both 107.7 and Radio WM had a fair share of fans complainiing about this performance although the presenter views differed with 107.7 saying we must keep Glenn Hoddle and WM (Franksy) saying get rid of him. Glenn didn’t do himself any favours with the fans by appearing to criticise them - saying that Denes Rosa played so well because he wasn’t aware of the crowd pressure at Molineux “That says something about how you can play when you haven’t got that on your back” and “The fans can choose to support the team any way they like”, echoing Jez Moxey’s “blame the fans” outburst of last year.   However, it cannot help the team especially when individuals are singled out as Mark Kennedy was when clearly more than half his colleauges - Seol, Ince, Naylor, Edwards, Cort, and even Joleon Lescott are playing worse.

WoW summary: Denes Rosa, making his first start in a gold shirt, forced Crewe keeper, Ross Turnbull, to make a diving save inside the first 30 seconds. But it was Crewe who opened the scoring in the sixth minute. Steve Jones' cross found Billy Jones, who right-footed it past Stefan Postma. Wolves had a chance to draw level in the 24th minute when a Paul Ince corner found its way to Jo Lescott in a packed box. His shot went over the bar. Luke Rodgers came close to increasing Crewe's lead in the 26th minute when his shot from 20-yards glanced off the crossbar and went over.Rodgers was causing problems again two minutes later, when his shot forced a diving save from Postma. .Lescott gave away a free-kick just outside the area just after the half-hour mark and Billy Jones' strike powered through the wall but Postma was well sighted to make the save. Glenn Hoddle made the first change of the game in the 41st minute, with Kenny Miller replacing Seol. Lee Naylor almost equalised two minutes before the break when his cross-cum-shot appeared on course for goal, but Turnbull just managed to divert the ball wide. Ince's corner came to nothing.  But it was Kennedy who drew Wolves level in added time. The winger picked up the ball on the edge of the area, and unleashed a shot 
from ten yards out to restore parity.
Half-time Wolves 1 Crewe 1
Wolves started the second-half brightly, and it was Tomasz Frankowski who had the first chance after the interval. An Ince cross from the right looked on course to find the Polish striker but the ball was cleared for a corner. In the 50th minute Miller had a shot deflected wide, and just seconds later the striker was again in the thick of things when his shot forced a diving save from Turnbull, Frankowski picked up the rebound but his effort went wide.  Cort came close to giving Wolves the lead just after the hour mark when Ince nodded down a cross to the striker, who's strike was parried for an unproductive corner. A minute later Naylor forced a great save from Turnbull with his shot from just inside the box. In the 67th minute Frankowski looked in a great position to score after Naylor had helped on a pass from Miller, but the Pole's strike was deflected wide. Five minutes later Crewe were on the attack, but as Steve Jones looked to unleash his shot Jody Craddock put the ball out for a corner. Vio Ganea was introduced in place of Frankowski in the 73rd minute, and two minutes later Maurice Ross  replaced Rob Edwards. Crewe almost gave Wolves the lead in the 76th minute. Naylor's cross found the head of Ganea and his glancing header looked to be going wide, but Anthony Tonkin intercepted and almost fired it into his own net. A chance fell to Ganea two minutes from time, when the ball fell just behind the striker, but the defender managed to clear.

Wolves: Postma, Edwards (Ross 75), Naylor, Ince (capt), Lescott, Craddock, Rosa, Kennedy, Cort, Frankowski (Ganea 73), Seol (Miller 40).  Unused subs: Oakes, Ricketts.
Crewe: Turnbull, Tonkin, B. Jones, Foster, S. Jones, Bell (McCready 90), Walker (capt), Higdon (Varney 63), Roberts, Rodgers, Otsemobor. Unused subs: Tomlinson, O'Connor, Grant.
Referee: L.S. Mason.
Attendance: 21,683.

Sat Feb 4th Leicester 1 (Fryatt 69) WW 0 - Postma mistake gifts goal but no passion (again!)

Leicester’s perilous position and Cup exit led to the sacking of Craig Levein.  And who’s taken over? - Rob Kelly with Mike Stowell which should add some extra spice to the match. 

Not so as it turned out; a feeble affair with a lack of passion - which even Glenn Hoddle admitted.   Here’s the WoW report

Wolves fell eight points behind the play-off places after an ineffectual display against struggling Leicester City at the Walkers Stadium, with former Walsall striker Matt Fryatt grabbing the only goal of the game midway through the second-half after a slip by Stefan Postma.

Glenn Hoddle made two changes from the team that started against Manchester United with Tomasz Frankowski, making his full debut, and Rohan Ricketts coming in for Seol and Darren Anderton.

Wolves, wearing their all black change kit, were the first to bare their fangs. Rob Edwards ran through on to Ricketts' neat through pass but the defender's first time shot went over the bar.The Foxes responded quickly and twice, within a minute, they had chances of their own. Fryatt burst through but he was just beaten to the ball by Postma who kicked clear from two-yards outside the area. But the danger wasn't over and when Patrick Kisnorbo sent a short cross into the box, the unmarked Iain Hume shot straight into the midriff of Postma.  Kenny Miller's angled drive was comfortably held by home keeper Rab Douglas before former Molineux midfielder Joey Gudjonsson flashed a 25-yard shot narrowly wide although Postma looked to have the Icelander's effort covered. A bizarre decision by the referee saw Leicester being awarded a free-kick just outside their own box. Gudjonsson's tackle on Paul Ince as the Wolves' skipper was about to shoot looked a clear foul but when Ince picked the ball up the official awarded a free-kick in the home side's favour for hand ball. City captain Patrick McCarthy missed a good chance when he blazed the ball high over the bar after Postma had only managed to get his fingertips to Gudjonsson's inswinging corner. Douglas denied Frankowski with a low save at the near post after the Pole had swung a foot at Ricketts' threaded pass and an uninspiring half drew to a close with Postma reacting angrily to a Fryatt challenge.  The Dutch keeper had to sprint from his line to collect a header back from Gabor Gyepes and he quickly made his feelings known after Fryatt had lunged in.

Half-Time: Foxes 0 Wolves 0

Two Gudjonsson corners, the first of which flew dangerously through the Wolves' six-yard box, heralded the start of the new half. Then Lee Naylor was fouled on the Wolves' left and when Ricketts drove a low free-kick into the area Miller flicked the ball towards goal. Douglas appeared to have the shot covered but it spun loose from his grasp and Stephen Hughes had to run in and clear. But the keeper then did well to turn behind a first-time shot from Miller, the striker having made a good connection on the edge of the area after Cort  had dummied allowing Ricketts' low-cross to run through. A Gudjonsson free-kick from the right-hand corner of the visitors box flew dangerously through a sea of legs and wide of the far post then, with the half at its midway point, Denes Rosa was sent on in place of Cort. But just two minutes later City moved ahead. Postma looked to have hold of McCarthy's header following Gudjonsson's corner but the ball bounced from the keeper's hands and Fryatt ran in to net from close quarters.  Frankowski almost got a touch to Ince's cross-shot and the Pole was then beaten to an Ince through ball as Wolves searched in vain for a levelling goal.

Vio Ganea came on for the final few moments but City held out for three points crucial to their survival hopes, whilst Wolves slipped further away from the play-off places.

City: Douglas, Stearman, McCarthy (capt), Kisnorbo, Johansson, Maybury, Gudjonsson, Wesolowski, Hughes, Hume (O'Grady 74), Fryatt.Unused subs: Smith, Gerrbrand, Hammond, Williams.

Wolves: Postma, Edwards, Naylor, Ince (capt), Lescott, Gyepes, Ricketts, Kennedy, Cort (Rosa 67), Miller (Ganea 86), Frankowski.Unused subs: Oakes, Craddock, Anderton.

Referee: L. Probert.   Attendance: 21,358.

and Barry Flatman’s views in the Sunday Times

CONJECTURE abounds. One rumour had it that Brentford’s Martin Allen will soon be ensconced as Leicester City’s next manager. Conflicting speculation insisted Ian Holloway of QPR and Luton’s Mike Newell are pencilled in for meetings with chairman Jim McCahill this week. Even the Wolves fans, their loyalty to the former England coach clearly growing thin, made a suggestion as they chanted: “Hoddle for Leicester.”

However, the name Rob Kelly should now figure among the contenders after the Leicester caretaker manager celebrated his second Championship win in as many matches. Back-to-back victories are a luxury Leicester had not experienced all season and while six points have not extinguished fears of relegation, they have created a cushion over the three teams currently in line to drop to League One.

Clearly Kelly — a former Leicester player, a fully-trained journalist with the Wolverhampton Express and Star and initially seen as no more than a temporary measure following the sacking of Craig Levein, who he was brought back to the club to assist 15 months ago —- has fostered a new determination into a club endangered by the prospect of dropping into the third tier of English football for the first time in their 122- year history.

After beating QPR last Tuesday, Leicester were dominant for most of the match but reward was delayed in coming. Finally Matty Fryatt, a £750,000 signing from Walsall and Levein’s last piece of managerial business before clearing his desk 11 days ago, provided the goal to ease Leicester’s relegation concerns and further underline Kelly’s credentials for a permanent appointment.

Even before yesterday’s victory, McCahill maintained: “As a board, we are looking at a variety of options regarding a long-term successor. Rob certainly comes into our thoughts.” Leicester have already failed in attempts to approach Preston’s Billy Davies and Steve Cotterill of Burnley.

The nature of Leicester’s determined approach from the outset showed the players had taken heed of their chairman’s words and Wolves were pinned back for long periods, with home goalkeeper Rab Douglas rarely called into service. Pragmatic about the situation, Kelly insisted he had not considered long-term management. “I am not even thinking about it,” he said. “But if you do a half- decent job, it opens doors in other directions. There’s no point in knocking on those doors. They will either open or they won’t.” If things do work out in Kelly’s favour, then he can legitimately think of Wolves goalkeeper Stefan Postma as his own personal doorman. The Dutchman was given a torrid afternoon by the new strike partnership of Fryatt and Iain Hume, but was guilty of a cardinal sin in the 70th minute.

Joey Gudjonsson, a driving force in the heart of Leicester’s midfield, aimed a right-wing corner onto the head of captain Patrick McCarthy. Postma initially seemed to have gathered the effort on goal but he let the ball fall from his grasp and Fryatt grabbed the opportunity to score. “At this level you don’t expect to concede goals like that,” said Hoddle.

STAR MAN: Joey Gudjonsson (Leicester)

Player ratings. Leicester: Douglas 7, Stearman 6, McCarthy 7, Kisnorbo 6, Johansson 6, Maybury 6, Wesolowski 7, Gudjonsson 8, Hughes 6, Hume 7 (O’Grady 73min, 6), Fryatt 7

Wolves: Postma 4, Edwards 5, Lescott 5, Gyepes 5, Naylor 5, Ricketts 5, Ince 5, Kennedy 5, Miller 6 (Ganea 85min, 5), Cort 4 (Rosa 67min, 4), Frankowski 5

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