March 2013 Click on month for reports: 2012-13 ReviewAprilMay13Mar13Feb13Jan13Dec12Nov12Oct12Sep12Aug12preseason
Reproduced under licence from Football DataCo Ltd. All rights reserved. Licence no FDCFANZ12/13-118101 details
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Championship season 2012-13 |
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# |
Day |
Date |
KO |
TV |
Home |
Score |
Score |
Away |
Pts |
CumPts |
Posn |
Goal Diff |
Match Report |
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35 |
Friday |
1st March |
19:45 |
sky |
Wolves |
1 |
1 |
Watford |
1 |
36 |
23 |
-10 |
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36 |
Tuesday |
5th March |
19:45 |
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Millwall |
0 |
2 |
Wolves |
3 |
39 |
21 |
-8 |
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37 |
Saturday |
9th March |
19:45 |
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Nottingham Forest |
3 |
1 |
Wolves |
0 |
39 |
21 |
-10 |
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38 |
Saturday |
16th March |
15:00 |
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Wolves |
2 |
1 |
Bristol City |
3 |
42 |
23 |
-9 |
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39 |
Saturday |
30th March |
15:00 |
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Wolves |
3 |
2 |
Middlesborough |
3 |
45 |
22 |
-8 |
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Saturday March 30th Wolves 3 McManus 17′ (og)Sigurdarson 48′ Doyle 70′ Middlesborough 2 Leadbitter 25′, 52′
Wolves 3 McManus 17′ (og)Sigurdarson 48′ Doyle 70′ Middlesbrough 2 Leadbitter 25′, 52′
FT 90 +5 HT 1-1
29 March 2013 Wolves still in relegation zone on goals (not) scored. This is Doyler’s winner (- he’s falling to the right)
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Wolves edged out Middlesbrough to claim a priceless victory in their fight for Championship survival.
Stephen McManus put into his own net to give the home side the lead before Grant Leadbitter equalised when his effort struck the underside of the bar and crept in. Wolves made it 2-1 when Bjorn Sigurdarson slotted home but Leadbitter levelled again with a great strike. With 20 minutes remaining, Kevin Doyle headed in what proved to be the winner.
The result moves Wolves up to 22nd, level on 45 points with 21st-placed Peterborough, who also won. Defeat, though, was a blow to Middlesbrough's play-off hopes. Tony Mowbray's side are now six points shy of sixth-placed Brighton.
Wolves were on the back foot early in the match, although it was home defender Kaspars Gorkss, instead of a Boro player, who forced home goalkeeper Dorus De Vries into making the first good save. Boro hit the bar a total of four times in the first half, courtesy of efforts from Justin Hoyte, Leadbitter (twice) and Mustapha Carayol. After full-back 
Hoyte rattled the bar with a powerful strike, Wolves took the lead when Stephen Hunt's low cross was turned in by McManus. A few moments later Boro equalised when Leadbitter struck the post with a shot then followed up with a strike that rebounded against the underside of the crossbar and was judged to have crossed the line. Carayol came close to giving the visitors the lead when a superb effort that was palmed on to the bar by De Vries. Wolves re-took the lead after the break when Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's backheel found Sigurdarson, who eased past keeper Jason Steele before tapping in.
But Mowbray's men levelled once more when Leadbitter smashed in a tremendous 25-yard strike that found the bottom corner. With less than a quarter of the match left to play, Doyle rounded off the scoring when he nodded in Roger Johnson's flick-on from Matt Doherty's throw-in.
Wolves manager Dean Saunders [on Grant Leadbitter's first goal]:
"The ball was not over the line. The assistant referee was seven yards out when he gave it and he was not in line with the goal. I can't understand why he gave it. He is just guessing. Don't give it if you aren't sure. All the players knew at half-time that it was not over the line but they have shown some great character after they have had a punch from the officials."
Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray:
"I stopped looking at the table in my mind a few weeks ago. We just have to win football matches. If we win games let's see where the season takes us. But obviously we are finding it difficult to matches at the moment. Yet if we had won at Derby County on New Year's Day we could have gone top of the table and that is the stark reality of our position. Confidence does get eroded with defeats and yet the defeats probably come along because you don't have key players available. I felt that we gave Wolves a tough game but the reality is that we did not get any points."
LINEUP, S (3) & S (6)
Wolverhampton Wanderers
31 De Vries
14 Johnson
20 Robinson
21 Gorkss
30 Doherty
12 Hunt (Ward - 86' )
24 O'Hara Booked (Henry - 76' )
26 Davis Booked
09 Ebanks-Blake
15 Sigurdarson
29 Doyle (Batth - 81' )
Substitutes
36 McCarey
11 Ward
25 Batth
08 Henry
19 Hammill
28 Doumbia
23 Dicko
Middlesbrough
01 Steele
02 Hoyte
03 Bikey Booked
04 Friend
06 McManus
25 Reach (Dyer - 62' )
39 Woodgate (Zemmama - 74' )
07 Leadbitter
17 Jutkiewicz
19 Carayol (Sa Ameobi - 62' )
27 McDonald
Substitutes
32 Leutwiler
15 Hines
05 Zemmama
12 Dyer
16 McEachran
08 Sa Ameobi
30 Miller
Ref: Bates
MATCH STATS
Possession
51%
49%
90mins
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Middlesbrough
Shots
1716
On target
156
Corners
136
Fouls
88
Live Text Commentary
90:00 +4:43 Full time
Full Time
The referee signals the end of the game. 90:00 +2:16 Short corner worked by Bjorn Sigurdarson. 88:44 Lukas 
Jutkiewicz has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target. 85:39 Stephen Hunt leaves the field to be replaced by Stephen Ward. 81:54 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake takes a shot. Save by Jason Steele. 80:04 (Wolverhampton) makes a , with Danny Batth coming on for Kevin Doyle. 80:04 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Stephen Hunt by Sammy Ameobi. Direct free kick taken by Dorus De Vries. 79:30 The referee shows David Davis a yellow card for unsporting behaviour. 79:18 Free kick awarded for a foul by David Davis on Sammy Ameobi. Merouane Zemmama restarts play with the free kick. 77:57 Stephen Hunt takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Merouane Zemmama. 77:12 Unfair challenge on Bjorn Sigurdarson by Sammy Ameobi results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jack Robinson. 76:07 Grant Leadbitter takes a outswinging corner to the near post, clearance by Kevin Doyle. 74:38 Karl Henry on for Jamie O'Hara. 74:38 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kieron Dyer. Grant Leadbitter takes the free kick. 73:49 Kieron Dyer restarts play with the fre
e kick. 73:49 Merouane Zemmama on for Jonathan Woodgate. 73:49 Jamie O'Hara concedes a free kick for a foul on Kieron Dyer. 72:01 Corner taken by Stephen Hunt, clearance made by Jonathan Woodgate. 71:32 Short corner taken by Stephen Hunt from the right by-line. 70:53 Corner taken by Stephen Hunt from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Stephen McManus. 70:30 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Grant Leadbitter by Stephen Hunt. Free kick taken by George Friend. 69:21 Roger Johnson provided the assist for the goal. 69:21 Goal scored
Goal - Kevin Doyle - Wolves 3 - 2 Middlesbro
Kevin Doyle scores a headed goal from inside the six-yard box. Wolverhampton 3-2 Middlesbrough. 67:38 Stephen Hunt takes the outswinging corner, Jonathan W
oodgate manages to make a clearance. 67:04 Kevin Doyle fouled by Jonathan Woodgate, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jack Robinson. 66:27 Grant Leadbitter takes a inswinging corner to the near post, clearance made by Kaspars Gorkss. 64:26 Corner from the right by-line taken by Grant Leadbitter, Andre Bikey has a header from close range and clears the crossbar. 64:09 Shot from 12 yards by Bjorn Sigurdarson. Clearance made by Justin Hoyte. 63:53 Outswinging corner taken by Stephen Hunt from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance by George Friend. 63:36 Effort from 25 yards by Jamie O'Hara. Grant Leadbitter makes a clearance. 63:07 Stephen Hunt takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, clearance made by Stephen McManus. 61:29 Clearance made by Kevin Doyle. 61:29 Adam Reach leaves the field to be replaced by Kieron Dyer. 61:29 Sammy Ameobi comes on in place of Mustapha Carayol. 61:29 Inswinging corner taken by Grant Leadbitter from the left by-line played to the near post, 60:38 Grant Leadbitter has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the goal. 58:58 Jamie O'Hara takes a shot. Save by Jason Steele. 58:24 Corner from the left by-line taken by Stephen Hunt, clearance made by Stephen McManus. 58:08 Jamie O'Hara decides to take a short corner. 57:56 Kevin Doyle takes a shot. George Friend gets a block in. 57:35 Kevin Doyle takes a shot. Clearance by Stephen McManus. 57:22 Stephen Hunt takes a shot. Blocked by Stephen McManus. 55:49 Grant Leadbitter has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target. 54:41 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake by Mustapha Carayol. Dorus De Vries takes the direct free kick. 54:18 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Grant Leadbitter, Kaspars Gorkss makes a clearance. 54:01 Mustapha Carayol takes a shot. Kaspars Gorkss gets a block in. 53:45 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake takes a shot. Save made by Jason Steele. 53:25 Matt Doherty takes a shot. Stephen McManus gets a block in. 51:45 Assist on the goal came from George Friend. 51:45 Goal scored Goal - Grant Leadbitter - Wolves 2 - 2 Middlesbro
A goal is scored by Grant Leadbitter from outside the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 2-2 Middlesbrough. 50:53 Effort from the edge of the box by Lukas Jutkiewicz goes wide of the right-hand upright. 47:52 Assist by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. 47:52 Goal scored
Goal - Bjorn Sigurdarson - Wolves 2 - 1 Middlesbro
Bjorn Sigurdarson fires in a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 2-1 Middlesbrough. 46:28 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jack Robinson by Adam Reach. Dorus De Vries takes the direct free kick. 45:41 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Jamie O'Hara. 45:23 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake takes a shot. Blocked by Adam Reach. 45:01 The referee gets the second half started. 45:00 +2:04 Half time
Half Time
The ref blows to signal half-time. 45:00 +0:51 Jamie O'Hara takes a shot. Jonathan Woodgate gets a block in. 44:36 Lukas Jutkiewicz takes a shot. Dorus De Vries makes a save. 43:21 David Davis takes a shot. Justin Hoyte gets a block in. 41:04 Stephen Hunt produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the right-hand post. 38:32 Shot from long distance by Andre Bikey misses to the right of the goal. 35:34 Mustapha Carayol takes a shot. 33:56 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake produces a left-footed shot from deep inside the six-yard box which goes wide of the left-hand post. 32:56 Close range shot by Adam Reach goes wide of the left-hand upright. 30:08 Matt Doherty fouled by George Friend, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie O'Hara takes the direct free kick. 28:10 Corner taken left-footed by Jamie O'Hara, save by Jason Steele. 27:05 Jamie O'Hara has an effort at goal from 25 yards. Grant Leadbitter gets a block in. 26:14 Booking for Andre Bikey for unsporting behaviour. 26:08 Andre Bikey challenges Bjorn Sigurdarson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Jamie O'Hara takes the direct free kick. 25:55 Grant Leadbitter takes a shot. Blocked by Kaspars Gorkss. 25:38 Jack Robinson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Justin Hoyte. Justin Hoyte restarts play with the free kick. 24:45 Goal scored Goal - Grant Leadbitter - Wolves 1 - 1 Middlesbro
Grant Leadbitter gets on the score sheet with a goal from close in to the bottom right corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 1-1 Middlesbrough. 24:26 Lukas Jutkiewicz takes a shot. Dorus De Vries makes a save. 23:17 Unfair challenge on Andre Bikey by David Davis results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Stephen McManus. 18:03 Handball decision goes against Lukas Jutkiewicz. Free kick taken by Kaspars Gorkss. 17:34 Foul by David Davis on Grant Leadbitter, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Grant Leadbitter. 16:25 Assist by Stephen Hunt. 16:25 
Goal scored
Goal - Stephen McManus - Wolves 1 - 0 Middlesbro
Stephen McManus puts the ball into his own goal. Wolverhampton 1-0 Middlesbrough. 15:35 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Jamie O'Hara, Jonathan Woodgate makes a clearance. 12:47 Mustapha Carayol has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand post. 12:29 Justin Hoyte takes a shot. 7:47 Corner from the right by-line taken by Grant Leadbitter, Kevin Doyle manages to make a clearance. 5:13 Jamie O'Hara receives a caution for unsporting behaviour. 4:47 Jamie O'Hara concedes a free kick for a foul on Grant Leadbitter. Direct free kick taken by Mustapha Carayol. 2:07 George Friend gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kevin Doyle. Direct free kick taken by Jamie O'Hara. 0:00 The ref blows the whistle to start the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association
TEAM NEWS
Wolves will be without Carl Ikeme (hand), Bakary Sako (hamstring) and Dave Edwards (metatarsal) for their home clash against Middlesbrough. Loan-signings Nouha Dicko and goalkeeper Marian Kell are both available to make their Wolves debuts.
Middlesbrough's Josh McEachran damaged his ankle in England Under-21s' victory over Austria and is unavailable.
Striker Emmanuel Ledesma (ankle) is also out but full-back Stuart Parnaby (hamstring) is now back in training.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Middlesbrough stole all three points when they faced Wolves at the Riverside in December. Their 2-0 triumph came courtesy of an 89th-minute penalty from Marvin Emnes and a goal in stoppage-time from Scott MacDonald.
• Now the Teesside club are hoping to wrap up a first double over Wolves since 1995, when they also last scored a league goal at Molineux.
• Wolves have kept clean sheets in eight of their last 11 home league matches against 'Boro, but they also lost on the three occasions when their defences were breached.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Having failed to win in 13 league and cup games since Boxing Day, relegation-haunted Wolves are now seeking a third win in four outings, and a third from Dean Saunders' 13th game in charge.
• The Black country club have managed only three clean sheets in 37 home league games.
• They also have the shortest goal scorers list in the Championship this season, of 11 players.
• David Edwards could make his 100th league start in a Wolves shirt.
Middlesbrough
• Middlesbrough's season hit the wall at the turn of the year, dropping out of the top three and then the play-off spots with 10 defeats in 13 games, including the last three.
• The off-form Teesside club have won two Championship games in 2013 (v Leeds and Cardiff), but have only bagged one point out of 24 on the road, since gaining their fifth away league maximum on the season at Peterborough on 8 December.
• 'Boro go into the Easter weekend with the longest goal scorers list in the Championship of 20 players.
Saturday March 16th Wolves Ebanks-Blake 76′Doyle 78′ v Bristol City 1 Davis 25′ (og)
Wolves 2 Ebanks-Blake 76′Doyle 78′ Bristol City 1 Davis 25′ (og)
FT 90 +4
HT 0-1
Even Franksy who had compered the excellent League Cup Final dinner 
thought it was the worst match he'd even seen up until the 75th minute when SEB and Doyler finally remembered that they are strikers - Sylvan's turn and shot was classic Sylvan while Capt Kevin Doyle's was just a proper goal - and with a proper trashing of the corner flag in celebration. Until then, only Jack Robinson and Hunty when he came on has shown any passion. An awful back pass from a very bad goal kick has left David Davis with an og, but Carl Ikeme was most embarrassed for his "own goal of the season" contribution. To cap that injuries to both Dave Edwards (foot ? broken) and Bacary Sako (hamstring) left us struggling.
16 March 2013 the Beeb's view
Kevin Doyle and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake scored for Wolves to earn a valuable three points as they came from behind to beat fellow strugglers Bristol City.
A bizarre first-half own goal from David Davis put City ahead as Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme let his backpass through his legs. Ebanks-Blake volleyed in an equaliser from substitute Stephen Hunt's well-placed cross with 14 minutes remaining. Doyle struck the winner two minutes l
ater, heading in a cross from Hunt. Wolves' comeback is the first time this season they have won after conceding the first goal in a game Wolves came into this game with only one victory in 2013 and manager Dean Saunders was still looking for his first Molineux win The Welshman must have thought he was cursed when his side conceded the softest of goals in the 25th minute. Ikeme played a short goal-kick to Davis who immediately passed it back - straight past the red-faced Ikeme, 
who was promptly substituted at half-time. Liam Fontaine then denied Doyle an equaliser before the break as the home side ventured forward. Doyle and Ebanks-Blake both missed chances after half-time before the latter levelled the game with a quick turn and volley. Hunt then provided a cross to the near post that was nodded home by Doyle as Wolves moved to within a point of safety, while City stayed rooted to the bottom of the table.
Wolves must stick together - Hunt
Wolves manager Dean Saunders said: "I have to say that the character of the players has stood out yet again. Instead of laying down and dying they have come back and won the game. It was a big win. You have to keep your belief and you have to have the strength of character when the chips are
down. So I am pleased the players kept going."
Bristol City manager Sean O'Driscoll said: "This is the Championship and sometimes you have to take the result, so as I said I was pleased with the performance but disappointed with the result. At half-time we said that Wolves would throw balls into the box and at 1-0 up do you defend or do you throw caution to the wind? We were a threat on the break and we were comfortable. But in this division games can go either way."
and Tim Nash at the Express & Star
Wolves finally grabbed their first home win under Dean Saunders in a real see-saw drama against relegation rivals Bristol City at Molineux.
Saunders’ side seemed to be heading for another defeat after a bizarre 25th-minute own goal from David Davis that Carl Ikeme will be blamed for. But goals from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (76) and Kevin Doyle three minutes later turned the game on its head and gave the beleaguered manager his first win at Molineux at the fifth time of asking and only his second victory in 12 in charge. Wolves fans had endured a torrid first half which saw the injury-enforced withdrawal of Bakary Sako and Dave Edwards in five crazy minutes and any semblance of confidence and cohesion totally eroded by a goal which would have been comical had it not been so desperately sad from a gold and black perspective. Saunders made three changes to the side that lost 3-1 at Nottingham Forest last Saturday.
Jack Robinson, David Davis and Kevin Doyle replaced the suspended Stephen Ward and captain Karl Henry and Bjorn Sigurdarson, with Doyle named skipper. Henry and Sigurdarson dropped to the bench. Saunders had vowed Wolves would have the home fans on the edge of their seats, but instead it was a tentative beginning from the hosts at a tense Molineux which was soon engulfed by grey skies and driving rain. Bristol City created the first chance in the eighth minute when Steven Davies latched onto Lewis Nyatanga’s long pass from defence after he cut out Robinson’s cross to skip clear of the offside trap only to fire an angled drive wide. But the tide soon turned in the Robins’ favour in quite unbelievable circumstances. There seemed to be no danger whatsoever as Ikeme played a simple pass to David Davis, who rolled it back to the keeper in space with Cole Skuse closing down the midfielder. Yet inexplicably, Ikeme seemed to misjudge the ball and instead of booting it clear or controlling it, it seemed to bounce up and ended up trickling through his legs. Although Ikeme has to take the blame, Davis has to take some responsibility too for putting him under pressure with a difficult ball. Wolves’ confidence, already hanging by a thread, seemed to snap almost immediately, and with it went any cohesion or chance of some decent play. And any luck also seemed to desert them too as they lost two players to injury inside five minutes before the break. First, Bakary Sako appeared to pull a hamstring as he burst onto a short pass from Doyle in the 33rd minute. His replacement, Stephen Hunt, was immediately roundly booed. Doyle had a half chance snatched away from him when his sidefooted effort ricocheted back to him off Liam Fontaine and looped harmlessly over the bar after Edwards had turned Ebanks-Blake’s cross into his path. But worse was to follow however as Dave Edwards went off on 38, clearly unable to continue after pulling up and falling to the ground to be replaced by Sigurdarson. Ebanks-Blake had two half chances to equalise in first-half injury time. First his angled shot from Hunt’s cross was blocked by the impressive Nyatanga, who seemed to be heading everything away. Then he volleyed high into the South Bank from just outside the box from Doyle’s header.
Wolves began the second half having replaced Ikeme with Dorus De Vries, Saunders making the first choice keeper pay for his mistake. And the home side started on the front foot, Ebanks-Blake seeing a shot on the turn blocked by Liam Kelly. There were still worries for Wolves at the other end and Davies forced De Vries into his first piece of action with a rising shot after Bredan Moloney’s through ball split the home centre halves far too easily. Wolves’ unconvincing attempts at a revival reached a head just after the hour when fans on the South Bank began an obscene chant for chairman Steve Morgan to leave the club. On the pitch, Saunders’ side desperately tried to get themselves back into the game and a shot by Sigurdarson straight at keeper Tom Heaton sparked loud ironic cheers. Sigurdarson wasted another chance when he lashed high and wide after Ebanks-Blake helped Hunt’s cross back to him. Wolves went desperately close to an equaliser on 73 when Matt Doherty crept around the back for a cross-shot which was drifting in before Liam Fontaine headed the ball off the line. And the equaliser which Wolves had started to threaten duly came three minutes later when Ebanks-Blake superbly turned Nyatanga after controlling Hunt’s low centre before crashing home a fierce left-foot shot from near the penalty spot. Moments later, Ebanks-Blake had the ball in the net again only for his firm angled drive to be disallowed for offside, with the flag already up for an offside by Sigurdarson. Three minutes after the equaliser however Molineux was in ecstacy when Doyle glanced home Hunt’s chip at the near post to grab the winner. With the crowd up and long-lost confidence suddenly surging through their veins, Sigurdarson thumped a volley on the turn that was tipped around the post by Heaton on 83. And with their tails up, Wolves had little trouble hanging on despite four minutes of time added on at the end to give their long-suffering fans of avoiding the drop.
INDEPENDENT
Whether, as their manager Dean Saunders suggested afterwards, this match proves to be a turning point in Wolves' season remains to be seen. They are, after all, still in the relegation zone with just eight games remaining.
They will however take huge heart from the manner in which they turned around a game in which for over an hour pretty much everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. Having conceded a truly ridiculous own goal and lost two players to injury it would have been easy for heads to drop, but Wolves kept working, and strikes of high quality from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Kevin Doyle secured a first home win since December.
"Everything was going wrong, we looked lacking in confidence, we weren't sharp and we conceded a calamity goal, the sort you can't believe has happened," said Saunders.
"When we went in at half-time I had a go at everyone. But I've been in this situation as a player and a manager, and you have to keep your belief. You have to have the strength of character to show for the ball, go in for another chance when you've missed three, take the full-back on, and in the second half my players showed that strength of character."
The first half was a horror show for Wolves. Looking both nervous and disjointed from the start, they had created nothing of note when they went behind in extraordinary circumstances.
Carl Ikeme played a goal-kick short towards David Davis, but the under-hit pass left the young midfielder with no alternative other than to return the ball to his goalkeeper. Ikeme, unable to pick the ball up, allowed it to trickle under his foot and into the goal.
The ground was still in shock when first Bakary Sako and then Dave Edwards limped off, and Saunders' decision to replace Ikeme with Dorus De Vries at half-time meant he had used all three substitutes with 45 minutes left to play.
"It wasn't an easy ball for Carl to deal with but he has to get something behind it. He had also hurt his hand on the field, and that made my mind up [to replace him]," said Saunders.
Initially there was no obvious improvement in the second half, and the crowd began to voice their disaffection, most obviously with chants aimed at club owner Steve Morgan, but the Wolves players kept working and in Stephen Hunt, who came on for Sako, they found the catalyst they needed.
It was his cross which enabled Ebanks-Blake to control, turn and volley powerfully past City goalkeeper Tom Heaton. Two minutes later, it was another Hunt cross which saw Doyle time his jump perfectly to beat Heaton with a header.
City manager Sean O'Driscoll was philosophical. "I was pleased with the performance but disappointed with the result," he said.
"We said at half-time they were just going to throw balls into the box, which is what they did, and we kept trying to do the right thing. We looked like a team that knew what we were doing."
What they lacked, however, was the touch of quality which players like Hunt and Doyle, with their considerable Premier League experience, gave Wolves.
It did not escape Saunders' attention that the crowd had been on Hunt's back from the moment he came on. "I thought Hunt did everything well," he said. "He gave us energy and spark, and I'll have to find out why the fans were having a go because normally they like players like that.
"We have the belief that we can score, no matter what the circumstances. They were great finishes from Ebanks-Blake and Doyle. You can't play for a big club unless you can play in adversity, because most of the time that is the case. That's why you get big wages."
Wolves (4-4-2): Ikeme (De Vries, h-t); Doherty, Johnson, Gorkss, Robinson; Edwards (Sigurdarson, 38), Davis O'Hara, Sako (Hunt, 32); Doyle, Ebanks-Blake.
Bristol City (4-5-1): Heaton; Moloney, Fontaine, Nyatanga, Cunningham; Anderson (Adamoah, 15), Skuse, Kelly (Kilkenny, 85), Elliott, Pearson (Baldock, 81); Davies.
Referee Geoff Eltringham.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (1) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
Wolverhampton Wanderers
13 Ikeme (De Vries - 46' )
14 Johnson
20 Robinson
21 Gorkss
30 Doherty
04 Edwards (Sigurdarson - 38' )
10 Sako (Hunt - 32' )
24 O'Hara
26 Davis
09 Ebanks-Blake
29 Doyle Booked
Substitutes
31 De Vries
25 Batth
32 Foley
08 Henry
12 Hunt
28 Doumbia
15 Sigurdarson
Bristol City
01 Heaton
04 Fontaine
05 Nyatanga
17 Cunningham
19 Moloney
10 Kelly (Kilkenny - 85' )
14 Skuse
15 Pearson (Baldock - 81' )
21 Anderson (Adomah - 15' )
25 Elliott
16 Davies
Substitutes
22 Gerken
12 Wilson
39 Bates
08 Kilkenny
11 Howard
27 Adomah
07 Baldock
Ref: Geoff Eltrigham
Att: 21,711
MATCH STATS
Shots
115
On target
52
Corners
80
Fouls
88
Live Text Commentary
90:00 +3:56 Full time
Full Time
The referee blows for the end of the match. 89:49 Unfair challenge on Roger Johnson by Sam Baldock results in a free kick. Dorus De Vries takes the free kick. 84:29 Free kick taken by Tom Heaton. 84:29 (Bristol City) makes a substitution, with Neil Kilkenny coming on for Liam Kelly. 84:29 Liam Fontaine fouled by Bjorn Sigurdarson, the ref awards a free kick. 82:49 Corner taken left-footed by Jamie O'Hara, Greg Cunningham makes a clearance. 82:39 Bjorn Sigurdarson has shot on goal from just outside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright. 80:18 (Bristol City) makes a substitution, with Sam Baldock coming on for Stephen Pearson. 77:57 The assist for the goal came from Stephen Hunt.
77:57 Goal scored
Goal - Kevin Doyle - Wolves 2 - 1 Bristol C
Kevin Doyle finds the back of the net with a headed goal from close range. Wolverhampton 2-1 Bristol City. 77:24 Steven Davies is ruled offside. Indirect free kick taken by Dorus De Vries. 76:09 Bjorn Sigurdarson is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Tom Heaton takes the indirect free kick. 75:24 Booking The referee books Kevin Doyle for unsporting behaviour. 75:06 Assist on the goal came from Stephen Hunt. 75:06 Goal scored Goal - Sylvan Ebanks-Blake - Wolves 1 - 1 Bristol C Goal scored by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake from deep inside the penalty area to the top right corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 1-1 Bristol City. 74:24 Steven Davies concedes a free kick for a foul on Jack Robinson. Dorus De Vries takes the indirect free kick. 73:31 Brendan Moloney gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kevin Doyle. Jamie O'Hara takes the direct free kick. 71:38 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Jamie O'Hara, Cole Skuse makes a clearance. 68:46 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Jamie O'Hara, Lewin Nyatanga makes a clearance. 68:35 Stephen Hunt takes a shot. Clearance made by Lewin Nyatanga. 65:32 Bjorn Sigurdarson produces a right-footed shot from just outside the penalty area that goes harmlessly over the target. 64:00 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake takes a shot. Tom Heaton makes a fantastic save. 61:58 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Tom Heaton. 59:35 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Kevin Doyle by Liam Fontaine. Jamie O'Hara takes the free kick. 58:38 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Marvin Elliott by Bjorn Sigurdarson. Tom Heaton takes the free kick. 57:28 Albert Adomah is ruled offside. Dorus De Vries takes the indirect free kick. 56:17 Free kick awarded for a foul by Lewin Nyatanga on Stephen Hunt. Free kick taken by Jack Robinson. 50:49 Corner taken by Jamie O'Hara from the right by-line, Kevin Doyle has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target. 48:49 Corner taken by Stephen Hunt from the left by-line, save made by Tom Heaton. 45:01 The match restarts for the second half. 45:01 Dorus De Vries comes on in place of Carl Ikeme. 45:00 +3:05 Half time
Half Time
The half-time whistle blows. 45:00 +2:25 Effort on goal by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake from just outside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target. 45:00 +0:53 Stephen Hunt decides to take a short corner. 42:45 Foul by Stephen Hunt on Marvin Elliott, free kick awarded. Indirect free kick taken by Steven Davies. 41:14 Liam Kelly fouled by Kevin Doyle, the ref awards a free kick. Tom Heaton takes the free kick. 40:25 Albert Adomah takes a shot. Kaspars Gorkss gets a block in. 39:35 The official flags Sylvan Ebanks-Blake offside. Indirect free kick taken by Tom Heaton. 37:16 Substitution David Edwards goes off and Bjorn Sigurdarson comes on. 33:54 Stephen Hunt concedes a free kick for a foul on Liam Kelly. Liam Kelly takes the direct free kick. 33:23 Shot on goal by Stephen Hunt from inside the box goes harmlessly over the target. 31:32 Substitution Stephen Hunt joins the action as a substitute, replacing Bakary Sako. 29:13 Corner taken by Bakary Sako. 28:48 Corner taken by Bakary Sako from the right by-line, Liam Fontaine makes a clearance. 27:41 Unfair challenge on Jack Robinson by Albert Adomah results in a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Carl Ikeme. 26:55 Free kick awarded for a foul by Bakary Sako on Brendan Moloney. Tom Heaton restarts play with the free kick.
goal. 24:29 Goal scored
Goal - David Davis - Wolves 0 - 1 Bristol C
David Davis scores an own goal. Wolverhampton 0-1 Bristol City. 22:46 The assistant referee signals for offside against Kevin Doyle. Tom Heaton takes the free kick. 22:07 Liam Kelly has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the goal. 21:22 Unfair challenge on Liam Kelly by Kevin Doyle results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Steven Davies. 18:47 The assistant referee flags for offside against Bakary Sako. Tom Heaton takes the indirect free kick. 16:08 Stephen Pearson has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target. 14:55 Substitution Albert Adomah comes on in place of Paul Anderson. 9:00 Free kick awarded for a foul by Liam Kelly on Kevin Doyle. Jamie O'Hara restarts play with the free kick. 7:34 Steven Davies produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal. 7:10 Bakary Sako produces a cross, Lewin Nyatanga makes a clearance. 5:20 Shot from just outside the area by Bakary Sako misses to the right of the target. 4:33 Kevin Doyle takes a shot. Save by Tom Heaton. 4:10 Greg Cunningham takes a shot. Save made by Carl Ikeme. 1:58 David Davis concedes a free kick for a foul on Greg Cunningham. Tom Heaton takes the free kick. 1:14 Stephen Pearson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on David Edwards. Indirect free kick taken by Roger Johnson. 0:00 The referee gets the game underway.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association
Saturday March 9th Nottingham Forest 3 Lansbury 31′, 67′ McGugan 90' Wolves 1 Doherty 65′ 3pm
Nottm Forest 3 Lansbury 31′, 67′ McGugan 90' Wolves 1 Doherty 65′
"unbelievable teckers" - Matt Murray - as Sako smashes a free kick against the bar "having giiven the boys in the wall a haircut" in the 35th; but it wasn't enough.
Sako and Doherty get us level after a long period of domination, only to immediately concede to Lansbury and then Wardy gets himself sent off fouling Wolves reject Greg Halford. Meanwhile Bristol City drew within 2 goal difference only after beating Boro and Peterborough and Barnsley have games in hand.
We'll need to win on Saturday!
the Beeb said
Nottingham Forest defeated Wolves to record a fifth straight win under manager Billy Davies that propels them into Championship play-off places.
Henri Lansbury scored from 20 yards to put Forest ahead at the break.
Matt Doherty's header brought Wolves level but Doherty curled Forest back in front and Lewis McGugan scored from the edge of the box to lift them to sixth.
The result leaves Wolves, who had Stephen Ward sent off late on, out of the relegation zone on goal difference.
Bristol City's victory over Middlesbrough brought the Robins, who are in 22nd, level with 21st-place Wolves on 39 points and the Black Country club are just one point ahead bottom-of-the-table Barnsley, who have two games in hand.
The current plights of Davies and Wolves manager Dean Saunders could not be more contrasting, with Saunders enjoying just one victory since taking over in January,
His side could have gone behind before Lansbury, who was teed up by former Wolves midfielder Adlene Guedioura, got the first of his two goals, arrowing a right-foot shot into the bottom left-hand corner from 20 yards.
Just after the half-hour mark Wolves came close to equalising but Bakary Sako's free-kick hit the crossbar and Bjorn Sigurdarson missed the follow-up.
The visitors were rewarded for a decent spell when Sako's cross was headed in by Doherty, but 90 seconds later Lansburys's curled shot restored Forest's lead.
McGugan went close with a free-kick midway through the second half before last-man Ward was dismissed for body checking Greg Halford.
Forest striker McGugan then compounded the misery by scoring after a quick counter-attack, finding the net via the crossbar.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (1) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
Nottingham Forest
12 Darlow
05 Collins
32 Ward
36 Jara
07 Guedioura
08 Cohen
11 Reid (Halford - 75' )
22 Lansbury
28 Majewski (Moussi - 62' )
19 Cox
23 Blackstock (McGugan - 34' )
Substitutes
31 Evtimov
02 Hutchinson
15 Halford
06 Moussi
10 McGugan
14 Greening
24 Sharp
Wolverhampton Wanderers
13 Ikeme
11 Ward Dismissed
14 Johnson
21 Gorkss
30 Doherty
04 Edwards
08 Henry (Doumbia - 63' )
10 Sako
24 O'Hara (Davis - 61' )
09 Ebanks-Blake
15 Sigurdarson (Doyle - 68' )
Substitutes
31 De Vries
20 Robinson
25 Batth
12 Hunt
26 Davis
28 Doumbia
29 Doyle
Ref: Naylor
Att: 23,350
MATCH STATS
Possession
102mins
Nottingham Forest 53% Wolverhampton Wanderers 47%
Shots 7 6
On target 4 2
Corners 8 5
Fouls 8 11
Live Text Commentary
95:15 Full time
Full Time
The referee ends the match. 90:00 +4:17 Roger Johnson challenges Simon Cox unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Lewis McGugan. 89:42 Gonzalo Jara Reyes provided the assist for the goal. 89:42 Goal scored
Goal - Lewis McGugan - Nott'm For 3 - 1 Wolves
Lewis McGugan gets on the score sheet with a goal from the edge of the area to the top right corner of the goal. Nottm Forest 3-1 Wolverhampton. 88:46 Kevin Doyle gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Collins. Karl Darlow takes the free kick. 86:53 David Davis concedes a free kick for a foul on Gonzalo Jara Reyes. Elliott Ward takes the indirect free kick. 84:44 Corner taken right-footed by Lewis McGugan, clearance by Kevin Doyle. 84:01 Short corner taken by Lewis McGugan. 82:51 Dismissal The referee shows Stephen Ward a red card. 81:56 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Bakary Sako, clearance by Danny Collins. 80:39 Greg Halford is caught offside. Carl Ikeme restarts play with the free kick. 76:13 Corner taken by Lewis McGugan from the right by-line, Roger Johnson makes a clearance. 74:54 Greg Halford is brought on as a substitute for Andy Reid. 72:21 Free kick awarded for a foul by Tongo Doumbia on Guy Moussi. Elliott Ward restarts play with the free kick. 69:55 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Andy Reid, Carl Ikeme makes a save. 69:24 The ball is delivered by Lewis McGugan, Roger Johnson makes a clearance. 67:40 Substitution Kevin Doyle on for Bjorn Sigurdarson. 66:09 Assist by Simon Cox. 66:09 Goal scored Goal - Henri Lansbury - Nott'm For 2 - 1 Wolves
Henri Lansbury fires in a goal from the edge of the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Nottm Forest 2-1 Wolverhampton. 64:50 Bakary Sako provided the assist for the goal.
64:50 Goal scored
Goal - Matt Doherty - Nott'm For 1 - 1 Wolves
Matt Doherty scores a headed goal from inside the box. Nottm Forest 1-1 Wolverhampton. 64:38 Corner from the left by-line taken by Bakary Sako, 63:46 Gonzalo Jara Reyes concedes a free kick for a foul on Tongo Doumbia. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Bakary Sako from left wing, blocked by Elliott Ward. 62:22 Tongo Doumbia on for Karl Henry. 60:29 Guy Moussi joins the action as a substitute, replacing Radoslaw Majewski. 60:29 Wolves make a substitution, with David Davis coming on for Jamie O'Hara. 60:11 Effort on goal by Lewis McGugan from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target. 57:43 Karl Henry fouled by Henri Lansbury, the ref awards a free kick. Karl Henry takes the free kick. 56:25 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal. 54:05 Bjorn Sigurdarson gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Elliott Ward. Elliott Ward takes the free kick. 53:05 The ball is swung over by Adlene Guedioura, clearance by Roger Johnson. 49:11 Jamie O'Hara fouled by Andy Reid, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jamie O'Hara. 48:19 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Adlene Guedioura. Karl Darlow takes the free kick. 47:07 The offside flag is raised against Simon Cox. Free kick taken by Carl Ikeme. 47:07 The assistant referee signals for offside against Simon Cox. Carl Ikeme restarts play with the free kick. 46:28 Free kick awarded for a foul by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake on Danny Collins. Lewis McGugan restarts play with the free kick. 45:14 Unfair challenge on Henri Lansbury by Karl Henry results in a free kick. Elliott Ward restarts play with the free kick. 45:01 The referee blows his whistle to start the second half.
MATCH STATS
Half Time Possession
Nottingham Forest 59% Wolverhampton Wanderers 41%
Shots44
On target 21
Corners43
Fouls53
45:00 +1:02 Half time
Half Time
The referee calls an end to the first half. 43:58 Corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako. 43:48 The ball is swung over by Stephen Ward. 36:44 Shot from deep inside the area by Bjorn Sigurdarson goes over the bar. 35:37 Foul by Gonzalo Jara Reyes on Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, free kick awarded. Bakary Sako shoots direct from the free kick, 33:52 Substitution Dexter Blackstock leaves the field to be replaced by Lewis McGugan. 30:26 Adlene Guedioura provided the assist for the goal. 30:26 Goal scored Goal - Henri Lansbury - Nott'm For 1 - 0 Wolves Henri Lansbury scores a goal from outside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Nottm Forest 1-0 Wolverhampton. 27:25 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Karl Henry by Dexter Blackstock. Bakary Sako crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from left channel, Danny Collins manages to make a clearance. 25:50 David Edwards produces a drilled right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post. 23:19 Inswinging corner taken by Radoslaw Majewski, Headed effort on goal by Elliott Ward from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target. 23:02 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Radoslaw Majewski. 22:38 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Radoslaw Majewski from the left by-line. 22:15 Shot by Henri Lansbury. Save by Carl Ikeme. 21:43 Bakary Sako challenges Gonzalo Jara Reyes unfairly and gives away a free kick. Adlene Guedioura takes the free kick. 21:17 Free kick awarded for a foul by Simon Cox on Kaspars Gorkss. Carl Ikeme takes the indirect free kick. 20:07 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Chris Cohen. Free kick taken by Chris Cohen. 15:17 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Dexter Blackstock by Bjorn Sigurdarson. Chris Cohen restarts play with the free kick. 14:51 Outswinging corner taken by Bakary Sako. 14:34 Centre by Bakary Sako, Elliott Ward manages to make a clearance. 13:49 Simon Cox challenges Roger Johnson unfairly and gives away a free kick. Carl Ikeme restarts play with the free kick. 11:00 Radoslaw Majewski has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target. 8:58 Bakary Sako takes the outswinging corner, clearance by Elliott Ward. 8:15 Dexter Blackstock is caught offside. Carl Ikeme takes the free kick. 6:32 Free kick awarded for a foul by Henri Lansbury on Jamie O'Hara. Strike comes in from Bakary Sako from the free kick. 6:22 The ball is swung over by Bjorn Sigurdarson, Elliott Ward manages to make a clearance. 5:49 The ball is swung over by Bakary Sako, save by Karl Darlow. 2:32 Gonzalo Jara Reyes sends in a cross. 1:37 Corner from the left by-line taken by Radoslaw Majewski, save by Carl Ikeme. 0:56 A cross is delivered by Matt Doherty, Danny Collins manages to make a clearance. 0:00 The referee starts the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association
Nottingham Forest's Darius Henderson (knee) and Billy Sharp (chest infection) are doubtful for the match against Wolves.
Greg Halford is back from a two-match ban and both Daniel Ayala and Daniel Harding are close to a return.
Wolves boss Dean Saunders is likely to name an unchanged team.
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Dave Edwards scored at Millwall after starting so Stephen Hunt, Bjorn Sigurdarson and Kevin Doyle are set to be on the bench.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
•Nottingham Forest halted Wolves' three-match winning run against them with a 2-1 triumph in the reverse fixture, when Adlene Guedioura scored
the winner against his former club.
•Forest are now looking to do the double over their Midlands rivals for the first time since 1981.
•Wolves need one goal to take their league total against Forest to 200.
Nottingham Forest
•Resurgent Nottingham Forest are bidding for a fifth successive victory and a fourth straight clean sheet, which could lift them into the top six.
•The City Ground club lie a place outside the play-offs and two points short, but remain unbeaten since the return of Billy Davies (W4, D1) and on their best winning streak since May 2011, when Davies was last in charge. They won six in a row that season.
•Simon Cox is poised to make his 200th career league appearance, and Andy Reid could make it 400 games in his six-club career.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
•Wolves ended a 13-match winless run in league and cup, and gained their first win at the 10th attempt under Dean Saunders, with Tuesday's 2-0 victory at Millwall.
•That took them out of the relegation zone by one point, but Wanderers remain the only club with just one Championship victory in 2013 and Saunders returns to the club he left in December 1997 after 51 appearances and nine goals.
•Wolves have lost all eight of their away matches against top 11 clubs, and have not won a Championship game after going behind, while their opponents have not lost after going ahead.
Tuesday March 5th Millwall 0 Wolves 2 Edwards 6 SEB 61
Several shout outs from Mel Eves on commentary for the Goalzone for London Wolves
Millwall 0 Wolves 2 - match report
Wolves claimed their first win in 14 games to move out of the Championship drop zone after a crucial victory at Millwall.
Dean Saunders also earned his first win in 10 games as boss after Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s brilliant overhead kick and Dave Edwards’ early goal sealed the game. It was their first win since a 2-1 victory at Blackpool in December and Wolves are now 21st after Peterborough and Barnsley both drew. Saunders made four changes from the draw with Watford – dropping Bjorn Sigurdarson, Kevin Doyle, Jack Robinson and Stephen Hunt. In came Jake Cassidy, Ebanks-Blake, Stephen Ward and Edwards as Wolves desperately sought the winning formula. And they made a strong start as Bakary Sako’s second minute corner almost out-foxed David Forde before the Millwall keeper palmed it away in a scrappy opening. But Wolves made light of the game’s disjointed nature with a well-worked opener after just nine minutes. Ward delivered a dangerous cross from the left which found Ebanks-Blake on the far side of the box and striker directed it to Edwards who swept a classy volley into the far corner. It breathed fresh life into Wolves and, with Millwall rattled, Edwards’ fierce drive was blocked on 14 minutes. Matt Doherty then saw his effort cannon away as Wolves denied the hosts space and snapped and harried their hosts. Millwall offered little attacking threat, although Doherty survived a strong handball appeal in the area after 20 minutes. They pushed Millwall back and while both sides struggled to carve out serious chances Wolves were comfortable. Sako was booked after hauling down Adam Smith eight minutes before the break as the Lions finally sparked into life. Jimmy Abdou drive was deflected over and Shane Lowry’s header was comfortably saved by Carl Ikeme after 38 minutes. Cassidy then failed to connect with a loose ball after Forde missed his punch as the first-half ended with a flurry of brief chances. The Lions threw on Nathan Tyson for the ineffective John Marquis at the break – joining fellow sub and ex-Wolves man Andy Keogh who replaced Benik Afobe in the first half up front. And the hosts almost levelled on 51 minutes when Keogh was inches away from connecting with Chris Taylor’s low driven cross. The Lions had started to raise the pressure but lacked the quality to unlock them with Kaspars Gorkss excelling at the back. And Wolves killed off the Lions with a brilliant goal from Ebanks-Blake on 61 minutes. There seemed little on when Jamie O’Hara headed the ball back into the area after Ebanks-Blake’s initial shot was blocked. It fell to Ebanks-Blake and with his back to goal he unleashed a brilliant overhead kick from 10-yards which flashed past Forde. It gave Wolves the breathing space they needed and they were rarely troubled by Millwall. Danny Shittu blazed over with 10 minutes remaining as Wolves easily claimed the points.
Millwall 0 Wolves 2 Edwards 9′Ebanks-Blake 61′
FT 90 +4
HT 0-1
NPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: The Den Date: Tuesday 5 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Continue reading the main story
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (2) & SUBSTITUTIONS (5)
MATCH STATS
Possession
Millwall 44% Wolverhampton Wanderers 56%
Shots52
On target 22
Corners55
Fouls106
Live Text Commentary
90:00 +3:04 Full time
The match has reached full-time. 86:46 David Edwards fouled by Adam Smith, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Jamie O'Hara. 84:55 Mark Beevers is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Jamie O'Hara takes the direct free kick. 84:26 Effort on goal by Danny Shittu from just inside the penalty area goes harmlessly over the target. 83:07 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Adam Smith by Stephen Hunt. The free kick is delivered left-footed by Martyn Woolford from right wing, Matt Doherty makes a clearance. 80:52 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Jamie O'Hara, clearance by Mark Beevers. 80:11 Andy Keogh challenges Kaspars Gorkss unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Carl Ikeme. 77:42 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Edwards by Shane Lowry. Free kick crossed left-footed by Jamie O'Hara from right wing, clearance by Shane Lowry. 76:06 Bjorn Sigurdarson is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Free kick taken by David Forde. 73:38 Substitution Liam Trotter joins the action as a substitute, replacing Josh Wright. 69:34 Wolves make a substitution, with Bjorn Sigurdarson coming on for Jake Cassidy. 69:34 Wolves make a substitution, with Stephen Hunt coming on for Bakary Sako. 66:17 Adam Smith takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. 64:22 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Josh Wright from the right by-line, Bakary Sako makes a clearance. 60:09 Jamie O'Hara provided the assist for the goal. 60:09 Goal scored
Goal - Sylvan Ebanks-Blake - Millwall 0 - 2 Wolves
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake grabs a goal from inside the area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Millwall 0-2 Wolverhampton. 58:55 Andy Keogh is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Stephen Ward takes the free kick. 55:26 Outswinging corner taken by Josh Wright, clearance made by Roger Johnson. 54:39 Unfair challenge on Mark Beevers by Sylvan Ebanks-Blake results in a free kick. David Forde takes the free kick. 52:45 Shane Lowry takes the chance to get an effort at goal and missed to the right of the goal.
51:12 Chris Taylor produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty box which goes wide of the right-hand upright. 49:10 Jake Cassidy is caught offside. Free kick taken by David Forde. 45:01 The referee starts the second half. 45:01 Substitution Nathan Tyson comes on in place of John Marquis. 45:00 +2:11 Half time
Half Time
The ref blows to signal half-time. 45:00 +1:48 The offside flag is raised against Andy Keogh. Roger Johnson restarts play with the free kick. 44:48 Karl Henry concedes a free kick for a foul on Josh Wright. Free kick crossed right-footed by Josh Wright, clearance made by Kaspars Gorkss. Corner taken by Josh Wright, save by Carl Ikeme. 42:02 Direct free kick taken by Josh Wright. 42:02 Booking Kaspars Gorkss is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour. 41:59 John Marquis fouled by Kaspars Gorkss, the ref awards a free kick. 41:26 Sylvan Ebanks-Blake fouled by Danny Shittu, the ref awards a free kick. Bakary Sako restarts play with the free kick. 37:34 Josh Wright crosses the ball in from the free kick, clearance by Roger Johnson. Inswinging corner taken by Josh Wright, clearance made by Kaspars Gorkss. Corner taken by Josh Wright from the right by-line, clearance made by Bakary Sako. Chris Taylor takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. 37:34 Booking Bakary Sako receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour. 37:34 Free kick awarded for a foul by Bakary Sako on Adam Smith. 37:10 The official flags Jake Cassidy offside. David Forde restarts play with the free kick. 36:40 Bakary Sako fouled by Adam Smith, the ref awards a free kick. Jamie O'Hara takes the direct free kick. 34:01 Corner taken by Bakary Sako, save by David Forde. 33:11 Adam Smith concedes a free kick for a foul on Bakary Sako. Jamie O'Hara takes the free kick. 31:04 Foul by Nadjim Abdou on Jake Cassidy, free kick awarded. Jamie O'Hara takes the free kick. 28:28 Free kick awarded for a foul by Andy Keogh on David Edwards. Free kick crossed left-footed by Bakary Sako from right channel, save by David Forde. 22:44 Jake Cassidy challenges Josh Wright unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Shane Lowry. 14:22 Inswinging corner taken left-footed by Jamie O'Hara from the right by-line, David Forde makes a save. 13:36 Bakary Sako fouled by Chris Taylor, the ref awards a free kick. Karl Henry crosses the ball from the free kick right-footed from left channel, clearance made by Danny Shittu. 12:44 Jake Cassidy is ruled offside. David Forde takes the free kick. 11:21 Substitution Andy Keogh is brought on as a substitute for Benik Afobe. 9:55 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by John Marquis. 8:38 Assist on the goal came from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. 8:38 Goal scored
Goal - David Edwards - Millwall 0 - 1 Wolves
David Edwards scores a goal from the edge of the penalty box to the top left corner of the goal. Millwall 0-1 Wolverhampton. 0:40 Corner taken by Bakary Sako from the right by-line to the near post, save by David Forde. 0:09 John Marquis gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kaspars Gorkss. Carl Ikeme takes the direct free kick. 0:00 The match begins.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association
Millwall striker Rob Hulse is struggling with a stomach injury and could miss the visit of Wolves
Winger James Henry should be available despite receiving a strong challenge in the loss to Leeds, while midfielder Liam Trotter is hoping for a recall.
Opponents Wolves have no new injury worries after drawing 1-1 with Watford.
Winger Stephen Hunt wants to build on Friday's first start of the season as Dean Saunders looks for his opening win after nine games as manager.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
•A goal from Andy Keogh against his former club separated the sides when they faced each other at Molineux and increased the pressure on then
manager Stale Solbakken.
•It gives Millwall the chance for a first ever league double over Wanderers.
•If there are two goals in this game, it will take the total featured in competitive matches between the clubs to 100; Wolves have averaged a goal a
game in league trips to Millwall (16 in 16).
Millwall
•14th-placed Millwall may be FA Cup quarter-finalists, but they're off-form in the Championship; Saturday's 1-0 reverse to Leeds was their sixth
defeat in seven league outings.
•Kenny Jackett's side are without a point in three at the New Den, and were trounced 5-1 by rock-bottom Peterborough in the last game on their
own patch.
•The Lions are pursuing a fourth win against a bottom-three club, and their second double of the season having already won home and away against
Middlesbrough.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
•Wolves have not played third level league football since 1989, and will want to avoid the prospect next season, but they are without victory in 12
Championship matches.
•Dean Saunders has been in charge for nine of those, but would have been encouraged by Friday's 1-1 stalemate with high-flying Watford; their fifth
draw in his reign.
•Wolves have dropped to next-to-bottom on 36 points. 40 was sufficient to avoid the drop last season, but the survival mark has been as high as 52
points in two of the last 17 seasons when the second tier has had a stable structure.
Friday March 1st Wolves Sako (94) v Watford (aka Udinese) 1 Abdi 41 7:45pm live on SKY
Wolves 1 Sako 90′ Watford 1 Abdi 41′
FT 90 +6 HT 0-1
Thanks to Posh's win on Saturday we slipped to bottom but one. Completely outclassed by the Udinese loan team for 80% of the first half we couldn't hold on to the ball for more than one or two passes and looked to be on to a hammering. The two "wingers" Hunt, returning, and Sako spent most of their time infield so having two big strikers really didn't do us any good. Deano obviously realised this and at half time made them go wide and, as the match wore on, they put much more pressure on the young Watford keeper.
The WM commentary was one of the worst they've done, (Ed: was listening at the match to find out who the Watford players were) negative about the team and the crowd.
1 March 2013 By Ged Scott BBC Sport at Molineux
Bakary Sako scored a dramatic equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time to earn struggling Wolves a crucial point against Watford at Molineux.
The Hornets looked set to move to within five points of Championship leaders Cardiff City after Almen Abdi scored from a 22-yard free-kick.
Watford substitute Fernando Forestieri then twice blazed over late on.
But Sako's right-foot strike earned Dean Saunders only his fifth point in nine games as Wolves boss.
And Crystal Palace's 1-0 win at Derby County, coupled with Sako's late goal, means second-placed Watford are now only two points ahead of the Eagles in
the race for automatic promotion, despite a run of just three defeats in 21 league games.
Wolves, still without a win since Saunders took charge in January, move to within a point of safety but face two away games at Millwall and Nottingham
Forest before hosting fellow strugglers Bristol City on 16 March.
Saunders's team could easily have been in front on 19 minutes, only to be denied by a double save from Watford's stand-in keeper Jonathan Bond.
After blocking Kevin Doyle's left-foot shot, Bond then pulled off an even better save, going to his right to keep out Bjorn Sigurdarson's stinging right-foot
volley from the rebound.
After that, however, Watford started to take command and went in front four minutes before the break.
Home skipper Karl Henry was pulled up for a challenge on Matej Vydra on the edge of the box and Abdi took full advantage, curling home a stunning right-foot free-kick. The hosts threatened after the break when Sigurdarson cut in from the right to test Bond with a low right-foot shot, but Ikechi Anya should have put Watford 2-0 up when he screwed a chance across the face of goal. Substitute Jake Cassidy brought Wolves hope when be forced another save from Bond, only for on-loan defender Jack Robinson to shoot high and wide. But the chance was enough to trigger a grandstand finish from the home side, and Sako slid home a crucial equaliser to salvage a draw against a Watford side who picked up 13 points out of 15 in February - arguably Saunders's most encouraging result since taking charge.
Wolves boss Dean Saunders told BBC Sport:
"Late goals normally come for teams who are at the top, who are full of confidence and have belief. We have to really kick on from this and take this feeling into our next game at Millwall on Tuesday night. We did enough to at least get the draw and this feels like a win. It's St David's Day today and I hoped we might get a bit of luck. But then I found out that their keeper Jonathan Bond is Welsh. And he had a good day too."
Watford boss Gianfranco Zola:
"It is disappointing. I thought we were in control and I did not see it coming. We had opportunities to score a second goal and we did not take them. Fernando Forestieri is a good enough player to convert chances like that and we will have to see how he responds to this. But we cannot despair at not winning the game."
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (2) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
Wolverhampton Wanderers
13 Ikeme
14 Johnson
20 Robinson
21 Gorkss
30 Doherty
08 Henry (Davis - 70' )
10 Sako
12 Hunt (Cassidy - 64' )
24 O'Hara
15 Sigurdarson Booked
29 Doyle (Ebanks-Blake - 64' )
Substitutes
31 De Vries
11 Ward
25 Batth
04 Edwards
26 Davis
09 Ebanks-Blake
35 Cassidy
Watford
30 Bond
12 Doyley
27 Cassetti
33 Nosworthy
39 Chalobah (Hogg - 82' )
40 Ekstrand
21 Anya (Pudil - 84' )
22 Abdi Booked
38 Battocchio
09 Deeney
20 Vydra (Forestieri - 78' )
Substitutes
34 Bonham
18 Pudil
07 Yeates
08 Hogg
16 Murray
36 Geijo
41 Forestieri
Ref: Tierney
Att: 18,571
MATCH STATS
Possession
57%
43%
90mins
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Watford
Shots
1316
On target
1011
Corners
56
Fouls
122
Live Text Commentary
90:00 +5:35 Full time
Full Time
The referee signals the end of the game. 90:00 +4:50 Shot from deep inside the area by Fernando Forestieri clears the crossbar. 90:00 +4:38 Fernando
Forestieri takes a shot. Jamie O'Hara gets a block in. 90:00 +2:13 Goal scored
Goal - Bakary Sako - Wolves 1 - 1 Watford
A goal is scored by Bakary Sako from the edge of the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 1-1 Watford. 90:00 +0:31 Jake
Cassidy takes a shot. Save made by Jonathan Bond. 88:36 Outswinging corner taken by Bakary Sako from the left by-line, Roger Johnson takes a shot. Save
made by Jonathan Bond. 84:53 Fernando Forestieri takes a shot. Blocked by Roger Johnson. 83:44 Jamie O'Hara takes a inswinging corner to the near post,
clearance made by Daniel Pudil. 83:44 Substitution Daniel Pudil on for Ikechi Anya. 80:49 Substitution Jonathan Hogg comes on in place of Nathaniel Chalobah. 80:49 Fernando Forestieri produces a right-footed shot from inside the area that clears the crossbar. 78:35 Lloyd Doyley fouled by Jake Cassidy, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jonathan Bond. 76:40 Substitution Matej Vydra leaves the field to be replaced by Fernando Forestieri. 76:40 Bjorn Sigurdarson takes a shot. Jonathan Bond makes a save. Close range shot by Jack Robinson goes wide of the left-hand post. 75:19 Jamie O'Hara restarts play with the free kick. 75:19 Booking for Almen Abdi. 75:09 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Davis by Almen Abdi. 73:06 Corner taken left-footed by Bakary Sako, Roger Johnson takes a shot. Blocked by Lloyd Doyley. Inswinging corner taken by Jamie O'Hara from the right by-line, Roger Johnson has a headed effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright. 69:15 Substitution Wolves makes a substitution, with David Davis coming on for Karl Henry. 67:57 Roger Johnson challenges Troy Deeney unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Matej Vydra. 66:42 Cristian Battocchio takes a shot. Save by Carl Ikeme. Corner taken by Matej Vydra from the left by-line, clearance by Roger Johnson. 63:21 Substitution
Jake Cassidy is brought on as a substitute for Stephen Hunt. 63:21 Substitution Sylvan Ebanks-Blake comes on in place of Kevin Doyle. 62:11 Nathaniel Chalobah takes a shot. Blocked by Kaspars Gorkss. 60:39 The assistant referee signals for offside against Kevin Doyle. Direct free kick taken by Nyron Nosworthy. 58:55 Unfair challenge on Nathaniel Chalobah by Stephen Hunt results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Nathaniel Chalobah. 56:56 Unfair challenge on Almen Abdi by Jack Robinson results in a free kick. Nathaniel Chalobah takes the direct free kick. 55:56 Kaspars Gorkss gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Troy Deeney. Almen Abdi restarts play with the free kick. 55:06 Kevin Doyle takes a shot. Jonathan Bond makes a save. 53:06 Corner taken left-footed by Jamie O'Hara, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Kaspars Gorkss misses to the right of the goal. 52:37 Effort from outside the penalty box by Ikechi Anya goes wide right of the target. 48:52 Matej Vydra produces a right-footed shot from just outside the area that goes harmlessly over the target. 47:23 Free kick taken by Joel Ekstrand. 47:23 Booking Bjorn Sigurdarson receives a caution. 47:16 Bjorn Sigurdarson concedes a free kick for a foul on Joel Ekstrand. 45:17 Foul by Kevin Doyle on Joel Ekstrand, free kick awarded. Jonathan Bond takes the free kick. 45:01 The second half begins.
45:00 +1:10 Half Time
The whistle is blown to end the first half. 42:41 Kaspars Gorkss is penalised for handball and concedes a free kick. Nathaniel Chalobah restarts play with the
free kick. 40:56 Goal scored - Almen Abdi - Wolves 0 - 1 Watford Almen Abdi grabs a goal direct from the free kick from outside the penalty box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Wolverhampton 0-1 Watford. 40:01 Unfair challenge on Matej Vydra by Karl Henry results in a free kick. 37:58 Kaspars Gorkss gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Troy Deeney. Nathaniel Chalobah has an effort direct from the free kick. 32:05 Marco Cassetti takes a shot. Carl Ikeme makes a save. 30:35 Lloyd Doyley takes a shot. Stephen Hunt gets a block in. 29:00 Stephen Hunt takes a shot. Blocked by Lloyd Doyley. 27:09 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Almen Abdi from the right by-line, Roger Johnson makes a clearance. Corner taken by Almen Abdi, Kevin Doyle makes a clearance. 26:16 Troy Deeney takes a shot. Blocked by Kaspars Gorkss. 24:52 Cristian Battocchio concedes a free kick for a foul on Matt Doherty. Jamie O'Hara restarts play with the free kick. 23:48 Troy Deeney takes a shot. Carl Ikeme makes a save. 22:10 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Almen Abdi played to the near post, clearance made by Kevin Doyle. 20:03 Corner taken short by Almen Abdi. 18:47 Kevin Doyle takes a shot. Save by Jonathan Bond. Shot from 12 yards by Bjorn Sigurdarson. Save made by Jonathan Bond. 14:14 Bakary Sako takes a shot. Nyron Nosworthy gets a block in. 9:15 Stephen Hunt gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Marco Cassetti. Almen Abdi takes the free kick. 6:52 Cristian Battocchio takes a shot. Roger Johnson gets a block in. Corner from the right by-line taken by Almen Abdi, clearance by Kaspars Gorkss. 5:04 Almen Abdi takes a shot. Matt Doherty makes a save. 1:43 Nyron Nosworthy fouled by Bjorn Sigurdarson, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Jonathan Bond. 0:21 Stephen Hunt challenges Matej Vydra unfairly and gives away a free kick. Nathaniel Chalobah restarts play with the free kick. 0:00 The match has kicked off.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association
Wolves in the Championship under Dean Saunders
11 Jan: H v Blackburn 1-1
19 Jan: A v Sheff Wed 0-0
26 Jan H v Blackpool 1-2
31 Jan: A v Leicester 1-2
9 Feb: H v Leeds 2-2
16 Feb: A v Derby 0-0
19 Feb: A v Barnsley 1-2
24 Feb: H v Cardiff 1-2
1 Mar: H v Watford 1-1
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