Preseason 2013 Click on month for reports: 2013-14 Review AprilMay14 Mar14 Feb14 Jan14 Dec13 Nov13 Oct13 Sep13 Aug13 preseason
- Wednesday 10th July East Fife 2 WW 3
- Friday Compton Friendly v Burnley 2-2
- Saturday 13th July Livingston (Scottish training camp week) 1-2
- Tuesday 16th Compton friendly - WW 4 Blues 2
- Tuesday 16th July Wrexham at the Racecourse ground. Wrexham 1 WW 2
- Saturday 20th July Barnsley at Oakwell 2-2 (Zeli Ismail 4, Danny Baath 22)
- Tuesday 23rd July at Chesterfield’s new stadium 2-2
- Saturday 27th July Home PSF at Molineux 2 (Stearman, Griffiths) Real Betis 3
lSaturday 27th July Home PSF at Molineux WW 2 Real Betis 3
and more on the WOlves site here http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/report-wolves-v-real-betis-270713-949062.aspx
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Wolves lost their unbeaten pre-season record to Real Betis in an entertaining game at Molineux.
Richard S
tearman on four minutes and Leigh Griffiths (50) twice put Wolves ahead, but poor defensive mistakes allowed the La Liga side back into the game as Salva (15) and Cedrick (55) quickly levelled things up before Matilla grabbed a 71st-minute winner.
If we are to read anything about how the team will line up against Preston next week, head coach Kenny Jackett has made several interesting decisions. Carl Ikeme won the nod ahead of Wayne Hennessey in goal, while Bjorn Sigurdarson was preferred ahead of Jake Cassidy. But the Icelandic forward operated at wide right for the first time in pre-season, with Dave Edwards playing in the hole behind Griffiths as Jackett played a 4-4-1-1 formation. And there was no place in the squad for Tongo Doumbia as rumours circulated that transfer-listed midfielder Jamie O’Hara was playing for QPR in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Leyton Orient. When the action started, Sigurdarson went close to putting Wolves ahead after just 44 seconds when he raced clear after cutting out a pass but saw his shot blocked by the legs of keeper Sara. Wolves didn’t have long to wait to take the lead however, as Stearman nodded home from three yards out after the impressive Danny Batth headed the ball back into the danger area when Griffiths’s corner had been cleared. Sigurdarson saw a shot charged down in the area after a fine run and cross by Bakary Sako in the eighth minute as Wolves started brightly. Griffiths then fired home on 12 with an angled shot but his effort was ruled out for offside after latching onto Stearman’s through ball. Betis’s first effort came seconds later when Cedrick cut inside Matt Doherty before lashing a firm shot into the chest of Ikeme, who held well. But Betis were soon level and it was a belter as Salva made no mistake with a thunderous drive from the edge of the box which went down Ikeme’s throat and into the roof of the net after a square pass from Cedrick on the left as Wolves were caught ball watching.
From then on, the Spanish side were the more dominant outfit and pretty much controlled the rest of the half. Chuli fired wide on 32 minutes before Sako beat the same player only to lash well wide from 30 yards seconds later. Betis went desperately close to taking the lead four minutes from the break when Nono’s left-foot drive skidded against the foot of the post and Salva was denied three times from the rebound, with Doherty in the thick of the blocking. Wolves regained the lead with the first attack of the second half and it was a familiar scorer this pre- season as Griffiths raced onto a flick-on by Sigurdarson to fire home first time from 12 yards. Inspired by his latest goal, Griffiths saw a chip blocked by a Betis hand and took the free kick himself, floating it inches over the bar on 54. Within a minute however, Betis were level again after some sloppy play from Wolves.David Davis hit a poor backpass which was seized upon by Cedrick, who raced through and skipped over a desperate challenge from Stearman before coolly slotting past Ikeme. Despite Betis’s comeback, Wolves continued to take the game to the Spaniards and Davis dragged a low effort wide before Doherty was inches away after letting fly on the run. And Wolves’ chances of retaining their unbeaten record in pre-season were hit when they conceded again. More sloppy play saw a sliced ball across from Ricketts put Batth in trouble and Matilla seized his chance as the defence seemed to stop and the midfielder sidefooted past the exposed Ikeme. Four substitutes for Wolves disrupted the flow of the game somewhat on 72 as Hennessey returned for his first game at Molineux since April 2012, while he, Kevin Foley, George Elokobi and Jake Cassidy replaced Ikeme, Davis, Ricketts and Griffiths.Liam McAlinden came on for Edwards in the 80th minute and helped force a late rally from the hosts. Sako saw a fierce shot beaten away by Sara on 84 before McAlinden teed up Cassidy, who forced a superb save from point-blank range. A late equaliser proved elusive however, but the final whistle was greeted by warm applause from the 7,741 fans at Jackett’s new-look youthful team.
Tuesday 23rd July at Chesterfield’s new stadium
Saturday 20th July Barnsley at Oakwell 2-2 (Zeli Ismail 4, Danny Baath 22) HT 1-2
Tuesday 16th July Wrexham at the Racecourse ground Wolves win 2-1
Wrexham took an early lead through Jay Harris (sloppy defending) but Jake Cassidy and Leigh Griffiths - who had several shots - turned it round in a better second half. Bakary Sako was reported to have pulled a hamstring. Perhaps he’ll be out until the window closes and can give us a great October - December
From Wolves (link at end for more and match gallery)
Wrexham 1 (Harris 12) Wolves 2 (Cassidy 51, Griffiths 60)
After an opening 45 minutes when they fell behind and struggled to get to 
grips with a lively Wrexham side, Wolves hit back after the break thanks to goals from Jake Cassidy, and Leigh Griffiths who looks as if he could be playing a major role in the season that lies ahead.
Wolves took to the field wearing their new lilac strip for the first time on an idyllic summer’s evening. There was just two changes from the team that had started against Livingstone with Wayne Hennessey making a welcome return in goal and Liam McAlinden who took the place of the injured Björn Sigurdarson. The first chance of the game arrived in the sixth minute when skipper Sam Ricketts tried to place a shot from 22-yards but his effort went over the bar. Steve Tomassen’s long throw into the box caused a few moments of consternation for the visiting defence before Bakary Sako booted clear at the second attempt. Wrexham moved ahead in the 12th minute after Ricketts was penalised for a shove on Kevin Thornton to the right of the Wolves box. Thornton took the free-kick himself pulling the ball back into the path of Jay Harris who drilled a low shot from the edge of the area just inside the near post. Sako used his strength and speed to outstrip Tomassen but the winger’s low cross from the by-line was booted clear by a defender. Then Harris almost added to his tally as he hit a shot from 25-yards that only just cleared the bar. In the 37th minute, Junior N’Tame cleared behind from in front of his own goal after Sako had played Griffiths in on the overlap. Although Sako’s corner, Wolves’ first of the game, was cleared, moments later Sako hit a tremendous shot from 20-yards that drew an equally good save from Wrexham keeper Joslain Mayebi.Griffiths dragged an angled shot narrowly wide of the far post before Harris tested Hennessey with a stinging effort that drew a double handed, diving save from the Welsh keeper.Right on half-time Griffiths almost broke through but N’Tame managed to shepherd the ball out for a corner that was taken by Griffiths. But he over-hit the flag-kick and the ball drifted harmlessly behind on the far side.
Half-Time: Wrexham 1 Wolves 0
Kenny Jackett made five changes to his side for the new half whilst Wrexham just swopped keepers. Wolves should have been level just three minutes after the resumption as Griffiths raced down the left and hit a low cross that Cassidy, one of the substitutes, failed to make proper contact with from right in front of goal. But he made no mistake in the 51st minute after Griffiths again carved out the opening. The striker chased a long through ball from Richard Stearman to the line before squaring for Cassidy to convert from point blank range. And Griffiths deservedly got in on the act himself on the hour mark as he cut in from the left and arrowed a low shot into the far corner of the net from just inside the box. Over the next nine minutes there were ten replacements to the home team. But it was Wrexham’s replacement keeper, Andy Coughlin, that then kept the score down to two in the final third of the game. He made superb saves twice in as many minutes to stop the rampant Griffiths. Then, after 77 minutes, he palmed away a low shot from Cassidy before he made a flying save to keep out a well-directed header from Griffiths.
Wrexham: Mayebi (Coughlin 45), Tomassen (Parle 66), Ashton (capt) (Stephens 66), N’Tame (Clowes 66), Creighton (Wright 66), R. Evans (Colbeck 61), Cieslewicz (Bailey-Jones 61), Harris (Clarke 61), Bishop (Morrell 69), Rushton (Ormerod 61), Thornton (Hunt 61). Unused sub: Royle.
Wolves: Hennessey (McCarey 45), Doherty, Elokob (Stearman 45), Ricketts (capt) (Reckord 83), Batth, L. Evans, Price (Edwards 45), Davis, Griffiths, Sako (Forde 43), McAlinden (Cassidy 45). Unused sub: Doumbia.
Referee: J. Walker.
Attendance: 1,852.
Read more at http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/report-griffiths-bags-winner-at-wrexham-160713-919940.aspx#4bX40yQtqlq83zD5.99
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Tuesday 16th July - friendly WW 4 - 2 Blues (Compton)
http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/no-friendly-blues-160713-919580.aspx
Saturday 13th July Livingston (Scottish training camp week)
Victory ends Scotland trip Livingston 1, Wolves 2
W
olves made it two wins from two on their pre-season tour of Scotland by coming from behind to win at Livingston on Saturday afternoon.
In sweltering conditions once again, goals from George Elokobi and David Davis overturned a fine Livingston opener from Mark McNulty, as Head Coach Kenny Jackett continued to run the rule over the Wolves squad.
Wolves almost took what would have been a spectacular early lead when a stray clearance fell to Jack Price. With keeper Darren Jamieson off his line Price struck a first time shot with his left foot which was destined for the top corner until Jamieson managed to get back to claw the ball away.
And it was the hosts who then made the breakthrough with an excellent well-worked goal in the 12 minute, Jason Talbot’s first time cross from the left volleyed home from close range by McNulty. The hosts shaded the first 20 minutes of the contest but from there Wolves responded well to the setback and controlled the remainder of the opening period, creating a string of chances.
The spell of dominance saw front two Leigh Griffiths and Björn Sigurdarson enjoy plenty of opportunities as they stretched the Livingston defence.
Griffiths, back at the club where he started his career, was heavily involved, and appeared to have his ankles clipped as he tried to get a shot in having latched onto an excellent Lee Evans pass. Either side of that penalty appeal he directed Bjorn Sigurdarson’s cross wide and then also fired off target having found space off the last defender as he desperately tried to get on the scoresheet. Sigurdarson fired over after showing some decent feet inside the penalty area, but when Wolves’ equaliser arrived it was courtesy of a defender – George Elokobi. Livingston failed to clear a Wolves corner and Elokobi’s precise shot possibly took a slight deflection but He wasn’t complaining as it crossed the line to level the scores. Wolves almost went in front shortly afterwards but Price’s meeting of a cross from the in
dustrious Matt Doherty bounced back off the post.
Only one change was made by Jackett at the break – Liam McAlinden on for Sigurdarson – and Wolves didn’t have long to wait for a second goal, with Doherty again involved. Latching on to some good work from Griffiths, Doherty’s clever pullback was fired home impressively into the roof of the net by David Davis. Wolves continued to press and Doherty had a goal disallowed for offside after knocking in Price’s cross before a raft of substitutions 20 minutes from time saw all bar McAlinden making way. McAlinden and Zeli Ismail weren’t far away with shots while Jake Cassidy drew two fine saves from Livingston substitute keeper Kevin Walker. Dave Edwards was also denied by Walker with a header from Kevin Foley’s cross while the last action of the game saw one of several Livingston trialists fire over the bar from distance. But it was Wolves who headed for the long trip back to Molineux with their 100 per cent pre-season record intact and hoping for further improvement as the friendly schedule continues at Wrexham on Tuesday.
WOLVES: McCarey (Ikeme 70), Doherty (Foley 70), Batth (Margreitter 70), Elokobi (Stearman 70), Ricketts (Reckord 70), Price (Forde 70), Evans (Doumbia 70), Davis (Edwards 70), Sako (Ismail 70), Griffiths (Cassidy 70), Sigurdarson (McAlinden 45)
ATTENDANCE: 928 (402 Wolves fans)
Read more at http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/report-livingston-1-2-wolves-913236.aspx#5WfzmjeuQOotAEMq.99Â
Friday 12th July friendly at Compton v Burnley 2-2
Wednesday 10th July East Fife 2 WW 3
Striker opens pre-season account
Leigh Griffiths was pleased to kick off his Wolves’ pre-season with a goal – with his first touch – at East Fife last night. Griffiths only joined up with the Wolves squad on Monday having had international commitments over the summer, but has wasted no time getting settled and tapped home Liam McAlinden’s cross three minutes after coming on as a half time substitute. The goal was the start of a lively display in which Griffiths nearly added a second as Wolves won 3-2. “I haven’t had much of a pre-season because I only joined up on Monday, but it was good to get a 45-minute workout under my belt,” he said. “Maybe I should have scored another in the second half when I put it wide but I was happy to have got a goal.”
Wolves took up the one-year option on Griffiths’ contract after a hugely successful loan spell at Hibernian last season. And he admits he would be more than happy to try and extend his Wolves stay if he impresses Head Coach Kenny Jackett. He added: “The gaffer has told me he wanted me to come back and said he was going to give me a chance which is more than other managers have given me. “I’ve just got to embrace it and give him food for thought about a new contract.” Griffiths is well aware that he is returning to a Wolves side which will be seen as a major scalp for opponents in League One next season. But he believes the players need to thrive upon that expectation. “We’re going to be a big fish and the team that everyone wants to beat,” he added. “But the boys have got to handle that and I’m sure the manager can handle it. “We’ve got to go and perform week in, week out.”
Read more at http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/griffiths-on-goal-trail-110713-908213.aspx#IrcpsetGcuJoObAc.99
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