Same again?

(See the bottom of the blog for an important message)

Do you ever have the feeling of deja-vu? On the basis of these first few games, it seems that may be exactly what's in the air around Molineux right now. Whilst results have been mixed - two fantastic (and richly deserved) 1-0 wins over two of the relegated Premier League sides tempered by a poor 3-2 Capital One Cup exit at home to Northampton, and an unlucky 1-0 defeat away at Rotherham - the performances have been encouraging and show that the team are not out of their depth at this level. 

The addition of Dicko really saw Wolves click into gear

Indeed, the start of this season reminds me very much of the start of last season. The 4-0 thrashing of Gillingham aside, the first half of last season was very scrappy, with Wolves often relying on the heroics of Carl Ikeme to keep them ahead in games (Swindon at home particularly stands out). Whilst the football was flowing and exciting, we often lacked the real killer instinct to finish teams off - Oldham, Stevenage and Tranmere all left Molineux with 2-0 defeats when in reality they should've been at least double that. This season has started in a similar groove - we had plenty of chances to make the games safe against Norwich and Fulham, whilst Northampton and Rotherham should've been put to bed long before we conceded. Last year the loan additions of James Henry and Michael Jacobs, alongside the January addition of Nouha Dicko (and his subsequent 'French Connection' with Bakary Sako), saw the team moulded to Kenny Jackett's liking, and the goals (and results) started to match our dominance. We put 4 past Swindon and Colchester, and don't forget the remarkable 6 we smashed past Rotherham at Molineux! Who's to say that won't happen again this season?

These 4 are part of a stubborn, mean back 5 that is the key
to Wolves' success

Plenty are saying that we "desperately need" a new striker, but from what I've seen so far, that's not strictly true. Dicko is more than capable of holding the forward line on his own. He's strong, fast and quick-minded too. He'll give many defenders nightmares at this level. Whilst we do perhaps need better options coming off the bench, the current starting trio of Sako, Dicko and Van La Parra look like they could be the most potent, lethal forward line we've seen here in a while. There's already a fantastic understanding, and that will only get better and better.  Some of the football we've played so far - particularly Wednesday night at Fulham - was sublime and I honestly believe that, when things click, we really are going to give someone a spanking in this division. We're perhaps just lacking that final killer pass or shot, but it's still early on and most teams are still feeling their way into the new season. One thing's for sure - defensively we looked to have picked up where we left off. Danny Batth looks even more comfortable at this level, whilst Richard Stearman (and I will hold my hands up here) looks like the perfect partner for him. Time will tell if that carries on. In the full-back areas Matt Doherty looks to be back to the levels he was reaching before his injury. But Scott Golbourne has really shone - at Fulham I felt he had the game of his life. He's so composed, and he reads the game so well. If he keeps this up, he'll easily be the best left-back I've personally seen play for Wolves (or at least since Lee Naylor). 

James Henry impressed enough in his loan spell to earn
a permanent Molineux stay

Whilst we were unlucky to miss out on Chris Wood - the striker opting to stay and fight for his place at Leicester - and the Patrick Bamford saga looking like being never-ending, I would again re-iterate the "don't panic" message of my last post. People are saying the board are trying to do everything on the cheap etc, but there is no proof of that. Kenny was backed last season - the club's total transfer spend coming to around £2.5m whilst already in the summer Kenny was backed to sign Harry Maguire - but rightly chose to opt out when the asking price got stupidly high. The same went for Callum Wilson, who it was felt (understandably so at the time) was too overpriced. The flip side is to look at Fulham. They spent £11m on Ross McCormack and I still don't think he's found his way out of Richard Stearman's back pocket. I said in my last post that I think we'll get Chris Wood in the loan window when his Premier League opportunities become limited, and I still stand by that. After all, Henry's and Jacobs' loan spells were only meant to be brief to get them game time and keep them match fit, and look how that turned out! The "bomb" squard are holding us back too, in terms of our wages, but the departure of Stephen Ward (best wishes to him by the way - I personally felt he didn't do too badly here, and I never understood the hate for him) should help that situation slightly.

I've said all along that I felt we'd beat the 3 relegated sides, lose to Rotherham and lose to Blackpool - because it's typical Wolves to do it the hard way. So far I'm on course to be proven right. The last 2 weeks have shown it really is a rollercoaster life for most Wolves fans. When we beat Norwich, everyone was on a high and confident we could make a push for promotion. Yet suddenly, 2 defeats (both unlucky in their own ways) and the board are screwing us over and we're gonna struggle this season unless we get another striker. I realised this week that perhaps we all just need to take a leaf out of Kenny Jackett's book and have a more pragmatic, level-headed approach to the season.

#KeepCalmAndTrustKenny

(PS - be sure to check out my new site on Wordpress which I'm setting up to eventually move my blog to. The Wolves blog, and much more, will all be at http://afootballfanslife.wordpress.com/)

Championship Assault

The boys are back in town...

Kenny Jackett inspired Wolves to the League One title

So the famous 'Thin Lizzy' song goes, and it seems the perfect opening line for this post. Not only is the blog back, but Wolves are back in the Championship after just one (quite remarkable) season away. Looking back I'm so gutted I didn't post during what was arguably one of the best seasons for the club in recent memory - even if it was in the third tier. Record after record was broken, and the club, players and fans were all re-united in a way not seen since Merlin's magic days of 2006.

Southampton and Norwich both achieved
back to back promotions

So what of this Championship campaign that lies ahead? 46 games in what is arguably the toughest, most competitive and most gruelling league in all the World. For a club of our size, and coming into it on the back of a monumental League One title win, the signs are surely good. That's certainly what the 'experts' seem to think. If you look on most Football League blogs, sports websites and most betting tip sites, a lot of people seem to think we're the team to watch coming into the new season, and that we could make a push for the play-offs. While it is do-able - look at the recent exploits of Southampton and Norwich after League One successes - it is something that many Wolves fans won't even consider. Is it just the same old 'typical Wolves' negativity? Or should we be feeling more optimistic of our chances - after all, if Mick's team of Academy graduates and non-league gems can do it, why can't the class of 2014 finish in the top 6?

Kevin McDonald is the one who makes Wolves tick

Its certainly easy to make a case for it. In Carl Ikeme, we have by far the best goalkeeper outside the Premier League (although David Marshall and John Ruddy may well argue that), whilst Danny Batth and Richard Stearman look to have a solid partnership - even if question marks do remain about their ability to do it at Championship level. In Kevin McDonald, Wolves have a midfielder not seen here in a long time - a cultured player with the passing range to have many a tiki-taka enthusiast drooling with joy. Alongside him, Jack Price or Tommy Rowe are more than capable of protecting the defence and, in Rowe's case, also have a fantastic passing ability. Up front, Leon Clarke looks rejuvenated in pre-season, while Nouha Dicko had a solid scoring record at this level with Blackpool. The spine of the team is in brilliant shape, and the edges aren't too back either. Scott Golbourne looks to be the perfect modern full-back, and skipper Sam Ricketts brings experience and enthusiasm to the right-side. Everyone knows about Bakary Sako's ability - which has greatly improved under Jackett's guidance - and James Henry was frequently around the top of the assists table for the Championship when at Millwall, where he was Player Of The Year numerous times. With Michael Jacobs looking at home in the 'number 10' role, and Dave Edwards looking a threat in the same position, Wolves look to be in good shape going into the new season.

Chris Wood scored 11 goals in 19 games under Jackett at Millwall

Yet question marks remain. Jackett has already identified the need for another striker, and he also appears to be keen on a new centre-back too. Having cleverly decided not to waste an extortionate £2.5m on Harry Maguire, he appears to have turned his attentions to Chesterfield's Liam Cooper, a highly-rated young left-sided centre-back. But, as we saw last season, Kenny Jackett will tinker with the squad as and when he feels it is right, and the results of that cannot be argued with. I would not be surprised if his main target - Leicester striker Chris Wood, with whom he worked at Millwall - joined the club during the loan window once he realises his game time in the Premier League will be severely limited.

The important thing for fans to do is to not panic, like some already are. What many forget is that Wolves only made one signing between the start of the transfer window and the start of the season (Sam Ricketts on a free). This summer we've already made two. Plenty will argue the Championship will be different (and it will) and so we should be making signings already, but this is the only league in the world where a side can be in the bottom half at Christmas, and finish the season winning the league. Making tweaks as we go along could see us get the 3 or 4 wins on the bounce that take us from mid-table to the play-offs. If you chuck all your eggs into one basket all at once, then you're left with very little room for manoeuvre as the season progresses - and that's before I've even mentioned our wage bill issues and the impact of Financial Fair Play.

Ahh... It's good to be back!

Wolves Wrap Up Their Jackett

As Kenny Jackett is confirmed as Wolves' new head coach, this blog takes a look at the facts behind his story so far, and attempts to convince fans who are unsure of this appointment just why he is the right man for the Molineux hotseat.

Credit: @midlandsfooty

Former Millwall boss Kenny Jackett was announced as the new head coach of Wolves today, having resigned from Millwall just hours after Dean Saunders was sacked by Wolves just over 3 weeks ago. The Londoner has arrived at Molineux to a mixed reaction from fans, with many seemingly preferring Owen Coyle from the list of potential candidates. But whilst some are happy to give Jackett a chance to impress, others see it as a poor decision and seem happy to turn their backs on the club at this "final straw".

Jackett won the FL Trophy with Swansea in 2006

Personally I couldn't be happier at the appointment of Jackett. From the moment he became available, he was my first choice and I feel he is the outstanding candidate for the job. The problem with a lot of Wolves fans is they still see us as a big club, a club that should be sitting comfortably in the Premier League. The reality is far from that though. For the first time since 1989, Wolves are facing a season of football outside the top two tiers of English football and need to get back to the Championship as quickly as possible. There are few better managers out there who have the track record at this level to do just that. Having previously been in charge of Watford for a year back in the late 1990's, Jackett then spent a lot of time as an Assistant Manager, before taking the lead role at Swansea City - who at the time we in League 2 - in April 2004. Despite an underwhelming start that saw the Welsh side miss out on the Play-Offs, in Jackett's first full season they achieved promotion to League 1. They initially looked on course for a second successive promotion, but slipped away towards the end of the season before losing in the Play-Off Final to Barnsley on penalties. He did, however, bring the Welsh club the Football League Trophy (aka Johnstone's Paint Trophy) that season. The next year (2006-07) started solidly for Swansea, who were hovering around the Play-Offs. But Jackett resigned in February 2007, stating he didn't feel he had the full support of everyone at the club.

Jackett took Millwall up through the League 1 Play-Offs in 2010

Having gone to Manchester City as Reserve Team coach just 3 weeks later in March 2007, Jackett then took up the Manager's post at Millwall in November of that year. The rest of that season was solid before, in his first full season, he took the unfancied club to 5th in League One, beating Leeds United in the Play-Off Semi Finals to set up a date with Nigel Adkins' Scunthorpe United at Wembley. After leading 2-1 at half-time, Scunthorpe came back within the last 20 minutes to win the game 3-2. Millwall weren't to be deterred, however, and after a fantastic second-half to the 2009/10 season, Millwall missed out on automatic promotion by just 1 point. This only seemed to spur them on as they beat Huddersfield 2-0 on aggregate before meeting much-fancied Swindon Town in the Final. Captain (and Lions' stalwart) Paul Robinson scored the only goal in a 1-0 win that saw the club promoted back to the Championship. The London club made an instant impact on the Championship, pushing for the Play-Offs before a late-season slump saw them finish a highly respectable 9th. The following season, despite having hovered around the relegation zone for much of the season, a late surge of 5 wins in a row (as part of a 7 game unbeaten streak) saw them finish safely over the line. Last season Millwall started well, going on a 13 game unbeaten run (including beating Wolves 1-0 at Molineux). But they faltered after December and only won 5 of their last 23 games, narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day. He did, however, guide them to yet another Wembley day out - the infamous FA Cup Semi-Final defeat to Wigan back in April.

Jackett's extremely impressive stats (Credit: Wikipedia)

Whilst I understand some aspects of those facts - particularly the last 2 seasons in the Championship - may not sound too enticing, it is important to note that Jackett operated at Millwall on a shoestring budget and as a result his achievements are ones of great success. He was the club's 8th longest serving manager and one of their most celebrated. In terms of honours, he's won the League One Manager of the Month award 3 times, and the Championship Manager of the Month award twice. At all 3 clubs he has managed, he has a win percentage of over 40%, and when the number of wins and draws at each club are combined, they outweigh the number of defeats he's suffered at each club. He is widely acknowledged amongst the Swansea fans as being the man who laid the foundations there for Roberto Martinez to build on and start their journey to success. He builds teams from the back, with his main focus being on having a side defensively solid - as demonstrated by his sides' defensive records over the years (12 teams conceded the same or more goals as them last season, 13 the season before that and 21 the year before that - all Championship). Given what we've witnessed at Molineux over the last few years, defensive stability is something high on most fans' agendas.

Kenny Jackett may not be the sexiest name linked with the post - some may even say he's an underwhelming choice. He may not be the man to take the club to the Premier League, but right now any fan expecting that needs locking in a mental facility. What Kenny Jackett represents is Wolves' desire to get back to the Championship at the first attempt and to have stability back at Molineux again after a turbulent 18 months. For once, Steve Morgan has made the right appointment at the right time, and this League One season ahead is one that all Wolves fans should look forward to with hope and excitement.

Out of darkness, Wolves may have just found themselves some light.

In Jackett We Trust.

A Relegation Review

Wolves fans give their opinion following relegation at Brighton

How times change. Two years ago this week, Wolves were celebrating beating West Bromwich Albion 3-1 as the club took their first steps towards a late-season survival push that saw the club eventually scrape Premier League safety on the final day. Fast-forward to 2013, however, and the preverbial darkness mentioned in the city's motto 'Out Of Darkness Cometh Light' has well and truly come home to roost.

The players must take the brunt of the blame

For a multitude of reasons, Wolverhampton Wanderers now find themselves staring ahead to a season of League One Football, the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, and even the First Round of the FA Cup. I could sit here and rant about how it shouldn't be this way (and let's be honest, when you look at the club, it simply shouldn't) but the simple fact is: Wolves finished 23rd in the Championship on 51 points, 3 points from safety and with a heavy minus weighing them down in the Goal Difference column. How they got there differs depending on who you speak to. Some blame Morgan, some Moxey. Some point the finger at McCarthy, Solbakken and/or Saunders. But anyone who has watched Wolves over the last 2 years unites on one common enemy - the players. The majority are overpaid, uncaring and have become stale having been together for so long. Whilst they may argue they have got "too used to losing", that is simply no excuse for what has been a lacklustre season where the so-called 'senior' pros just haven't put the effort in. Only when youngsters Matt Doherty, Jack Robinson, Danny Batth (briefly), David Davis and Bjorn Sigurdarson got an extended run in the team (one of the only good moves made by Saunders), along with the introduction of the finally-fit Stephen Hunt, did Wolves fans see any effort, passion or desire in the team. And sadly, even then it was overshadowed by the poisonous elements within the dressing room - namely Roger Johnson, Jamie O'Hara and Karl Henry.

Jamie O'Hara's disgusting sarcastic thumbs-up to the fans

The first two mentioned have been a real cancer at this club - leading the downward spiral from within and would be the first names out the door in most Wolves fans' books. Since Mick McCarthy's ridiculous decision to give Johnson the captaincy, the centre-back has found himself at the centre of many clashes with Wolves fans and, with three consecutive relegations to his name, will be hard to shift in the summer. He came in on big wages that, for some reason (this is where blame lays at Moxey's door), didn't contain any form of relegation clause, meaning he has spent a season in the Championship still 'earning' (using the term loosely) around £40,000 each week. The same with O'Hara, who looks nothing like the player he was during his successful loan spell at Molineux. It seems once he was given a 5 year contract on similar wages as Johnson (and again no relegation clause) he knew he could relax and has barely lifted a finger on the pitch - except to give a sarcastic thumbs-up to the travelling fans at Brighton on the final day of this season. As the final whistle blew at the Amex - surely bringing down the final curtain on the pair's Wolves careers - they differed in their actions. O'Hara, who had become very much the villain of the piece on the final day, went straight down the tunnel without any acknowledgement of the fans. Johnson, however, came over and clapped the travelling support, before offering his shirt to the fans - who quickly let him know just what they thought of him. The centre-back looked beamused, before shrugging his shoulders and walking off. His ignorance to his part in this is quite frankly embarassing and it is hoped he will never darken Molineux's doorways ever again.

Roger Johnson and Karl Henry - two of the worst culprits

But it is the attitude of club captain Karl Henry - Wolverhampton-born and a self-confessed Wolves fan - that is the most sickening. For someone who should care as much as the 20,000 in the stands each week, Henry instead looks disinterested and barely manages to scrape a performance together. He, too, has been a poisonous element in the dressing room and former manager Stale Solbakken has hinted at Henry being a ring-leader and a key element behind his disappointing dismissal. To top it all, when he was interviewed by the Express and Star the other day, Henry talked about his "disappointment" about relegation, despite wearing a smirk on his face the entire time. And then he went on to claim that Jamie O'Hara was "unfairly treated" by the fans at Brighton and that he's actually worked hard for Wolves. I don't know what our captain's smoking, but it sounds like heavy stuff! Two of the most ludicrous comments to come out of this season (and when Dean Saunders is your manager, that's quite an achievement) have meant that, having been Karl Henry's biggest fan, I never want to see him at this club again. I certainly never want to see him have the armband again.

Dean Saunders has rightfully lost his job after relegation

Wolves now face a difficult summer. With fans still hurting, the club must handle the difficult task of laying off staff - the 'little people' who work behind the scenes at the club - and also losing key players. The biggest earners will have to go, as no club can survive League 1 with a wage bill of £25m. There will also be a new man in the hotseat for the new season, as Dean Saunders (rightly, in my view) got the sack on Tuesday morning. The Welshman had more than enough time to keep us up - given that we were not in danger when he took over - but thanks to some frankly clueless tactics and team selections, as well as some strange substitutions, Wolves were relegated and a large part of it is down to Saunders.

Jackett has won promotion from League 1 with Millwall

The bookies favourites for the Molineux hotseat are Kenny Jackett (who resigned from Millwall on Tuesday morning, a pure coincidence), Steve Davis of Crewe (who is a Wolves fan) and Darren Ferguson of Peterborough United (and is also an ex-Wolves player). Most fans are split between three candidates - Jackett, Davis and former Bolton manager Owen Coyle. Whoever takes over, however, will have only one brief - to get this club back to the Championship at the first time of asking. I would personally be delighted to see Kenny Jackett get the job - he got Millwall promoted on a shoestring budget and kept them comfortable in the Championship on further tight budgets. He also focuses on defensive stability and will ensure Wolves would be tight at the back and build from there. He has the experience necessary to get us back on a level footing in the Championship. But whoever comes in, it is vital that Morgan backs them for more than the 6 months he gave Solbakken's long-term project. If he doesn't, this club will go nowhere fast.

Batth has captained Wolves Reserves in the past

An immediate return to the Championship should be possible too. Despite the fact a lot of key players will leave, the up-and-coming youngsters have shown at lot of promise and the team will be built around the likes of Batth (who I would give the armband to), Doherty, David Davis, Bjorn Sigurdarson and Liam McAlinden. The new man will be titled 'Head Coach', meaning Wolves are the latest club to embrace the foreign style of having a Director of Football (Kevin Thelwell) manage transfers with the Head Coach focusing solely on the first-team. It is a system that has worked so incredibly well down the road at The Hawthorns and Wolves fans will hope that is can have similar results at Molineux to bring the good times back to the club.


'Out Of Darkness Cometh Light'. This is Wolves' darkest hour since the mid-eighties and it is up to those at the top to lead the club through it and find the light at the end. For Steve Morgan, Jez Moxey and Kevin Thelwell, this is surely the biggest summer of their careers as their professional reputations are firmly on the line. If they get it right, it could lead to great things for the club. Get it wrong, and the clouds overhead will continue to get forever darker.

Over to you gentlemen.


Now, as the season is over, I shall hand out my own personal 'awards' looking back over this season. All just my own opinion, but it's just a final chance to look back on the better parts of this Championship season.

Highlight of the Season: Leading 3-0 at half-time against Birmingham City. None of us could believe what we were seeing and, despite Blues' second-half fightback, the feeling of winning so convincingly against our rivals was fantastic.

 

Low-point of the Season: Hard one, given our poor season, but it has to be Charlton's 90th minute winner at The Valley. In a game we deserved a point from, that goal told me that we were going down. A heartbreaking feeling.

Player of the Season: Bakary Sako. One of the few bright sparks in a very dark season. There's very little chance of Wolves keeping him, but he's been a delight to watch at times this year.

Best Away Day: Surprise choice, but Watford in November 2012 for me. We lost, but the atmosphere in the away end truly was incredible. One of the best I've ever experienced

Worst Away Day: Middlesbrough in December 2012. We deserved a point at least, and then had an appalling 89th minute penalty decision go against us, before conceding a second in the 92nd minute. The 5 hour coach journey home was painful

Best Opposition Fans: Brighton and Hove Albion by an absolute mile. Brought a fantastic following to Molineux who had a good atmosphere, then in the return fixture, they created a great atmosphere at the Amex. Also sang "You stupid b*****ds you've let your fans down" to our players on the final day. Great touch.

Out the door in the Summer: Where do I begin? There's so many who must go, but O'Hara and Johnson must be the first two, given their destroyed relationship with the fans. After that... well, take your pick.

Perfect Summer Signing: A manager who can get us playing good football and get us promoted would be great. Failing that, Alan Judge has just left Notts County and is frequently at the top end of the League 1 assist charts. If we can persuade him to join us, he might just be the perfect replacement for the creative talents who will undoubtedly leave the club.

Have a good Summer everyone.

It's Deja-vu At Molineux

Stephen Hunt celebrates scoring the goal that keeps Wolves in the Premiership 2 years ago

So here we are again - with 2 games to go, Wolverhampton Wanderers find themselves in a fight for their life. After the debacle that was the final day of the 2010/11 season (when Wolves stayed up on goal difference despite losing 3-2 to Blackburn), we were promised we would "never be in this situation again" by none other than Chairman Steve Morgan.

Losing Ebanks-Blake to injury has hit Wolves hard

Well he was right there - we were never in that position again. Since that fateful day in May 2011, this club has lurched from one disaster to the next. Dropping out of the Premier League without so much as a whimper the following season was embarassing. Now this grand old club has just 2 games remaining to stop themselves falling into League One - and survival is not even in our hands, as regardless of our results we must rely on at least one other team slipping up. But where did it all go wrong? At the start of April, Wolves had just gone on a run of winning 4 games out of 5 and looked to be one of the favourites for survival. But as is often the case, as Wolves won, the sides around them did so too. The best Wolves found themselves was just 1 point clear of the drop zone - unbelieveable given their run of form. But then the injuries really took their toll - after losing Sylvan Ebanks-Blake to a broken leg in the win against Birmingham, they then had that followed up by losing improving midfielder David Davis for the season in the defeat at Bolton Wanderers.

Beating Hull 1-0 gave Wolves hope once again

Beating 2nd placed Hull City 1-0 in an impressive second-half display at Molineux has given Wolves some light, but it came in the middle of 2 crucial defeats against Huddersfield and Charlton that has seen Wolves slump right back into the bottom 3. That last-minute goal from Charlton's Jonathan Obika was a killer for Wolves in a game where they deserved what would've been a vital point, and it left the travelling fans feeling it may well prove to be the pivotal nail in the coffin. Anything other than a win against Burnley at Molineux this Saturday is unthinkable and would surely see Wolves relegated this season - particularly given that the final day trip is to bogey side Brighton, a match that has only seen Wolves return victorious in 1 of their last 10 visits there. Gus Poyet's men are in form too - they sit 4th having just beaten Blackpool 6-1 at the Amex Stadium.

Wolves just cannot defend, and it cost them crucially late on at Charlton

One of the few positives for Wolves fans going into these remaining games is the form of Stephen Hunt, who is again taking it upon himself to try and fire Wolves to safety - much like he did back in 2011. His return to form seems to have brought the best out in new skipper Kevin Doyle, who has rediscovered his scoring touch at just the right time. Bakary Sako is also back in contention after his hamstring injury, and even a half-fit Bakary Sako can still make a big impact to Wolves' survival hopes. The performances of youngsters Jack Robinson, Bjorn Sigurdarson and, in particular, Matt Doherty have also been a lift for the fans during what has been such a testing season. But despite the two full-backs standing out lately, it is defensively where Wolves have cost themselves - particularly when it comes to defending corners. Charlton's first goal on Saturday was the 3rd cheap goal conceded from a corner in the last 4 games and yet this is something that has not seemingly been dealt with by the coaching staff. For a team that have such ariel ability as Wolves, conceding soft goals from corners is simply unacceptable.

Jamie O'Hara is one of the first who must be got rid of

The feeling of dejection is an all-too familiar one around Molineux

But despite other teams winning when Wolves do, despite the injuries and despite the late goals, it will not be pure bad luck that sends Wolves down. The table does not lie and this group of players simply haven't been good enough, nor have they tried hard enough. They stabbed Solbakken in the back and contrived to get him the sack, and even under Dean Saunders a lot of the players haven't looked that bothered. It's as if most of them feel they are too good for the Championship and so they don't have to try. At least if Wolves are relegated to League One, it should see a lot of the deadwood at this club shipped out and the team can start afresh. But whichever division this club is in, this coming Summer needs to see a complete overhaul and major rebuilding.

Wolves have 2 games left to put up a fight for their Championship lives. They must also rely on Peterborough United and Huddersfield Town dropping points in their remaining 2 fixtures. It won't be easy, but then with Wolves it never is. 

Prediction: Wolves 3-1 Burnley

Easter Brings Wolves Rebirth In Fight To Stay Up

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Bristol City

(Ebanks-Blake 76, Doyle 78, Davis (og) 25)
_______________________________________________________

Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 Middlesbrough

(McManus (og) 17, Sigurdarson 48, Doyle 70, Leadbitter 25, 52)
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Birmingham City 2-3 Wolverhampton Wanderers

(Elliot 55 (pen), 90, Hunt 20, Ebanks-Blake 27, 37 (pen))

Emotion overflows as everyone celebrates Doyle's winner

Wolves dragged themselves out of the bottom 3 with a explosive showing over the Easter period that saw them catapult from the bottom of the Championship form table to 2nd. It all kicked off with a vital clash between the bottom two sides in the League as Bristol City travelled to Molineux. After a number of set-backs - including early injuries to Bakary Sako and Dave Edwards and the most bizzare own-goal that Molineux has ever witnessed - Wolves fought back from 1-0 down to score 2 goals in 2 minutes and claim a precious 3 home points. Even a freak injury to Carl Ikeme - a broken hand thanks to punching the tactics board in the dressing room at half time out of frustration for his part in the own goal - couldn't halt Dean Saunders' side who were deserved winners against a poor Bristol City side who surely now are dead and buried.

Sigurdarson scores his goal-of-the-season contender against Boro

After the International break, Wolves returned to action at Molineux to face out-of-form Middlesbrough. Tony Mowbray's side had gone into freefall since Wolves had last played them, and it showed as Wolves - who were high on confidence - got at Boro from the off. Stephen Hunt caused chaos when he got on the ball and it was his brilliant cross that gave McManus no chance as the defender put the ball past his own keeper. But Wolves were again left seething at abysmal officials as Grant Leadbitter struck an effort from 25 yards out. It crashed down off the bar and bounced on the line, but not over it. The linesman - who was about 7 yards behind the ball - flagged to give the goal despite no appeals or celebrations from Middlesbrough. Television replays later showed conclusively that the ball had not gone over the line at all. Thankfully, for once, this wasn't a decision that cost Wolves the points as they rallied for the rest of the half and during half-time before Bjorn Sigurdarson scored a contender for goal of the season just 3 minutes into the second-half. The ball was laid into the feet of Ebanks-Blake, who held off his marker before back-heeling the ball perfectly into the path of the onrushing Sigurdarson. The Icelandic striker beat 3 Boro defenders before rounding Steele in ice cool fashion and slotting the ball home. But Wolves did their usual of sitting back and within minutes Middlesbrough were level, as the defence backed off and gave Grant Leadbitter the time and space to pick his shot from 25 yards. This time there was no controversy as he pinged his strike perfectly into the bottom corner, giving De Vries no chance. Many watching in the stands thought that Wolves would wilt before giving in and gifting Boro all 3 points, but the confidence in the players from beating Bristol City clearly still lingered and they rallied once more - a Matt Doherty long throw being flicked on by Roger Johnson to allow Kevin Doyle to nod home from close range. That proved to be the last goal in what was a true thriller of a game.

Wolves couldn't believe their luck being 3-0 up at half-time

Incredibly, Wolves' next game came just 48 hours later as, on Easter Monday, Wolves made the relatively short trip to St Andrews to face local rivals Birmingham City. Clearly it seemed the unchanged side would face fatigue - both mentally and physically - and would struggle against a fresher Birmingham side who had dispatched Crystal Palace 4-0 at Selhurst Park on Good Friday. But if there was any fatigue, it didn't show as Wolves survived a difficult first 10 minutes, before going on to blow their rivals away with 3 goals in a 17 minute spell that saw Wolves 3-0 up at half-time. Wolves had clearly been playing on sheer adrenaline in the first-half, however, as after half-time they simply never got to grips with the Blues - who had obviously had a stern team-talk from boss Lee Clark at half-time. City piled on the pressure after half-time with a mixture of De Vries, the woodwork, Roger Johnson and just plain horrific finishing kept them at bay. They did get two goals back to make it a nervy 45 minutes for Wolves fans thanks to two penalties. The first one looked soft - a push by Jamie O'Hara on Wes Thomas (although the Blues striker didn't need much encouragement to go down) and the second in stoppage time was a little more clearer as Jack Robinson's outstretched arm gave Wade Elliot the chance to reduce the deficit, but it was all too little too late.

Of course, as always with Wolves, the positives must come with severe negatives - more often than not coming in the form of injuries. That's exactly what's happened this time as Bakary Sako tore a hamstring in the win over Bristol City, while Dave Edwards broke his foot and Carl Ikeme his hand during the same game. Then, in the Birmingham game, a challenge from Paul

The strong challenge from Robinson that injured Ebanks-Blake

Robinson (the former Albion left-back) left Sylvan Ebanks-Blake with a broken bone in his leg. All 4 players are now out for the rest of the season and, in the case of Sako and Ebanks-Blake, leave Wolvers wondering where the goals are going to come from. Stephen Hunt has impressively stepped forward in place of Sako and has produced some fantastic performances in these last few games - similar to the impact he made at the end of the 2010/11 Premier League season. Likewise up front, Bjorn Sigurdarson is beginning to show the sort of form that Wolves fans were hoping for from him, and even goal-shy Kevin Doyle has 2 goals in his last 3 games and looks sharper and most dangerous now. Wolves have also recruited youngster Nouha Dicko on loan from Wigan - the Frenchman has a decent record at this level on loan with Blackpool, scoring 4 goals in 9 games last season, and then 5 in 22 appearances this season (most of these appearances came late in games off the bench) and he showed in the win over Birmingham that he can potentially be a threat to Championship defences in the coming weeks.

There are still problems for Wolves at the back, with Roger Johnson and Kaspars Gorkss not looking like they can form a strong enough partnership to keep Wolves defensively solid - indeed Johnson dug Gorkss out of quite a few holes at St Andrews in a stellar display against his former club. But, for once, the full-back positions for Wolves look solid with youngsters Matt

Matt Doherty has been a stand-out performer in recent weeks

Doherty and Jack Robinson (who must surely go on to become England's first-choice left-back in a few years) looking like they've played at this level for years. In midfield David Davis' performances have caught the eye as he has shown the form that made him stand out at the end of Wolves' disasterous Premier League campaign last season. Indeed in a situation where experienced heads are needed, it is in fact the younger element of the team who are standing up and being counted and leading Wolves forward. The performances of the aforementioned Doherty, Robinson, Davis and also Bjorn Sigurdarson have been nothing short of remarkable and have given fans hope that the future may well be a little bit brighter. Credit for that, granted, must go to Dean Saunders who has put faith in these younger players and been extremely well rewarded for it.

Sam Ricketts consigns Wolves to defeat on their last visit to Bolton

Whatever the future holds - until the end of the season and beyond - Wolves have given themselves a fantastic chance of staying up this season. This weekend they face a tricky trip to The Reebok to face Bolton Wanderers - a trip that hasn't been so kind to them in recent years. They haven't won away at Bolton in the League since 1994 - a run that has seen them return down the M6 winless 9 times. They also lost against Bolton in the Division One Play-Offs back in 1995, although they did win there in the FA Cup back in 1999, but on the whole it's not a place that holds fond memories for Wolves. With Bolton sitting just behind Wolves in the form table - having picked up 12 points from their last 6 games and winning their last 6 home League games - and sitting just 4 points outside the Play-Offs, this is sure to be another difficult test for Dean Saunders' side.

Prediction: Bolton 2-0 Wolves

Wolves Face Crunch Time As Games Run Out

Nottingham Forest 3-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

(Lansbury 31, 67, McGugan 90, Doherty 65)

Bakary Sako fires in the free-kick that hits the crossbar

Wolves ended a disappointing afternoon at The City Ground with 10 men as in-form Nottingham Forest blew them away. Saunders started by making only one change from the team that started at Millwall, with Sigurdarson coming in for Jake Cassidy. Wolves started brightly though, with Sigurdarson and Ebanks-Blake looking lively for the visitors. Dave Edwards had the first clear-cut chance, but he mis-hit his volley from the edge of the box and it flew wide of the post. And 5 minutes later, Forest went ahead as Wolves gave Guedioura time to pass the ball across to Lansbury who then had plenty of space to put his shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards. Minutes later, Wolves came agonisingly close to levelling matters. They won a free-kick on the edge of the box and Sako lined up to hit it. The Frenchman saw the ball smash against the underside of the bar and bounce just in front of the line, before Sigurdarson poorly skied the rebound.

Doherty celebrates equalising for Wolves

The second-half started much like the first, with Wolves pressing forward looking for a goal. They had to wait a while for it though, but Matt Doherty's brilliant header back across goal was worth the wait. Karl Darlow even got a touch to it, but he simply couldn't keep it out. It was the young defender's first goal for the club and it looked like it would spur Dean Saunders' side on to push for another. But with Wolves barely touching the ball after the restart, Forest regained the lead just 90 seconds later as they waltzed through the Wolves defence and again gave Lansbury the freedom of Nottingham on the edge of the box. He made no mistake and gave Ikeme no chance.

Stephen Ward is sent off late-on at the City Ground

Having already made rather defensive changes (replacing Henry and O'Hara with Doumbia and Davis respectively), Saunders then brought on Kevin Doyle in place of the impressive Sigurdarson. As Wolves began to sit deeper in a 4-5-1 formation, Forest pressed forward and had several chances to seal the points - McGugan particularly proving a handful. But with 10 minutes remaining, Wolves won a corner and threw men forward. The corner was poor and Danny Collins cleared it and as the ball moved quickly upfield, it became a foot-race between Stephen Ward and former-Wolves man Greg Halford. Halford knocked the ball past the Irishman who then body checked him and was shown a straight red card. At first glance it looked slightly harsh as it appeared Ward merely lost his footing, but the decision stood and, with Wolves having only 10 men, Forest soon stretched their lead - McGugan this time finishing matters off from long range.

Poor defending again from Wolves allowed Lansbury to score twice

The difference in scoreline was really just a matter of a gulf in class. Forest are flying under Billy Davies and look a sure bet for the Play-Offs, so this was always going to be a monster task. The important thing is not to let it knock their confidence after the first win under Saunders at Millwall. The manager actually did well with his team selection, not drastically changing a winning team. And it showed as Wolves started the game well. The partnership of Sigurdarson and Ebanks-Blake again showed great promise and it would be wise of Saunders to keep them two together for the remainder of the season. As always though, it is simply basic defensive errors that are costing Wolves and, with time running out, they have got to be eradicated if we are to stand any hope of Championship survival.

My Wolves MOTM: Matt Doherty. Yet again, he looked assured at right-back, and took his goal well too. The youngster is getting better by the game.

Wolves In A Word: Outclassed

And so Wolves come to the mother of 6 pointers. With Wolves sitting joint-bottom of the Championship alongside Bristol City, it is The Robins who visit Molineux with both sides needing a vital win in the battle against relegation.

Wolves enjoyed a fantastic day out at Ashton Gate in December

Dean Saunders would love a repeat of the last time these two sides met, the day at Ashton Gate being a highlight in his predecessor's reign. With Wolves struggling for form, they started December with a trip to Bristol knowing they needed a win. And Stale Solbakken's side blitzed City away with 4 goals in the first half including a double for goal-shy Kevin Doyle - the 2nd of which was an incredible 70-yard run up the pitch, similar to George Ndah's at Preston back in 2003. Although they took their foot off the gas in the second-half, they still had chances to increase their lead. But in the end Wolves had to be satisfied with a 4-1 win - City's late consolation coming in the form of a late Neil Danns screamer. Their last visit to Molineux was also a good day for the Wanderers, with a freak Michael Kightly free-kick and a Sylvan Ebanks-Blake overhead kick proving decisive in a 2-0 win for Wolves back in their title-winning season. Indeed, The Robins have a very poor record at Molineux - having only won twice in 27 League visits, the last of those victories being back in 1931. Bristol City haven't actually beaten Wolves in their last 9 League meetings, since beating them 2-1 at home in December 1993. All in all, Wolves have scored 100 goals past The Robins in all competitions, with 50 of them coming at Molineux. The records all point to this being a fantastic chance for Wolves to end their recent Molineux hoodoo.

Bristol City have conceded more goals than any League club in England

Despite sitting bottom of The Championship, Bristol City's form over recent matches has actually improved. They are unbeaten in 4 games (winning 2 and drawing 2), and haven't conceded a goal in their last 3 games. But all their good work under Wolverhampton-born (and thus Wolves fan) boss Sean O'Driscoll - who was favourite to replace Stale Solbakken before taking the Bristol job - has come at Ashton Gate. On the road, City are a very different side. They are actually the worst away side in the division, and they haven't won away under O'Driscoll. Indeed they only have 3 away wins all season, with their last away success being a 3-2 win over Sheffield Wednesday back at the start of December. They're not frequent away scorers either, with only 16 away goals this season - a tally better than only Ipswich in this division. In general, defensive strength is not something associated with Bristol City. They have conceded 65 League goals this season - more than any other League club in England. However, their recent 5-3 home win over Barnsley will give them belief that they can go up against the sides around them and win these must-win games. They could be missing firepower, with Jon Stead a potential absentee, although 9-goal striker Sam Bladock is expected to be fit to make his 150th career League appearance. At the back, City will be boosted by keeping 3 clean sheets and returning defender Louis Carey will be a big asset to their side if he is given the nod at Molineux.

Moments like SEB's miss against Cardiff have frustrated Dean Saunders

This game is very much must-win for Wolves. Sitting 2 points from safety and having teams around them start to pick up results, the margin for error for Dean Saunders' side is getting smaller and smaller by the game. The Wolves manager has already spoken to the press this week about how he feels small margins are going against his side - including Jamie O'Hara's shot at Barnsley that looked to have crossed the line, and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's miss from 6 yards against Cardiff. It is time for Wolves to start making their own luck, and Saunders will see this as a fantastic chance to get a first home win. He will be eager to see his side not fall behind, as Wolves are still one of only two sides in the division who are yet to win having gone behind. In terms of team selection, Wolves are unlikely to be changed from the defeat to Nottingham Forest - with only Jack Robinson coming in for the suspended Stephen Ward.

With the international break coming up, this is a fantastic chance for Wolves to start their push for Championship safety and leave the table looking a lot better for the next 2 weeks. There can be no excuses, no slip-ups in this game. With Bristol City's away woes, this could finally be the day Dean Saunders gets his first Molineux win.

Prediction: Wolves 2-1 Bristol City