After the previous week's horror finish at the Hawthorns, Wolves needed something big to lift them. The fans turned up at Molineux on Saturday more in hope than expectation. Indeed, there can't have been many people in and around the stadium this weekend with an idea how just how the match would turn out.
Sitting in the South Bank, I was surrounded by many fans who were somewhat unhappy at Mick's 4-5-1 system being employed. I, however, was delighted. Blackpool have been the subject of much praise from all football fans this season for the way they keep the ball. With them losing Charlie Adam in midweek, we needed to stay compact, make sure that it was us who owned the midfield.
The game couldn't have gotten off to a better start. A wonderful move down the right led to the ball falling to Adam Hammill's feet. The winger's pace and agility drawing in several Blackpool defenders, leaving Jarvis exposed to cooly apply the finishing touch. It was fitting that Jarvis finished so calmly, having been the receipient of much criticism after his Hawthorns howler just 6 days earlier.
DJ Campbell's rather ridiculous lash out at Stearman was just the boost the Molineux Men needed to push on in the second half. Once O'Hara (who once again demonstrated his natural quality) had put us 2-0 up, the game was effectively over. Wolves continued to press high and got their rewards with two contrasing goals from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. The first a tap in from 2 yards after a delicious cross from Doyle. The second a stunning take down (not unlike his touch against Newcastle) from Ward's pass and a brilliant bit of one-on-one play, before finishing powerfully with his 'weaker' left foot to send Molineux into pure ecstacy.
I've been incredibly impressed by O'Hara since he arrived here on loan. He's shown the poise, guile and commitment needed to help this club survive where it belongs. Whenever you hear him speak, it's like he's a Wolves fan. He's that passionate and it's that passion that has helped make him a cult hero with the fans already. It's often been that, under Mick, our January signings have turned things around for us. Hopefully that'll be the same this year too.
It was wonderful to see Jarvis score too. Given his miss the previous weekend, and indeed his recent form, it would be somewhat understandable if he'd put it wide, or straight into the arms of Kingson. Instead he kept a cool head and placed it beyond the keeper to calm all our nerves.
Credit too must go to Karl Henry. It is somewhat ironic that a player like Henry would be adored in Spain for the way he keeps the ball. However in England, the fans are constantly on his back if he's not spraying 40-yard passes forward the whole time. But this was a fantastic performance from him. He won tackles, he kept the ball well, and he provided the perfect cover for O'Hara to head forward. Even Stephen Ward didn't do too badly when coming on.
Another massive plus for all Wolves fans is that of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake grabbing his two goals. He's struggled to get a chance much this season, but he's proven his worth when he has played. Should we stay up, I have no doubt that he will continue to prove himself a dangerous, capable Premier League striker. That is, if he gets the chance ahead of Doyle. However, the Irishman's contribution on Saturday cannot be underestimated. He won almost everything in the air, constantly pushed Blackpool back, and even on the wing he posed a constant threat to the Blackpool back-line.
That was, to be honest, the easiest 3 points of the season. And a fitting tribute to Dean Richards. The former Wolves defender who was loved by the fans here. He'd have been proud of that performance. 36 is no age, and my heart goes out to his widow and 2 children. Rest In Peace.
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