Championship Season 2008-9      preseason     Aug 2008Sept 2008 Oct 2008  Nov 2008 Dec 2008  Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Apr 2009 May

Copyright © and Database Right The FA Premier League/The Scottish Premier League/The Football League/The Scottish Football League Limited 2007. All rights reserved. No part of the Fixtures Lists may be reproduced stored or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of Football DataCo Limited.   Reproduced under licence from Football DataCo Limited. All rights reserved. Licence no. FZ070842/118101

Next Match - away to the richest club in the world - mighty super-hoops live on Sky Saturday 6th Dec 17:20 - and in January it’s the Blues again at their place in the Cup

Top of the table clash - Molineux Sat 29th November 12:30 kick off Wolves 1 (Ebanks-Blake 73) Birmingham City 1 (Jerome 48)

Blues dominated the first half - apart from Wardy's lomg throw nearly going in off Ridgewell we only had one shot.   Their midfield took control within ten minutes although Stears and Mancienne looked strong at the back.  For about 20 minutes we barely got into their half, but they also couldn't get beyond our 20 yard line.

Phillips was pretty well handled apart from one scare.  Mancienne clearly had his measure though.  Kights was covered by at least two sometimes three blue players.  But Micky Gray seemed out of sorts on the left wing and Wardy wasn't able to push forward.

We looked sharper after the break but were stunned by Stears short touch on the ball which let Cameron Jerome in.  He was strong and stood up well to Mancienne and Stearman before slamming the ball past Wayne.   Fortunately Alex McLeish then let his team fall back in an attempt to close up shop and Wolves energy levels came back, and finally started attacking the penalty area.  Not until Andy Keogh Sam Vokes and Dave Edwards were on the pitch did the breakhrough come, even though they took no part.  A near slip by Michael Mancienne was recovered by the player and centre forward come left back Stephen Ward set off on a run.  A 1-2 with Kights down the left wing and Wardy was in the box.  A nice dummy around Jaidi forced Maik Taylor come towards him so Wardy slipped the ball to SEB for his 12th of the season. Keogh had one good cross but otherwise a bit of a mare, consistently playing backwards or giving the ball away.  Mick should really put Dave Edwards on as first change choice.   And, for the last quarter we could easily have taken all three points.   The margin though was kept at 6 points.  Stears got man of the match in spite of his slip.  We probably were a little lucky that he didn't get a second yellow for another pull back on Jerome, and that Kights didn't give  away a penalty.
Wolves World report here Wolves 1 (Ebanks-Blake 73) Birmingham City 1 (Jerome 48)

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake notched his 12th goal of the season to earn Wolves a point as they shared the spoils with local rivals Birmingham City at a murky Molineux.  The draw, Wolves' first since the opening day of the season, meant that Mick McCarthy's side maintained their six point advantage over Blues at the top of the Championship table.   Wayne Hennessey returned in place of the injured Carl Ikeme and Michael Mancienne, having recovered from illness, and Michael Gray came back as replacements for >Neill Collins and Dave Edwards who were both named as a substitutes.

Wolves kicked-off attacking the South Bank end and the first goal attempt came in the fourth minute when Stephen Ward headed over following a Dave Jones corner. The full-back took a knock to the head and had to receive attention before continuing.  A mix-up between Lee Carsley and Franck Queudrue gifted a chance to Chris Iwelumo but he fired over the bar as two defenders converged on him.  Wolves were close to taking a freak lead in the 14th minute when Ward's long-throw bounced off Liam Ridgewell and hit the outside of the post.  Two minutes later Richard Stearman came to the rescue after Marcus Bent raced clear onto James McFadden's through ball and lobbed Hennessey. The ball was about to cross the line as Stearman got back and deflected it for a corner.  Hennessey parried a fierce long-range effort from Kevin Phillips and it was Stearman, again, who ran across to clear the danger as the Blues' forwards converged on the loose ball.  There was a half chance for Iwelumo as he swung at a Michael Kightly cross but, with Bent in close attendance, the striker failed to make a proper connection and Maik Taylor saved with ease.  A booking for each side followed in quick succession. Iwelumo was yellow carded for a tackle on Queudrue and then Nigel Quashie followed suit for an aerial challenge that left Gray in need of attention.   Then Stearman's run towards Taylor's goal was unceremoniously halted by Carsley who was booked. Jones curled the free-kick over the wall but Taylor made a comfortable save.   City had undoubtedly enjoyed had the better of things in the first-half and twice in stoppage time they were close to breaking through.  It took an excellent intervention from Ward to prevent Phillips having a clear shot at goal after Bent had delivered a cross into the heart of the home area.  Then, from David Murphy's cross, Ridgewell headed down to Philips whose hooked shot drew a fine diving from Hennessey.

Half-Time: Wolves 0 Birmingham 0

Radhi Jaidi blazed a shot from the edge of the box high over the bar after he had latched onto a half clearance before Cameron Jerome gave the visitors the lead in the 49th minute. Jerome, an interval replacement for Nicky Hunt, raced onto Mehdi Nafti's lofted through pass and although Stearman got a head to the ball, he only succeeded in helping it into the path of the City striker who shot past Hennessey from the edge of the box despite the attentions of Stearman and Mancienne.  Karl Henry was inches away from an equaliser after Ebanks-Blake had laid the ball into his path. The captain hit a low shot from 20-yards that was deflected wide for a corner that came to nothing.  Ward almost broke through with a surging run into the Blues' box before he was crowded out. Then the first change to the home team came when Andy Keogh went on for Gray.  Within the space of a minute there was a chance for each side. Stearman's driving run ended with a low shot that was well saved by Taylor, and McFaddon fired narrowly wide after Jerome had pulled the ball back into his path.  Sam Vokes for Iwelumo and Edwards for Jones were Wolves changes either side of a booking for Nafti who had upended Kightly.   Ebanks-Blake levelled matters in the 73rd minute (pictured). His goal owed much to a fine piece of work by Ward who collected the ball in his own half and played a one-two with Kightly before racing into the City area.  As Jaidi slid in, Ward cleverly sidestepped and pushed the ball to Ebanks-Blake who finished with low right foot shot that went just inside the far post.  Stearman was booked for tugging on Jerome's shirt before Ridgewell had a goal wiped out, correctly, for hand ball.  After Jerome had been yellow carded for fouling Stearman, Vokes headed over the angle after Edwards had supplied the centre. Vokes went close again in the 88th minute but he was thwarted by Taylor's diving save and, in stoppage time, Ridgewell did well to divert the ball away from Kightly after Ebanks-Blake had nodded the ball down. 

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Ward, Henry (capt), Stearman, Mancienne, Kightly, Jones (Edwards 72), Ebanks-Blake, Iwelumo (Vokes 62), Gray (Keogh 56).  Unused subs: Collins, Higgs.  Bookings: Iwelumo (29 - foul), Stearman (79 - shirt-pulling).

Blues: Taylor, Murphy, Hunt (Nafti 45), Ridgewell, Phillips (Jerome 45), Jaidi, McFadden, Quashie, Queudrue, Bent (Owusu-Abeyie 90), Carsley (capt).  Unused subs: Doyle, Agustien.  Bookings: Quashie (31 - foul), Carsley (44 - foul), Nafti (66 - foul), Jerome (82 - foul).

Referee: P. Taylor.  Attendance: 26,329

Away at the Blades Tuesday 25th November 7:45 ko  Sheffield Utd 1 (Spring 75) Wolves 3 (Iwelumo 5, 59, SEB 63)

Outstanding starting goal by that man Chris again.  And then another, and SEB picks up.  Dave Edwards earned a start after his Blackpool performance but was stretchered off.  Carl Ikeme started but was battered by James Beattie and Billy Sharp - heavy bruising? as he was walking around after the match - and was also  stretchered off.   Wayne got back in goal.  So outstanding performance in a very tough environment.

Meanwhile Matt Murray's standing right leg gave way as he was kicking the ball at Hereford and he too was stretchered off.  The Bulls official site said “Our thoughts must go out to, goalkeeper, Matt Murray though, who collapsed in agony attempting to kick the ball clear shortly after half-time before MK Dons took the lead. Another lenghty layoff looks on the cards for the popular Wolves glove-man, who is on loan at Edgar Street.“

Sheffield United 1 (Spring 75) Wolves 3 (Iwelumo 5, 58, Ebanks-Blade 62)  Go to Wolves World for full details here

Wolves made it seven wins out of seven with a superb victory over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane as Chris Iwelumo continued his scoring
heroics with another two goals.   Sylvan Ebanks-Blake was also on target as Wanderers enjoyed their first win at the venue in 11 years. But victory came at a cost with Dave Edwards and Carl Ikeme both first half injury victims.  Karl Henry returned from suspension in place of Michael Gray as the only change to Mick McCarthy's starting line-up.  Wolves got off to a flying start by taking the lead within five minutes. Michael Kightly threaded a short through ball to Iwelumo who held off two defenders before beating Paddy Kenny from the tightest of angles.  Shortly after the restart Ikeme was quick to react as he blocked Billy Sharp's close range shot and then the keeper saved at James Beattie's feet as United upped the pressure.  Veteran midfielder Gary Speed limped off with just 11 minutes gone then Edwards went down after a challenge from Kyle Naughton. After lengthy treatment the Welsh international was wheeled away on a stretcher to be replaced by George Friend.  Before Friend had run onto the field, Neill Collins went close with a header when Kightly lifted over the free-kick awarded following Naughton's foul.  Kightly was only just off the mark with a terrific drive from the edge of the box after some clever footwork had left Chris Morgan struggling.  But the Blades were piling on the pressure and four dangerous crosses in succession had to be dealt with by the visiting defence with Richard Stearman and Collins in the thick of things.  Ikeme made a magnificent reflex save in the 35th minute when he touched the ball over after Kevin Kilgallon had hit Greg Halford's long throw on the volley from ten-yards out.  Four minutes before the break Ikeme collected a cross and then threw the ball out as he slumped to the floor in obvious pain. He too was carried off on a stretcher with Wayne Hennessey taking his place in goal.  As half-time beckoned, Kevin Foley went into the book for a foul on Stephen Quinn but Beattie's free-kick was both high and wide.

Half-time: Blades 0 Wolves 1

Jason Shackell was an interval replacement for Dave Jones.  In the 49thminute the home players and supporters were baying for a goal after Brian Howard's corner caused a scramble at the near post but the referee waved play on after the linesman had indicated the ball hadn't crossed the line.  There was a chance for Beattie after he had intercepted Stearman's intended pass to Collins but Hennessey threw himself to his right to turn the ball behind.   But it was the irrepressible Iwelumo, with his 15thgoal of the season, that had the Wolves fans behind Kenny's goal celebrating wildly in the 58thminute.  Henry's powerful run to the left of the box was followed by a centre that Iwelumo volleyed into the roof of the net from ten-yards. The ball was a blur as it flashed past Kenny.  And just four minutes later it was three as Kightly collected a return pass from Iwelumo and found Ebanks-Blake who lashed the ball past Kenny.  Hennessey dived full length to push out a 25-yard free-kick from Beattie before United reduced the deficit with 15 minutes remaining.  Halford's long throw was only half cleared and substitute Matthew Spring fired home via the inside of the post.  Hennessey was soon in action again after Foley had conceded a free-kick for a foul on Naughton just outside the area. This time Howard tried his luck but the Wolves keeper made another fine save to turn the ball away. Ebanks-Blake, for kicking the ball away after conceding a free-kick, and Hennessey for time wasting, were both shown the yellow card before Naughton did well to deflect away Kightly's driven cross into the six-yard box.  Wolves twice went close to a fourth goal with Collins' header bouncing off the bar following a Kightly corner and Ebanks-Blake firing a foot wide of the far post after holding off Morgan's challenge.  In the 89thminute Darius Henderson headed against the bar after a Howard corner and in stoppage time there was a brief hold up as Kightly received attention to stem a nose bleed after a collision in the Wolves area.
Blades: Kenny, Halford, Naysmith, Morgan (capt), Kilgallon, Beattie, Speed (Spring 11), Howard, Sharp (Henderson 65), Quinn (Webber 61),
Naughton.  Unused subs: Jihai, Dyer.

Wolves: Ikeme (Hennessey 41), Foley, Ward, D. Edwards (Friend 16), Stearman, Collins, Kightly, Jones (Shackell 45), Ebanks-Blake, Iwelumo, Henry (capt).  Unused subs: Keogh, Vokes.

Bookings: Foley (45 - foul), Ebanks-Blake (79 - kicking the ball away at free-kick), Hennessey (80 - time wasting). 
Referee: G. Laws.  Attendance: 27,111.

Saturday 22nd November Wolves 2 (Iwelumo 29,66) Blackpool 0

A funnily frustrating (and freezing) afternoon as Wolves were unable to convert a load of attempts on goal and let Blackpool have a good 20 minutes.  In Capt Karl’s absence from 5 yellow cards, Chris Iwelumo was Mick (He’s only got one leg) McCarthy’s choice to wear the armband, and he fulfilled Mick’s requirements by literlly leading from the front, scoring both opportunist goals.  Carl Ikeme had only the one save to make late on.  Saints’ 4th away of the season shocked 3rd place Reading to put Wolves 10 points clear of them

Go to Wolves World for full details here

Wolves 2 (Iwelumo 29, 66)  Blackpool 0

Chris Iwelumo, with his 12th and 13th goals of the season, helped Wolves secure a convincing victory against Blackpool. It was a sixth straight win for the table toppers.  Mick McCarthy was forced to make three changes to his team. With Carlos Edwards having been recalled by parent club Sunderland, Karl Henry suspended and Michael Mancienne ruled out through illness, the manager drafted in Michael Gray, Dave Edwards and Neill Collins as their replacements.  Iwelumo was handed the captain's armband in the absence of Henry whilst former Wolves defender Rob Edwards skippered the Seasiders. Another familiar face to Wolves supporters in the visiting team was that of Mo Camara.  Blackpool kicked-off attacking the North Bank end and within 30 seconds Steve Kabba tested Carl Ikeme with a long range shot.  Sylvan Ebanks-Blake completely miscued his shot from just inside the Blackpool box after taking a pass from Dave Edwards with the ball going out for a throw-in on the far side.  But Wolves twice went close to taking the lead in the eighth minute after Gary Taylor-Fletcher had tripped Stephen Ward to the left of the area.  Michael Kightly fired over the
free-kick and Iwelumo's header bounced off the crossbar. The ball fell to Gray and his short cross as met by Richard Stearman whose close range header was brilliantly turned over by Paul Rachubka.  After a free-kick was conceded by Stearman for a foul on Adam Hammill in a similar position at the other end, Hammill drove over a dangerous ball that Ikeme coolly plucked out of the air.  Alan Gow looked to be clean through on goal until Ward, with a perfectly timed tackle, saved the day at the expense of a corner which came to nothing.  Dave Edwards was wide with a shot from fully 35-yards and Stearman was off target with a diving header following a Dave Jones free-kick.  Ian Evatt cleared Ebanks-Blake's low cross from the heart of the Blackpool goalmouth and then, after Kightly's centre had been helped on, Stearman's header drifted across the face of Rachubka's goal and inches wide of the far post.  The breakthrough finally arrived in the 29th minute following Kevin Foley's long throw. Stearman headed the ball on and when Evatt's header went straight up in the air, Iwelumo took a touch with his right foot as it dropped before volleying home from 10-yards out (picture on Wolves site).  Jones let fly with a terrific shot from 30-yards but his effort was too close to Rachubka and then, shortly before the break, Lee Hendrie went into the book after he had illegally halted Ward's surging run through the heart of the Blackpool defence. Kightly's free-kick bounced clear off the defensive wall.

Half-Time: Wolves 1 Blackpool 0

Just two minutes after the restart Gow wasted the chance of levelling the game when he fired wide from in front of goal after Taylor-Fletcher had run in from the left and pulled the ball back.  Ebanks-Blake was denied by Edwards' last ditch tackle as the two raced towards Rachubka's goal. When the danger wasn't properly cleared, Kightly returned the ball into the box where Gray ran in and shot over the bar.   In a rare Blackpool attack, Rob Edwards' overhead kick was blocked following Gow's corner and Hammill was high and wide when he ran onto the rebound.   Seconds later Stearman limped off to be replaced by Jason Shackell. And the former Norwich man was soon called into action as he made a fine clearance from Gow after Hammill had pulled the ball back.   Dave Edwards was yellow carded for tugging at Hammill's shirt before Wolves went two up in the 66th minute.   Rachubka flapped at Kightly's corner and, when Evatt failed to clear, Iwelumo swivelled to ram the ball into the net from just a yard out.   Andy Keogh replaced Ebanks-Blake before the game restarted.  Ikeme cut out a dangerous driven cross from Gow and when the home side went forward again Evatt cleared in a nick of time as Dave Edwards raced into the box onto Iwelumo's short pass.   Wolves had a complete stranglehold on the game as it entered its final phase. Rachubka made another excellent save, this time from Kightly, and then he held onto a header from Foley.   The American then he deflected away an angled effort from Keogh who had jinked his way past two defenders as he cut in from the right.   Evatt went into the book for a late challenge on Kightly who took the resultant free-kick from just outside the area, but was too high with his effort.   Sam Vokes, a late substitute for Iwelumo, had three chances to get on the scoresheet in the three minutes of added time. He hooked the ball wide after Kightly's shot had been blocked, he was thwarted by yet another fine save by Rachubka, and he headed narrowly wide following a Kightly corner in the last seconds.

Wolves: Ikeme, Foley, Ward, D. Edwards, Stearman (Shackell 54), Collins, Kightly, Jones, Ebanks-Blake (Keogh 67), Iwelumo (capt) (Vokes 79), Gray.  Unused subs: Hennessey, Potter.  Booking: Edwards (63 - foul).

Blackpool: Rachubka, Southern (Fox 70), Evatt, Hammill, Taylor-Fletcher, Kabba (Burgess 70), Baptiste, R. Edwards (capt), Camara, Hendrie, Gow (McPhee 75).  Unused subs: Jorgensen, Barker.  Bookings: Hendrie (44 - foul), Evatts (89 - foul).

Referee: A. D'Urso.  Attendance: 22,044.

Robbie Earle and ITV's Championship team were at Molineux

St Mary’s Saturday 15th November Southampton 1 (Pearce 21) Wolves 2 (Iwelumo 8, Jones 18)

Wolves first ever goal at St Mary's also broke an 18 match unbeaten run by Saints,   Most of Saints "stars" are out on loan because the club can't afford them and what looked like a romp after 19 minutes, turned into a tense hard fought battle against 10 men for all of the second half.   Wolves really will have to raise their game for the matches coming up against Birmingham and the Blades.  Chris Iwelumo got us under way again in the 9th  and a great cross from Carlos Edwards was put home by David Jones.  Before that Kights had a simple chance but shot wide.  After that he seemed determined to make up for the miss by going on solo efforts surrounded by 3 opposition players and missed several opportunities to pass the ball to players in better positions.   Saints goal was undefended at a corner just three minutes after DJs.  After that Wolves seemed to be unable to get going.   Against 10 men in the second half it got even worse and ventures into the Saints half were rare, let alone the penalty area, until Wardy made a couple of significant runs and overlaps late on.  Carl made two outstanding saves, while Saints' Davies was much busier.  The Wolves supporters had a rare match where they couldn't give the ref any stick - several dubious decisions clearly went in our favour - including what looked like a nailed on penalty and for Jason Euell's sending off..  Mick McCarthy again had a chorus of “one knee, he’s only got one knee” as he hobbled about the technical area.  His pointing with the crutches got quite violent towards the end!

Wolves reported the match on Wolves World - click to connect

Southampton 1 (Pearce 21) Wolves 2 (Iwelumo 8, Jones 18)

Early goals by Chris Iwelumo and Dave Jones proved to be enough to give Wolves their first win over Southampton in 28 years. The Saints replied through Alex Pearce and even though they were reduced to ten men for the entire second-half following the dismissal of Jason Euell,  the Championship strugglers heaped pressure on the Wanderers defence.  But Mick McCarthy's men held on for the win to maintain their lead at  the top of the table as they hit the 40 points mark with a little over a third of the season gone.  

Wolves were unchanged for the game as Southampton kicked-off attacking the end of St Mary's that housed almost 3,000 visiting supporters.   Saints made a lively start and when a third minute corner from Adam Lallana dropped to Morgan Schneiderlin, the Frenchman drove over the bar from 20-yards.  A Jones free-kick after Iwelumo had been fouled was cleared before Wolves moved into an eighth minute lead. Michael Kightly's corner was pushed back to Carlos Edwards whose cross was powerfully headed home by Iwelumo with Kelvin Davis in the home goal getting a touch but failing to keep the ball out. It was Wolves' first ever goal at St Mary's.  Two minutes later it should have been two. Edwards again supplied the centre and Iwelumo allowed the ball to run through to Kightly who clipped his shot inches wide of the far post with Davis beaten.  Carl Ikeme denied Saints an equaliser when he blocked superbly from David McGoldrick who had taken a return pass from Jason Euell and hit a low shot from 12-yards.  But Wolves had dominated and they went two up in the 18th minute through Jones who took a touch to control the ball after Edwards had delivered a low cross, before hitting a left-foot shot past Davis.  Jack Cork threw himself into the way of a goalbound shot from Iwelumo after good work from Kightly had set up the chance, before Southampton pulled a goal back in the 21st minute. Lallana fired over a corner from the right and Pearce ran in to power home a header from just six-yards out.  Andrew Surman's first time long range shot was fielded comfortably by Ikeme and then Olly Lancashire was yellow carded after he had tripped Edwards.  Davis made a fine save as he tipped over a volley from Jones after Sylvan Ebanks-Blake's cross had been half cleared to the edge of the area. From Jones's corner the ball fell to Karl Henry who hit a first time shot inches wide of the far post.  David McGoldrick lifted a lob high and wide and, at the other end, Kevin Foley was thwarted by Davis when he ventured forward and hit a low drive from just outside the home box.  Rudi Skacel volleyed wide after Stephen Ward had headed out Oscar Gobern's cross before Southampton were reduced to ten men just before the break.  Euell and Richard Stearman both went in for the ball and when the Wolves' defender went down the referee immediately dismissed the Saints striker.

Half-Time: Saints 1 Wolves 2

Just nine seconds after the restart Davis needed two attempts to cling on to a left footed shot from Edwards.   But the Wolves' goal had a lucky escape in the 51st minute as home substitute Bradley Wright-Phillips drove against the inside of the post from 18-yards. The ball bounced back into the heart of the six-yard box where Henry was in position to clear.  Kightly fell back in defence and did well to block as Skatcel homed in on goal after taking a pass from Surman.   Michael Mancienne then became the first visiting player to go into the book after he had fouled Schneiderlin.   Skacel's 30-yard free-kick flew straight into the arms of Ikeme before, with the half at its midway point, Andy Keogh was sent on place of Ebanks-Blake.   The Irish striker was soon in the thick of things as he laid the ball back to Jones who tried to pick his spot from the 18-yard line but saw his shot well saved by Davis.  The Saints keeper then kept out a Foley header after Edwards had supplied another cross from the left, and Southampton went close as McGoldrick only managed to divert the ball wide of the near post from close quarters after Wright-Phillips had sent in a low centre.   Jones headed a foot wide after he had met a centre from Ward and, after Skacel and Henry both received the yellow card for dissent, optimistic home appeals for a penalty following Stearman's challenge on McGoldrick were waved away by the referee.   Six minutes from the end, after a run through the Southampton half, Ward passed to Keogh who laid the ball into the path of Henry. Davis threw himself sideways to save the skipper's shot with Keogh firing the rebound over the bar.  In stoppage time Sam Vokes replaced Kightly and he almost made his mark against the team he supported as a boy but his shot hit the side netting after he had been set up by fellow substitute Dave Edwards.

Southampton: Davis (capt), Skacel, Cork, Lancashire (Perry 51), Pearce, Euell, Surman, Gobern (Wright-Phillips 45), Lallana, Schneiderlin (Robertson 85), McGoldrick.  Unused subs: Wotton, Forecast.  Bookings: Lancashire (29 - foul), Surman (71 - dissent), Skacel (76 - dissent).Sending-Off: Euell (43 - foul).

Wolves: Ikeme, Foley, Ward, Henry (capt), Stearman, Mancienne, Kightly (Vokes 90), Jones, Ebanks-Blake (Keogh 67), Iwelumo, C. Edwards (D. Edwards 85).  Unused subs: Hennessey, Collins.  Bookings: Mancienne (55 - foul), Henry (78 - dissent).

Referee: L. Mason.   Attendance: 17,812 (2,920 away supporters).

Saturday 8th November Wolves 2 (Kights 30, 75) Burnley 0

Kights scored 3 minutes later than he should have (my scratchcard was 27:27) with a one-two with the post after taking a grip on a ;ay off by starring SEB.   His winner was even better - a pass to SEB from a Stears clearance who took off down the right wing and centered for Kights to score  an easily deserved winner.  Mick McCarthy has had an operation to clear some bone from his ankle but got a chorus of “Super Mick” followed by “one leg, you’ve only got one leg”.  Mick said he was delighted with the clean sheet and the way that Chris Eagles and usual problem for us Robbie Blake were contained - Carl was only troubled to make one real save, but was dominant in the box.  Kevin Foley and Stephen Ward were outstanding at full back, while Stears and Mancienne controlled the centre really strongly.  The ref lost control by not pulling up on early tackles, and eventually had to dish out 6 bookings to Burnley and a second yellow to Scott Carlisle for two poor fouls on SEB.

WoW shows the possession as 45% to Wolves and 55% to Burnley which seemed extraordinarily over generous to the Clarets.

Wolves 2 (Kightly 31, 75) Burnley> 0 Go to Wolves www.wolvesfc.co.uk for pictures of Kight’s goal

A Michael Kightly double saw Wolves home in a game against Burnley that the Molineux men dominated throughout.  The win, and Birmingham's failure to beat Nottingham Forest, meant that Mick McCarthy's men opened up a six point gap at the top of the table.  Carlos Edwards returned to the side in place of Michael Gray as the only change to the side that had beaten Cardiff a week earlier.  Burnley kicked-off attacking the North Bank end but the first threat came from Wolves with less than two minutes gone when a timely tackle from Stephen Jordan denied Dave Jones who had run onto Kightly's through pass.  Clarke Carlisle's attempted clearance of an Edwards centre ballooned up in the air but Brian Jensen managed to claim the ball before Sylvan Ebanks-Blake could prosper.  Wanderers were well on top and Karl Henry drove narrowly over from just inside the box after a Jones corner had been half cleared.  With ten minutes gone Stephen Ward's long throw found its way through to Ebanks-Blake on the far side of the box. The striker rammed a low cross through the Burnley six-yard box with no home player able to get a touch.   Steven Caldwell then cleared Ebanks-Blake's threaded pass to Chris Iwelumo with the two Jones' corners
that followed causing problems for the visiting defence before the referee gave a foul for a push on the keeper.  Edwards won the ball on the left and raced clear but his low cross was turned behind for an unproductive corner. Then Jordan went into the book for a late challenge on Edwards.   The lead that Wolves deserved finally arrived with 31 minutes gone. Kightly found Ebanks-Blake whose shot was blocked. But the ball bounced into the path of Kightly who struck the post with his first shot but made no mistake with the rebound. Jensen went into the book for dissent before the game restarted.  Ebanks-Blake drove across the face of goal after a build up involving Kightly and Iwelumo who then drove wide of near post in Wolves' next attack after the visiting defence had failed to clear its lines.  Richard Stearman went on a 50-yard run into the Burnley half before finding Edwards who drove over the bar then, in stoppage time, Jensen saved an Iwelumo header after a well constructed Wolves move.

Half-Time: Wolves 1 Burnley 0

Carlisle was shown the yellow card shortly after the resumption after he had clattered into Ebanks-Blake.  Wolves continued to force The Clarets back and Kightly wasn't far away with a shot wide of the far post after he had worked a shooting angle for himself.  A rare Burnley
attack saw Carl Ikeme clutching onto a Chris Eagles shot at the second attempt but Wolves were soon back on the front foot with Ebanks-
Blake volleying into the arms of Jensen.   Ward, who was having a fine game in defence, ended Wade Elliott's dangerous run into the Wolves box with a perfectly executed tackle.   The bookings list grew with Robbie Blake - for dissent, and Joey Gudjonsson - for a foul on Stearman,
being cautioned either side of a reprimand for Caldwell for a dangerous aerial challenge on Ebanks-Blake.  A towering header from Ebanks-
Blake flashed narrowly wide after a cross from Ward and Jensen made a fine reflex save to push over Stearman's header from Jones' corner.
Jones was yellow carded for a holding offence on Chris McCann before he was just off target with a shot on the turn after Ebanks-Blake had
nodded down Kightly's cross.  Former Molineux midfielder Gudjonsson had a low shot booted clear by Ward before Kightly struck again with 75 minutes gone. The winger began the move by sending Ebanks-Blake away on the right and he was perfectly positioned to sweep home the
precise centre that followed from his team-mate.   Four minutes later Carlisle was dismissed after being shown a second yellow - again for a
foul on Ebanks-Blake.  Wolves were rarely troubled in the closing minutes and they almost increased their lead when Andy Keogh's shot bounced off fellow substitute Dave Edwards and went behind after a deep centre from Jones.  

Wolves: Ikeme, Foley, Ward, Henry (capt), Stearman, Mancienne, Kightly, Jones, Ebanks-Blake (Vokes 87), Iwelumo (Keogh 78), C. Edwards (D.

Edwards 82).  Unused subs: Hennessey, Collins.  Booking: Jones (69 - holding).

Burnley: Jensen, Alexander, Carlisle, Caldwell (capt), Gudjonsson (MacDonald 76), Elliott, McCann, Blake (Paterson 68), Jordan, Thompson

(Rodriguez 63), Eagles.  Unused subs: Penny, Duff.  Bookings: Jordan (27 - foul), Jensen (32 - dissent), Carlisle (47 - foul), Blake (56 - dissent), Gudjonsson (60 - foul), Carlisle (80 - foul), MacDonald (89 - kicking the ball away at free-kick).  Sending-Off: Carlisle (79 - two bookable offences).

Referee: D. Deadman.  Attendance: 23,711. (pretty good considering Clarets brought less than 1200)
 

Saturday 1st November Cardiff City 1 (McCormack 19)  Wolves 2 (Iwelumo 4, Ebanks-Blake 8)

A terrific start again thanks to Chris (assist Karl Henry) and SEB (assist Kights).  20 minutes of total domination fell away as otherwise faultless Michael Mancienne couldn’t reach a cross from Parry (which should have been preented by Kevin Foley) and Wardy couldn’t get to Ross McCormack who gave Carl Ikeme no chance.  Then it became almost barricades up until McCormack went down after a tap from Kevin (lucky not to be punished with a pen and red card) and suffered a hamstring strain.  Baggies beater Jay Bothroyd had earlier gone down, and the other Wolf, Gabor Gyepes remained on the bench.  Michael Mancienne and RIchard Stearman worked well together and MM deservedly was man of the match.  At times Wolves midfield passing was sublime with DJ (ours) controlling things.  Andy Keogh again could have settled nerves when his pace took him clean away but another awful shot - when a pass to Chris was the better ball showed why he’s not winning a starting place.

Wolves world (here) comments on the tough match.... Wolves ground out yet another away victory, this time against Cardiff at Ninian Park, to inflict only the second League defeat of the season on the Welsh team.

Two goals in the opening minutes saw the Molineux men get off to a cracking start and although City soon pulled a goal back, a magnificent rearguard action meant that Wanderers held on for three precious points.   Mick McCarthy gave a full debut to Michael Mancienne, and Richard Stearman and Michael Gray returned to the starting line-up with Neill Collins and Carlos Edwards dropping down to the bench and Jason Shackell out through injury.   The Wolves boss couldn't have wished for a better opening with two goals inside the first eight minutes. Chris Iwelumo notched his tenth of the season when he chased down Karl Henry's through pass and stroked the ball past Tom Heaton in the home goal.  Then Sylvan Ebanks-Blake beat the offside trap as he took a pass from Michael Kightly and advanced into the area before finding the net with a low angled drive.  Former Wolves striker Jay Bothroyd hobbled off to be replaced by Migual Comminges shortly before City's first real attempt at goal with Joe Ledley's overhead kick clearing the bar after Peter Whittingham had supplied the cross.  But Cardiff were back in the game in the 19th minute when Ross McCormack met Paul Parry's centre and lashed a half-volley beyond the reach of Carl Ikeme.  Stearman did well to cut out McCormack's low cross into the box as The Bluebirds went in search of an equaliser and Darren Purse just managed to get the ball back to his keeper with Michael Kightly and Ebanks-Blake breathing down his neck in a chase towards the Cardiff box.  On 37 minutes Dave Jones released Kightly on the right. He cut into the box but his shot was wide of the far post with Iwelumo's path to the ball blocked by two defenders.   Shortly before the break Roger Johnson cleared from Ebanks-Blake in front of goal with the ball seeming to take an eternity to drop for the Wolves striker who was running onto his own flick.   In stoppage time a Jones corner had the home defence under pressure. The flag-kick looked like it was going to curl under the bar until Whittingham popped up to clear off the line.  Stearman ran in on the loose ball but Heaton dived to save in a crowded six-yard box.

Half-Time: City 1 Wolves 2

McCormack looked on for a second goal after Parry had headed on a long clearance but Ikeme managed to cling on to the striker's attempted chip.  It was McCormack's last piece of the action - he limped off with a hamstring injury to be replaced by Eddie Johnson shortly afterwards.  Iwelumo was high and wide when he met Kevin Foley's cross with a scissors kick before Jones was inches away with a fierce drive that took a deflection off a defender on its way past the post.  Ikeme then made two saves in a two minute spell. First he cut out Whittingham's angled shot at the near post before he dived to save Roger Johnson's low long-range shot.  Mancienne took a knock and had to receive treatment when he collided with Ikeme as he and Parry chased a lofted ball into the box.  Andy Keogh replaced Ebanks-Blake and Collins came on for Gray as the game entered its final stages.   In the 88th minute Kevin McNaughton saw his 20-yard drive take a deflection and, from Whittingham's corner, Roger Johnson's header hit a defender and the ball flew a fraction wide of the far post.  In stoppage time Keogh fired narrowly wide after he had cut in from the right, and Ikeme did well to block from Eddie Johnson who had found space in the right side of the visitors area.   

Cardiff: Heaton, McNaughton, Rae, Purse (capt), Whittingham, Bothroyd (Comminges 13), McPhail, Parry, R. Johnson, Ledley, McCormack (E. Johnson 55).  Unused subs: Enckelman, Gyepes, Blake.

Wolves: Ikeme, Foley, Ward, Henry (capt), Mancienne, Stearman, Kightly (D. Edwards 89), Jones, Ebanks-Blake (Keogh 78), Iwelumo, Gray (Collins 85).  Unused subs: Hennessey, C. Edwards.

Referee: S. Tanner.   Attendance: 17,734.

back to top