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Wolves 0  Reading 3

Wolves 0  Reading 3 (Hennessey og 4, Bikey 71, Cisse 88)

A right Royals stuffing.   Wolves didn't really get into their half until the last third of the first half (when Sam Vokes came on); were harassed severely for the first 30;  Keogh was pretty awful - his worst performance in Gold-  - needed far too much time on the ball, and missed a simple ball (after a great move) to equalise but tried to shoot past the already prone gk.    At least Mr Morgan will have seen the gap he needs to have bridged.   Kights took a few knocks and was signalling to come off after 35.  Matty Jarvis pulled up with a bad hamstring pull tackling back and bundled over.  Ref poor.

Men of the Match - super left back Stephen Ward - not just for his world class tackle and clearance -but also his crossing and support play to Matt Jarvis - as well as playing with suspected broken ribs - plus  capt Karl and Neill Collins.

WoW match reports:  Wolves unbeaten run came to an end at the hands of Reading on what was a nightmare night at Molineux.  The Berkshire side took an early lead after Wayne Hennessey put through his own goal and put a seal on their victory with goals from Andre Bikey and Kalifa Cisse in the closing 20 minutes.  To compound the situation hamstring injuries to star wingers Michael Kightly and Matt Jarvis, and bang in the ribs to in form Stephen Ward, further added to the gloom.

Hennessey returned in goal in place of Carl Ikeme as the only change to the Wolves side whilst Reading were captained by former Molineux midfielder Ivar Ingimarsson.  Wolves kicked-off attacking the South Bank end and after just a minute the visiting defence had to clear two Kightly corners.  Reading responded with two corners of their own - both taken by Stephen Hunt and from the second they took a fourth minute lead when Hennessey's attempted punch clear whilst under pressure from Kevin Doyle flew into the net.   Bikey took the ball off the foot of Andy Keogh as he was about to shoot but the corner conceded came to nothing. Then Karl Henry and Ward collided as they went for the same ball leaving Ward in need of lengthy treatment both on and off the field before he was able to continue.  Kightly's persistence saw him winning the ball from Stephen Hunt and firing in a cross that Ingimarsson deflected away with the top of his head as Sylvan Ebanks-Blake came charging in.  When Jarvis returned the ball into the box, Ebanks-Blake just failed to make contact as he swung a foot at the ball. Then Richard Stearman went into the book for a challenge from behind on Noel Hunt.  Dave Jones was too high with a dipping shot from 25-yards before both sides went close to scoring in the 32nd minute.  Kevin Foley cleared Doyle's diving header off the line after the Reading striker had connected with Stephen Hunt's centre and when the ball was cleared to Kightly he stormed through the middle before slipping a pass to Keogh. He was through on goal but Marcus Hahnemann saved the Irishman's low shot.  A clever ball from Jones put Kightly in to the right of goal but Bikey managed to hack clear the winger's low, driven cross.  Shortly afterwards Kightly, holding the back of his leg, indicated to the bench that he was struggling and he was replaced five minutes before the break by Sam Vokes who moved into the attack alongside Ebanks-Blake with Keogh moving to wide right.   As the half drew to a close Keogh had a header saved following a deep cross from the left by Ward, and then Vokes beat a defender and Hahnemann but his momentum took him to the by-line and his ball into the middle was deflected away by the American keeper.

Half-Time: Wolves 0 Reading 1

Wolves made a positive start to the second-half and Henry forced a diving save out Hanemann with a low drive from just outside the area. But the home goal was lucky to survive intact after Stephen Hunt's 56th minute corner. The ball was nodded down to Doyle who sidestepped Hennessey and pulled it back to Jimmy Kebe whose close range shot cannoned off the inside of the post and bounced to Ingimarsson whose shot was beaten away by Hennessey. On the hour mark Liam Rosenior played a one-two with Stephen Hunt and it took a great saving tackle from Ward to prevent the Reading man from having a clear shot at goal.  Neill Collins was high and wide with a long-range shot and Vokes' effort from near the penalty spot took a hefty deflection and ballooned wide for a corner.  But Wolves were hit by a second Reading goal with 71 minutes gone when Bikey stooped to head home a cross from Kebe.  The evening for home fans worsened five minutes later when Jarvis,  chasing back with Kebe, suddenly collapsed in agony with what looked to be a hamstring injury.  Mick McCarthy, who was on the verge of making a double change anyway, replaced his winger with Dave Edwards and Jason Shackell came on for Ward who was still looking to be suffering from his earlier knock.   Hennessey had to beat away an angled shot from Doyle before Stearman's enterprising run into the Reading box ended with a shot that lacked the power to trouble Hahnemann.  Three minutes from time Henry cleared off the line from Beke after another Hunt corner but moments later Cisse made it three when he converted a low cross from fellow substitute Shane Long.  Foley wasn't far off a consolation goal in the last minute when he fired narrowly over from the edge of the area, but this just wasn't Wolves' night.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, S. Ward (Shackell 77), K. Henry (capt), Stearman, Collins, Kightly (Vokes 40), Dave Jones, Ebanks-Blake, Keogh,  Jarvis (Edwards 77).  Unused subs: Ikeme, Gray.  Booking: Stearman (25 - foul).

Reading: Hahnemann, Armstrong, Gunnarsson, Doyle, S. Hunt, N. Hunt, Kebe, Ingimarsson (capt), Karacan, Rosenior, Bikey.Unused subs:  Cisse, Long, J. Henry, Andersen, Kelly.

Referee: R. Shoebridge.   Attendance: 24,302.

Wolves 2 (Kightly 17, Ebanks-Blake 68)  Bristol City 0

Carl Ikeme made his home league starting debut  as Wayne was suspended while Andy Keogh had a cracking match replacing 3 match suspended Chris Iwelumo - even Alan Pardue was on tv saying it wasn't a sending off at Preston.  Defence immense, Stearman and Collins and Carl made a couple of very very good saves.    SEB didn't get many decisions and battled hard all afternoon but his overhead kick goal was magic;  and as for Kights scoring from the Steve Bull touchline on the 18 yard line.  Dave Jones and Karl Henry ran the show.  While Michael McIndoe who left for a "bigger club" was substituted on 75m with "This club's too big for you" as Bristol conceded their first away goals of the season.  Alex Dougan sang before the match Here’s how WoW saw it (with pictures)

Wolves' seventh consecutive League victory means the club has made its best start to a season since 1949 with high flying Bristol City the latest team to fall to the Championship leaders.

There were just two changes to Mick McCarthy's starting 11 with Carl Ikeme and Andy Keogh coming in for the suspended Wayne Hennessey and Chris Iwelumo.   Wolves kicked-off attacking the South Bank end and after just a minute loud penalty appeals were rejected after Keogh went down under a challenge from Louis Carey.  Then a Michael Kightly corner was met by the head of Keogh but Carey was there again to deflect the ball away inches wide of the far post.  Dave Jones found his route to goal blocked when he reached the edge of the City box so he tried a chip that was just too high with the ball landing on the roof of the net.  Keogh powered a header wide following a Jones corner before the intense pressure paid off for Wolves in the 17th minute after Matt Jarvis had been felled by Cole Skuse to the left of the visitors box. After the Bristol man had been booked Kightly curled the free-kick into the six-yard box where keeper Chris Weale misjudged the flight and was only able to help the ball into the net.  City's first real moment of danger came four minutes later when Ivan Sproule cut in from the right and hit a low shot that Ikeme beat away with Karl Henry completing the clearance.   The referee awarded City a free-kick a yard inside the Wolves area after he deemed that Ikeme had picked up a back pass. The ball appeared to bounce off Richard Stearman's thigh before the defender shepherded it back to the keeper.   Protests against the decision were in vain but the danger was cleared after the free-kick had been touched to Michael McIndoe. His shot was blocked by Stearman and when the ball ran out to Jamie McAlister he drove it straight at Ikeme from 25-yards out.   Jones was inches over the top with a curled free-kick from just outside the area after McAllister had hauled down Kightly and, when play switched to the other end seconds later, Ikeme made a fine save to tip over Dele Adebola's header from McIndoe's centre.  But Wolves were soon back on the attack and Jarvis went on a run from one area to the other before squaring a pass to Kightly who fired over.  Ikeme got down well to save Nicky Maynard's shot on the turn then Sylvan Ebanks-Blake just failed to convert when he prodded the ball wide at the back stick after Keogh had nodded on a Stephen Ward centre.   In stoppage time Kightly fed Ebanks-Blake who turned Liam Fontaine before hitting a powerful shot across the face of goal and a couple of yards wide.

Half-Time: Wolves 1 City 0

Jones must have thought he had notched his second goal for the club when he met Ward's superb cross but his header that was brilliantly turned over by Weale.  In the 53rd minute there was a chance for Ebanks-Blake but he failed to get enough power behind his header from Jarvis's floated cross allowing Weale to save.  A City free-kick led to a tremendous scramble in the home goalmouth and when the ball fell to McIndoe he shot wide of the far post to the delight of the home supporters who had booed the former Molineux winger whenever he went near the ball.  Weale saved a Keogh volley at the expense of a corner and Adebola headed narrowly wide after a Lee Johnson flag kick when City went forward.  Midway through the half Ebanks-Blake notched a second goal for Wolves. Jarvis's cross was headed out by Fontaine but only as far as Jones who nodded the ball back towards Ebanks-Blake who slipped on his back but still managed to acrobatically hook the ball over his shoulder and past Weale.  Keogh almost bagged a third with a low shot that was inches wide after good work from Kightly who was unlucky,  five minutes from the end, when he jinked his way into the area and saw his goalbound shot defected behind for a corner.  In stoppage time substitute Dave Edwards set up a chance for Kightly who sidefooted just the wrong side of the post. 

Wolves: Ikeme, Foley, S. Ward, Henry (capt), Stearman, Collins, Kightly (Gray 90), Dave Jones, Ebanks-Blake (Vokes 86), Keogh, Jarvis (Edwards 81). Unused subs: Murray, Shackell.  Booking: Kightly (66 - foul).

City: Weale, McAllister, Fontaine, Carey (capt), Maynard, McIndoe (Trundle 75), Skuse, Adebola, Sproule (Williams 75), Elliott (Orr 90),  Johnson.  Unused subs: Basso, Webster. Bookings: Skuse (16 - foul), McAllister (77 - foul).

Referee: P. Crossley.  Attendance: 24,324.

20th September Preston  North End 1 (Mellor - pen 94) Wolves 3 (Iwelumo35, 66, 71-pen)
Deepdale: 
Wolves quite dominant and PNE unable to deal with the pace. Wolves go top on our own with a 3-1 win. Mick McCarthy sent to stands;  Chris Iwelumo falls to the ground clutching his head but is sent off for violent conduct, Kights argues and gets booked; then Wayne brings Mellor to the ground in the 94th and gets sent off.  Jason Shackell goes in goal but can't save the clean sheet.

kick off delayed by traffic problems on the M6 for third v top of the Championship.   Mick made two changes - CHris Iwelumo regained his fitness and his starting place at the expense of match-winner against Palace, Andy Keogh.  Matt Jarvis also returned.  Preston had Andy Lonergan to thank for keeping the score respectable, but what looked like moments of madness from hat trick hero Chris Iwelumo and Wayne needlessly bringing Mellor down in the 94th minute will set us a challenge for the rest of the month. But the other player
involved with Chris (Sean St Leger) told the ref (Martin Atkinson) that there was no violent conduct, so Wolves are hoping for a reprieve for Saturday's early kick off against Bristol.  Ref Boss Hackett really needs to protect us from these self important Prem refs and help develop the Championship refs.  Preston's fans though were cursing the same premiership ref as they got the ball in the net twice, both disallowed. 
http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~1398753,00.html

Preston North End 1 (Mellor - pen 94) Wolves 3 (Iwelumo35, 66, 71-pen)

Another awesome Wolves display saw them open up a gap at the top of the table thanks to a 3-1 victory over third placed Preston at
Deepdale.  But the win wasn't without a price as Chris Iwelumo, who scored all of his side's goals, was sent off for an alleged head butt and he was  followed to the dressing room by goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey who was dismissed for a professional foul in the dying seconds.To add to an afternoon of drama, Mick McCarthy was also sent into the stands after he had applauded the referee at half-time. Ironically the  Wolves boss was congratulating the official for standing firm against intense vocal pressure from the home support.    Matt Jarvis and Iwelumo  returned to the starting line-up replacing Andy Keogh and Sam Vokes both of whom were named as substitutes.   There were 3,300 Wolves  fans packed behind the goal in the visitors' end as kick-off was delayed for 15 minutes with many people arriving at the ground late because of  traffic congestion on the M6. Michael Kightly got in the first shot of the game after he had taken a short pass from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and worked a shooting position just  inside the area. But the winger's scuffed shot lacked he power to worry home keeper Andy Lonergan. There was a scramble in the Preston box before the ball was cleared after Youl Mawene's (a Wolves trialist for DJ) attempt to head out a Kightly cross flew up in the air. In the sixth minute Kightly drew a fine save from Lonergan with an angled shot after an Ebanks-Blake pass before Darren Carter went into the book for a foul on Kightly.  Preston almost moved ahead in the tenth minute after Barry Nicolson had pumped a free-kick into the area. Sean St Ledger headed the ball into the six-yard box where Hennessey was clattered as he went to collect.  It looked a clear foul but play was allowed to continue and Neil Mellor ran in to hit a shot from close-range that was chested off the line by Richard Stearman. The home players and supporters appealed that the ball had crossed the line but the referee, who was well placed, shook his head. Stephen Ward's clever ball sent Jarvis away on the overlap and his low, driven cross was hacked clear by a defender with Iwelumo and Ebanks-Blake ready and waiting for any slip. Lonergan made a good stop after Iwelumo shot from the 18-yard line following a cross from Jarvis then Dave Jones was yellow carded after pulling back Paul McKenna.  Wolves were enjoying the majority of the attacking play and after Stearman's 30-yard drive flew inches over the bar, the home defence were happy to see the ball scrambled away after Neill Collins had headed Jones' corner deep into the goalmouth.  Lonergan dived low to smother an Ebanks-Blake effort after Iwelumo had delivered a square ball and, in a rare Preston attack, Nicolson shot well wide after being set up by Mellor.   The goal that Wolves deserved arrived in the 35th minute. Jones' corner was headed against the bar by Collins. When the ball found its way back to Jones he crossed to the far post where Iwelumo connected with an overhead kick that eluded everyone and crept in on the far side of the goal (pictured on Wolves site
http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~1398719,00.html).   Kevin Foley's adventurous run ended just outside the Preston box when Iwelumo took over possession. He fed Ebanks-Blake who saw his shot on the turn saved by Lonergan.  Foley then hit a rasping drive from the right of the area that Lonergan did well to palm away.  Preston had the ball in Hennessey's net twice in the minutes leading up to the break. Collins was penalised for a challenge on Jon Parkin to the right of the box. Although both players were down on the floor, the referee
allowed a quickly taken free-kick from Nicolson who crossed to Mellor who netted but was flagged offside.  A minute later Hennessey touched a Parkin shot onto the post. Although the flag was already hoisted aloft by the linesman, Nicolson followed up to roll the ball into the net.  In stoppage time Mawene headed narrowly over following McKenna's corner.

Half-Time: Preston 0 Wolves 1

The second period opened with Chris Sedgwick drilling a low shot well wide before Mellor's curling effort took a deflection as it went behind for an unproductive home corner.  Kightly went on a surging run into the Preston area but, as he attempted to go past Lonergan, the keeper got a touch and the ball rebounded off the Wolves man and behind for a goal kick.  Ebanks-Blake was replaced by Keogh with an hour gone moments before Kightly hit a searing drive that flashed wide of the far post.  Wolves grabbed a second goal on 66 minutes when Iwelumo tucked the ball away from close in after Kightly had run onto Keogh's pass and hit a low cross into the striker's path.  Two minutes later Lonergan just managed to paw the wall away from an Iwelumo header following a teasing cross from Ward. Then David Edwards came on for Jones whilst former Molineux striker Stephen Elliott replaced Parkin at the same time.  In the 71st minute Wolves were awarded a penalty. Keogh put Kightly through and as the winger took the ball to the by-line he was scythed down by Billy Jones. Incredibly the Preston man wasn't even booked but Iwelumo didn't waste the opportunity of completing his hat-trick sending Lonergan the wrong way from the spot.  Sadly, four minutes later, Iwelumo was shown the red card for an alleged head butt on St Ledger. Kightly was booked for dissent as he protested against the decision.   In the 89th minute Kightly was wide of the far post after he was set up by Jarvis who was replaced for the three minutes of stoppage time.  Just seconds from time Hennessey felled Mellor in the box for a clear penalty. But to the horror of the Wolves fans behind the goal, the referee again brandished the red card. Jason Shackell, who had come on for Jarvis, donned the goalkeeper's jersey but he was beaten by Mellor's kick which was virtually the last one of an eventful match. 

Preston: Lonergan, Hart, Mawene, Sedgwick (Wallace 64), Nicholson, Carter, St Ledger, McKenna (capt) (Whaley 77), Jones, Parkin (Elliott 69), Mellor.  Unused subs: Jarrett, Neal.  Booking: Carter (8 - foul).  

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley. S. Ward, Henry (capt), Stearman, Collins, Kightly, Dave Jones (Edwards 69), Ebanks-Blake (Keogh 61), Iwelumo, Jarvis (Shackell 90).  Unused subs: Vokes, Ikeme.  Bookings: Jones (26 - foul), Kightly (75 - dissent).  Sendings-off: Iwelumo (75 - violent conduct), Hennessey (90 - professional foul).

Referee: M. Atkinson.  Attendance: 17,567.

Tuesday 16th September Wolves 2 (SEB 1, Keogh 64) Palace 1 (Ifill 44)

A stunning goal involving all the strikers in the first 24 seconds and Wolves were coasting it until about 30 minues when they allowed Palace to slowly come back into it and Ifill’s equaliser had to be expected.  But it was Andy Keogh who this time scored the winner to keep us top of the table.

More to come. 

Saturday 13th Sept Charlton Athletic 1 (Bailey 3)Wolves 3 (Ebanks-Blake - pen 61, Vokes 81, 87)

probably the best centre forward..... certainly a great winger playing at left back -.  When you’ve two specialist left backs at the club is it sensible to play a centre forward at left back.  Never - unless it’s Stephen Ward.  Wardy delivered an absolutely perfect cross for the second goal scored by newly on Sam Vokes.  At a goal every five minutes what happens when Mick gives Sam a full 90?

Wolves dominated play at the Valley.  An early header out by Richard Stearman was thundered past Wayne in the 3rd minute and Charlton seemed to think they could sit back on the lead.  When the inevitable equaliser came - although Weaver really had little to do until Sam Vokes’ arrival - they couldn’t raise their game and Wolves then looked most likely to win.  Man of the match performances from Karl Henry and Neill Collins.

here’s how Wolves World reported it

Charlton Athletic 1 (Bailey 3)Wolves 3 (Ebanks-Blake - pen 61, Vokes 81, 87)

After coming off the bench to win it for Wales in an international agains Azerbaijan a week earlier, this time Sam Vokes did it for his club side as Wolves came from behind against Charlton for a victory which sees them maintain their place at the top of the table.

Mick McCarthy was hoping to send out an unchanged starting line-up but Chris Iwelumo, although named on the team sheet and having taken part in the pre-match warm up, was withdrawn just before the start suffering from the effects of a knock picked up in training on Thursday. His place was taken by Andy Keogh. Wolves were backed by a sell out and vociferous following of 3,000 supporters.

In the first minute Richard Stearman's wayward backpass went out for a corner. Nicky Bailey took the kick and when the ball fell to Hameur Bouazza he tried a scissors kick that wasn't too far off target. But the respite for Wanderers was brief as Bailey put Charlton ahead with a tremendous strike with just three minutes gone. Stearman headed out a cross and Bailey struck home an unstoppable volley from fully 25-yards out.

A Dave Jones corner was scrambled out to Michael Kightly on the edge of the box but, although the Wolves man got a shot in, the ball hit a defender allowing home keeper Nicky Weaver to save with ease. Luke Varney screwed a shot wide from a good position after he had been set up by Andy Gray then Wayne Hennessey needed two attempts before holding on to a long range effort from Bouazza. Weaver made a smart save from a low Kightly shot after good work from Stephen Ward and Jones had carved out the opening before Sylvan Ebanks-Blake almost conjured up an equaliser. The striker raced down the inside left channel and took the ball virtually
to the by-line before hitting a shot that rolled across the face of goal and inches wide of the far post. Ward's long crossfield pass eluded Kelly Youga and fell to Keogh who raced into the box and was about to shoot when Youga, who had recovered well, got in a last ditch tackle at the expense of a corner. Corners from Kightly and Jones, in quick succession, came to nothing but Kightly almost did the trick with a glancing header that was just wide after a pinpoint cross from Matt Jarvis. Just when Bailey's free-kick from the right looked destined for the head of Lloyd Sam, Neill Collins came to the rescue with a great clearing header to relieve the danger from a rare Charlton threat. Wolves had dominated after those opening minutes and they fully deserved an equaliser. It looked like it had arrived five minutes before the break when Weaver could only palm out a fierce drive from Jones and Keogh was there to sidefoot home. But celebrations were soon cut short by the offside flag. In stoppage time Stearman missed his kick as he tried to connect with a low cross from Jarvis.

Half-Time: Charlton 1 Wolves 0

Just 40 seconds after the restart Charlton should have had a second. Sam lifted a cross in from the right and Varney ran in but headed wide of the far post with the goal at his mercy. In the 50th minute Ebanks-Blake let fly from 25-yards and the ball was a blur as it beat Weaver but sadly the striker's effort went the wrong side of the post.Hennessey just beat Mark Hudson to Gray's flick on and then Bouazza fired wide after Varney had run from the halfway line before pulling the ball back. Hennessey was in action again when he got down to smother Bouazza's shot on the turn before Wolves finally got the goal their attacking play had merited. It came from the penalty spot after Bailey had fouled Karl Henry just as the midfielder took a shot two-yards outside the Charlton box. Jones took a quick free-kick rolling the ball to Keogh who was upended by Bailey who was booked before Ebanks-Blake drilled home the spot-kick. After Fortune was shown the yellow card for another foul on Keogh two minutes later, Wolves sent on Vokes in place of Jarvis. And the Welshman almost made an instant impact but just failed to get a touch to Kightly's driven cross through the goalmouth. Stearman went on a run from the halfway line to the edge of the 18-yard line but his final effort lacked the power to seriously trouble Weaver. Weaver then beat down a 22-yard shot from Keogh and pounced on the loose ball before Vokes could capitalise. But, after Stearman had saved the day with a tackle on Gray when it seemed the Charlton man was odds on to score, Vokes struck in the 81st minute to the delight of the Molineux fans behind the goal. Ward, who was enjoying an excellent game, delivered a cross from the left that Vokes neatly flicked beyond the reach of Weaver. Two minutes later Jones was booked for tripping Youga outside the Wolves area. Bouazza's free-kick ballooned to safety off the defensive wall. Three minutes from time Vokes sealed victory. Henry's run took him to within shooting distance but he picked out Kightly whose shot was parried by Weaver but only into the path of Vokes who headed into an empty net (pictured above).

Charlton: Weaver, Youga, Bailey, Hudson (capt), Holland, Gray (Dickson 79), Varney, Sam (Basey 79), Fortune, Cranie, Bouazza. Unused subs: Ambrose, Elliot, Primus. Bookings: Sam (45 - foul), Youga (54 - foul), Bailey (59 - foul), Fortune (63 - foul).

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley. S. Ward, Henry (capt), Stearman, Collins, Kightly, Dave Jones, Ebanks-Blake (Edwards 86), Keogh (Gray 90), Jarvis (Vokes 65). Unused subs: Shackell, Ikeme. Booking: Jones (82 - foul).

Referee: A. Taylor. Attendance: 21,547.

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