ANDREW BENNETT DISCUSSES WOLVES V COVENTRY
FA cup quarter finals where Coventry came to Molineux and got what they deserved after a poor showing from the hosts.
From 2-1 up in the 88th minute Wolves somehow found a way to self combust and let Coventry through to Wembley conceding in the 97th and 100th minutes respectively.
The line ups:
Wolves: Sa, Semedo, Kilman, S.Bueno, Toti (Doherty, 60), Ait-Nouri, Doyle (H.Bueno, 73), Gomes, M.Lemina, Sarabia, Fraser (Chiwome, 60).
Coventry: Collins, van Ewijk, Thomas, Latibeaudiere (Tavares, 93), Kitching, Bidwell, Eccles (Torp, 93), Sheaf, Palmer (O’Hare, 69), Simms, Wright.
First half:
The game started slowly with both sides trying to gain possession of the ball and were certainly more careful than full throttle attack. Consistently the hosts attempted to build up down the left side via Ait Nouri and Lemina, the final ball never found or a poor pass meant Wolves opened the game with much of the ball but little rewards.
Finally this pressure provided the hosts best chances of the first half. The first falling to Semedo who could’ve cut the ball back to an open Fraser but seemed to try it all himself and the attack fizzled out into the Coventry goal keepers arms. The second attempt a few minutes apart fell to Semedo again who could only hit the ball into the arms of the goalkeeper following a nice pass from Sarabia.
Coventry were growing into the game, and had a glorious opportunity to take the lead as Jose Sa saved an attempt by Palmer only for the the ball to be fired back across the goal and Simms to hit the ball with the whole goal gaping into Sa’s arms.
This enthusiasm carried through the away side as Sa this time was called on again to make a good save from van Ewijk as Coventry broke 3 on 3.
Sarabia had a very soft effort seen just wide after great work by Ait Nouri on the left but as we were approaching half time, if any team needed the interval it was the hosts who looked leggy and suffering from the pressure by Coventry.
Second half:
The second half started very much as the first ended with Coventry gaining momentum and causing more danger to the hosts. The first goal coming in the 53rd minute from Simms who bundled home after a messy set piece. The Wolves players incensed by the goal decision we then had a four minute VAR check while the officials tried to not see a blatant hand ball; I’m sure Joao Gomes at Luton didn’t take this long…
1-0 to the away side and not against the run of play. Van Ewijk having another good opportunity just as the hosts made their first changes of the afternoon bringing in Chiwome (for his first team debut) and Doherty. Another brilliant opportunity presented itself to the Sky Blues as Wright forced Sa into another spectacular save. Only for Jose Sa to roll out the ball to Doherty to be tackled on the edge of his own 18 yard box. The goal at his mercy and Sa out of position Palmer hit the ball inches wide, another day the away side could be leading 3-0.
Wolves substitutes opened up the hosts and provided more expansive football as they pushed forward for an equaliser with Joao Gomes forcing a great save onto the post and moments later Doherty hitting the woodwork from an Ait Nouri cross. At the other end Coventry had more opportunities with three more brilliant saves from Jose Sa to keep Wolves in the game from Simms, O’Hare and Kitching respectively.
Finally the moment Molineux had been waiting for a fast break as Ait Nouri smashed it in from close range on the half volley. The tide seemed to have turned and Wolves were controlling the ball moving through the pitch with ease playing with a much lacking energy and confidence. Five minutes later Hugo Bueno found the bottom corner in the 88th minute as Ait Nouri slid him through. The limbs as Wolves were heading to Wembley!
Nine minutes stoppage time proceeded mainly due to the abhorrent length of a VAR check for Coventry’s opener. What happened in the next 9 minutes from a Wolves perspective I still can’t quite understand and can only be described as chaos. Wolves were wasting time but making poor decisions on the ball as the away side relentlessly pushed. Simms found the Coventry equaliser after the ball was flicked on from the near post after a good cross from the attackers left wing. You have to question in the 96th minute how a striker has the freedom of Wolverhampton in the hosts penalty box.
2-2 only three minutes remained of the allotted additional time and still Wolves struggled to keep the ball or move forward in any coherent manner. The ball again found itself on Coventrys left side and the ball was worked to LA born Haji Wright the American after testing Jose Sa throughout the game finally found his target firing into the bottom corner not too differently from Mainoo for Manchester United weeks earlier, as on that day despair for the hosts and Coventry were progressing to the semi finals at Wembley.
As the full time whistle blew it can’t be said the visitors didn’t deserve this result for large portions of the game Jose Sa kept the hosts in the match. As Kilman and Santi Bueno couldn’t handle the big Coventry attackers pressing and hounding them, a very poor performance from these two in particular. You ask the question how can a Premier League team not have the experience to hold out 9 minutes of injury time when leading against a lower league opponent. Poor player performances across the board.
As for Coventry good luck at Wembley and potentially see you next season as they are better than Burnley, Sheffield United, Luton and Brentford to name a few.
ARTICLE BY ANDREW BENNETT
From my first Wolves match against Chelsea in 2003 I fell in love with the team and matchday experience. I work in digital marketing and have lived in Germany and Estonia over the past few years, this doesn’t stop me following Wolves and ensuring all my international friends become invested to the Wolf pack. I enjoy football, board games, a pint and travelling always excited to try new things. You will find me in the north bank on a matchday.
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