CRAIG HICKEY GIVES US HIS MATCH REPORT FOR WOLVES 1-1 EVERTON
Our penultimate game today, the last at home, a chance to finish strongly and keep the home record going. It’s 4 wins and clean sheets in a row at home up until today. Everton won’t come here and lie down, they need the points, let’s hope it’s not a sticky toffee performance from us.
A home debut for Dan Bentley and changes to the team, Collins, Gomes, Sarabia, Traore , Podence and Hwang into the starting line up.
A fast paced start with everything going down the right flank with Traore and Neves showing a passing masterclass. Everton begin to have some ball time and favour the right side giving Toti and Podence some defending to do but the few chances they had were wide. One particular chance fell to an Everton player who hit the side netting to which some Everton fans thought it was in and amused the Molineux faithful.
Wolves started to gain more possession after 25 minutes and again Traore dominated the moves. He had switched to the left and won a tackle in his own half and drove forward to the right side of the area. He left 5 Everton players in his wake and hit a stinging shot that Pickford parried and Hwang reacted quickly to hit the loose ball into the net, 33 mins gone, 1-0 Wolves.
Wolves nearly doubled their lead on 35 minutes, hustling Everton’s midfield and some great inter passing gets Gomes in to hit a fierce low shot, forcing Pickford to save. The rebounded header drifts over from Podence. Wolves carried on showing some excellent passing and movement and looked comfortable for the remaining 10 minutes, limiting Everton to scraps. Neves has a free kick, could this be his time? Sadly not as it was blocked.
WOLVES 1-0 EVERTON
The second half started with both teams attacking, to and fro and no real clear chances…..and then the game explodes with them…
55 mins in, tackles, fouls and breaking at pace from Wolves
57 Semedo gets himself some room for a shot.
59 Wolves break, slick passing gets Adama away who passed to Sarabia, who shoots just wide.
60 mins, great Wolves passing leads to Semedo again who shoots just over.
62 mins, a now familiar Toti maruding down the left, crosses and Podence volleys wide.
Shocking refereeing really started to antagonize the Wolves players and us fans. Decisions that should have to us were overturned, drop balls, throw ins. Why are we having to put up with this? Surely their wages are subsidised ultimately by us through the club?
Everton start to create opportunities down the right side and on 68 minutes and Bentley saves from Gray. A couple of throws and corners were well defended, blocks, challenges and clearances
On 85 minutes a Wolves break through Lemina who feeds Costa and ball in just too close to goalie. For anyone to latch onto.
Lopetegui makes numerous changes in the game and on 88 minutes Neves is taken off to a tremendous reception, is it his last game in a Wolves shirt? I’m not entirely convinced…Adama Traore also came off to applause, a very good performance from him and an assist, my Man of the Match.
Matheus Nunes had joined the game and looked hungry, skilful and dangerous. His stunning run on 90 minutes could have killed the game but Pickford denied him
The second half injuries, in particular Semedo mins injury, led to 9 minutes added time.
During this Wolves sustained some serious pressure and had to defend hard. We saw some proper shithousery from Dan Bentley who batted down a cross but let the ball stay on the floor for a good 30 seconds until an Everton player decided to challenge him and dived on it.
Unfortunately in the 99th minute came the Everton equaliser that was contentious. It looked like a foul throw and a foul on Bentley as the cross came in. It was undeserved and we should have won the game after some great football, solid defending and missed chances.
A fifth straight home win would have been nice.
So the lap of appreciation was a time for thanks and speculation….who’s staying, who’s going……for me Raul looked a forlorn figure, I couldn’t see but was he upset? Should he have had a run out? Neves…..I’m not sure he’ll go.
We certainly need to change some personnel, especially if the FFP rumours are true…and we need goals!!
Man of the Match – Adama Traore.
FULL TIME WOLVES 1-1 EVERTON
article by Craig hickey
A 53 year old season ticket holder in the Steve Bull stand. Go along with my two young lads who love the Wolves and so far, the positive times. Long may it continue.
