ANDREW BENNETT'S REPORT WOLVES 2 BRENTFORD 0
Perfect back to back Saturday home performances give Wolves 6 points, three goals and two clean sheets. Two much needed victories to drag Wolves 7 points clear of Nottingham Forest in 18th place.
Brentford came to Molineux, not in the best form of their season but sitting comfortably in the top 10 after a great second season from the Bees with Ivan Toney buzzing.
The Line Ups:
Wolves: Jose Sa – Toti, Kilman, Dawson, Semedo – Joao Gomes, Lemina – Nunes, Cunha, Sarabia – Costa.
Brentford: Raya – Hickey, Pinnock, Mee, Henry – Norgaard, Jensen, Dasilva, Mbeumo – Schade, Toney.
"DIEGO, DIEGO"
Wolves started brightly with energy in their front press holding the ball maintaining nice sequences of play. Firstly Lemina had his effort from outside the box just tipped over the bar before wonderful link up play between Costa and Cunha put Cunha through on goal at the angle. The Brazilian fired his shot at the keeper when the better option would have been to square the ball to his compatriot Joao Gomes to tap the ball into an empty net. These moments and passages of play provided much needed excitement going forwards for the home crowd.
Brentford were posing a threat themselves especially when Semedo was pushed up the pitch, in transition Mbeumo got in behind on the left flank and put in two nearly identical balls for Ivan Toney who stuck at Sa and Kilman respectively.
This wasn’t just Brentford in attacking moments as down the other end Costa had his shot from the angle saved, before Mbeumo had the best chance of the match getting to a deflected ball a few yards out to put it over Jose Sa in the Wolves net.
What was to follow in this end to end encounter at least for parts of the first half was pandemonium in Molineux, as Toti Gomes ran down the left flank he picked out Diego Costa who after a lucky touch instinctively finished past David Raya into the bottom corner. Providing Costa’s first goal for Wolves against the team who earlier in the season Costa saw red against. A great moment for Molineux and Costa who has played incredibly well the past two weeks, with the Wolves faithful roaring ‘Diego Diego’. Brilliant 1-0 Wolves!
The end to end nature of the half fizzled out after Costa’s goal for Wolves to control the ball and sit in a good shape out of the ball preventing Brentford any further chances before the half time whistle.
Penalty shout?
Neither manager making changes as the second half started Brentford started brightly again via Mbeumo who crossed for Toney only for Sa to get down well. Wolves going forward maintained their nice passing sequences, passing through the lines this time Cunha to Costa who at the angle had his chance stopped by Raya.
Next what we have become used to as Wolves fans since the introduction of VAR and especially since the World Cup, more terrible decision making. As Toti beat Raya to the ball in the box to be taken out by Brentford’s keeper. This challenge went to incompetent Attwell on VAR and nothing, the time spent analysing this challenge over and over again to not send the on field referee to the monitor to take a look for himself is frankly shocking. Luckily for Wolves this week poor decision making would not cost us.
After this moment, Brentford gained momentum for a short period winning more set pieces and this time Dawson stood strong to block a couple of efforts from the Bees. Specifically from Norgaard after Sa dropped the ball from a set piece.
This push didn’t last long as another dazzling performance from Nunes saw the former Sporting man glide down the left wing past three players putting it through one defenders legs in the process. He fired the ball across the goal for it to be deflected into Hwang’s path for the South Koreans first touch since coming on for Sarabia moments earlier to easily strike home 2-0 Wolves the much needed second goal arrived.
From this position Wolves looked comfortable on the ball, Lopetegui making more of his substitutes bringing Adama, Moutinho, Bueno and Neto on for some minutes. We created a couple of chances down Adama’s side to win corners and put the ball in the box, but it wouldn’t land at a Wolves players boots. At this position Wolves seemed very comfortable.
Brentford did pose a couple more threats before the final whistle, where Sa saved down to his left a great header from another Brentford set piece, before Kilman matched Toney stride for stride eventually sending the England International wide of goal whose shot only fired back off the Wolves captain and out of play.
full time wolves 2 Brentford 0
A dominant deserving performance to gain three points and another clean sheet meaning Lopetegui will be taking the players out for a meal as per his post match interview. As the full time whistle blew the connection from the stands to the team seemed to be back as the players walked the four sides of Molineux taking their applause. As Wolves travel to a wounded Foxes next weekend possibly the hardest decision for Lopetegui, what to do as talisman Neves returns to match day availability serving his two game suspension for 10 yellow cards. From my perspective as crazy as it seems he can only make the bench with the team functioning this well.
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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