Sunderland 2–0 Wolves: Pressure Mounts on Vítor

After two encouraging draws against top half teams Wolves fans will have travelled with some optimism. Sunderland represented a direct competitor and one in which Wolves would have been expecting to finish above at the seasons end. However, at kick off Wolves were 8 points adrift of the newly promoted Sunderland team and defeat would see an 11 point gap and a long road back to finishing above them. Sunderland have invested heavily in the summer with numerous incomings, their early form suggesting the many pieces were falling into place. Over 45,000 fans back the home team making the stadium of light a tough away day for any team.

Wolves were faced with one injury in Hwang who has been dividing opinion of late and so space was organically created for the popular Rodrigo Gomes to hopefully showcase his more direct attacking flare. To the surprise of some, Doherty also returned to replace Tchatchoua. Despite that the Wolves side was probably close to one most supporters would have picked sticking to the 4 3 3 formation of the last two games.

At this stage of the season with only two points the result over substance was what really mattered.

TEAM

Johnstone, Doherty, Santi Bueno, Krejci, Hugo Bueno, Andre, Munetsi, Joao Gomes, Arias, Larsen, Rodrigo Gomes

FIRST HALF

Wolves started the first ten minutes with most of the ball although with no attacking play other than one opening curtailed by Munetsi’s indecision, not a player to give too much thinking time too. After a very passive first ten minutes from both teams a long ball down Wolves right, left Doherty trailing in the wake of the Sunderland striker, a free run on the goal saw the ball smashed into the roof of the net. Wolves were lucky to be reprieved by a tight off side ruling, signaled by the linesman and confirmed by VAR. Despite the let off this triggered a reaction from Sunderland and they laid siege on the Wolves goal. Most of the bombardment was aerial from long tedious throw ins and free kicks, the game being a tough watch.

Without dominating the first headers from this source Wolves managed to repel this rudimentary form of attack, with only one flicked on header resulting from a second header glancing off the post. So it was some surprise that Sunderland went ahead with a well worked movement that saw a close range effort initially saved by Johnstone,  who was unlucky to see it rebound off his other leg and apologetically spin across the line. Johnstone will possibly feel he might have done better but that is probably harsh. The error really came with the inability of Doherty to react and match the speed of the strikers run, surely the fastest player in the league, sitting on the bench, would have done. Despite any disappointment Johnstone might feel it was the only save he was called to make for the whole game, a reflection of good organisation in the centre back positions,  Bueno continuing his consistently solid no nonsense defending and Krejci continuing to show his ability, it is a matter of time before he is rightly made captain.

After weathering continued pressure Wolves did regain control towards the end of the half yet again with no goal threat. The half overall had really lacked quality from either team truncated by long throws and free kicks with 1 – 0 being a fair reflection.

SECOND HALF

Changes were needed from Wolves but it did not come from personnel but from tactical switches and a positive attitude. Gomes and Munetsi were much further forward and Andre was controlling play from a deeper position. Wolves dominated the ball and were the only team providing any goal threat despite that only being a series of half chances. Munestsi acrobatically smashed one effort goalward which was well saved. Munetsi found himself in a good position wide a number of times but he hits the cross in hope without the precision of a premiership level player. Larsen was well chaperoned by Sunderland’s muscular defence and he rarely came out on top. His inability to offer any option to link the play limited Wolves chances of creating clear goal scoring opportunities. In truth only Hugo Bueno and Gomes were working well together to create crossing opportunities, with any threat from Arias on the other wing absent.

With Krejci controlling the distribution from the back with quality and Andre having time on the ball as Sunderland got deeper and deeper Wolves applied considerable pressure but the guile and trickery needed to create that magic moment was not there and is not there this year. We are missing our two most gifted and inspirational players from last year.

Victor needed to try something different and on 67 minutes he turned to Hoever to replace Doherty the most underwhelming of changes and nothing did change with little or no contribution from the new addition. After 76 minutes Vitor turned to Tchatchoua, Arkodare, and Lopez for the ineffectual Joao Gomes and Arias whilst the better Rodrigo Gomes was fading and was due a sit down. At least these substitutions made more sense and offered something different. Lopez and Arkodare did make some impact but it was Tchatchoua that had the chance to equalise in the closing minutes but completely fluffed his shot.

Thereafter it is cruel to report on the Sunderland break away that saw the final pass intercepted by Krejci and bounced and spun past a stranded Johnstone. Krejci did not deserve that he was probably the best performer on the day closely followed by Bueno who along with Johnstone has won the right to his position.

Losing two nil on a day when a draw might have been a realistic  and fair outcome is hard to take.

REFLECTIONS

Wolves had the most possession, the most shots and the most expected goals but they lost and at this point that is the thing that matters most. Last year fans could see the fixture list was stacked against us but this year we have already lost to two promoted teams. The writing is on the wall for Vitor, surely this team is good enough to survive but it is not working. Burnley is a must win and failure to do so is likely to see the end of the very likeable manager. Lets’ hope he can survive by the skin of his teeth and turn it around starting with 3 points and pints next week.