ANDREW BENNETT REPORTS ON WOLVES DEFEAT TO CRYSTAL PALACE ON THE FINAL HOME GAME OF THE SEASON
On the beach of Molineux!
Sun scorched Molineux, a sea of golden shirts was the scene for Wolves last home match of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign with both sides already safe both sides had freedom to put on a show.
Wolverhampton greeted the Premier league in form side in Crystal Palace since their appointment of Europa League winning Oliver Glasner with Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Line Ups:
Wolves: Bentley, Doherty (Doyle, 79), Semedo, Kilman, Toti (Gonzalez, 90), Ait-Nouri (Sarabia, 61), Gomes, M.Lemina, Traore (Bellegarde, 45), Cunha, Hwang.
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Munoz, Clyne, Andersen, Richards, Mitchell (Guehi, 69), Wharton, Hughes (Ahamada, 14), Olise (Schlupp, 88), Mateta (Edouard, 69), Eze (Ward, 88).
first half:
The game started evenly with both sides holding good shape and possession, Wolves often much deeper in their own half and inviting pressure.
Wolves best moment coming when Cunha was played in behind on the left wing, with little support he did well to win a corner which was swung in beautifully by Joao Gomes onto Max Kilman’s head and over the bar.
Palace then took advantage of the hosts lax possession collecting the ball deep in Wolves half after mistakes from Semedo, Lemina and Traore. Leading to chances for both Eze and Olise to hit wide. The signals were clear that passing out of the back was only inviting the visitors to eventually find the net.
The inevitable opener came via Olise who received the ball on the angle of the box cutting in too easily past Ait Nouri and beautifully finding the far corner.
After more faffing around and a poor pass by Kilman, Palace regained possession the ball worked to the right with Clyne hitting the post and Mateta instinctively finding the net. After this goal a Palace player was receiving treatment and it was interesting to see Lemina and Gomes trying to rally the troops Captain Kilman looked timid and failed again and again to recognise danger and eliminate the passing strategy to get the ball out.
This moment did wake Wolves up somewhat who found their best chance of the half come when Ait Nouri beat his man to whip in a back post cross for Doherty to thunder his header into the crossbar.
The half fizzled out and Wolves needed to severely wake up to give the fans something.
second half:
Bellegarde was introduced at half time and his first impact was to receive the ball and push the hosts up the pitch winning some set pieces before finding Cunha who could only find his effort saved at the near post.
Palace still looked in complete control with the ball putting together nice sequences and probably should’ve scored again when Eze fired the ball across the six yard box for no one to get on the end of it.
Wolves found a goal back via Cunha after consecutive positive moves; the goal came as Hwang got to the byline played the ball back to Cunha to smash home. Initially ruled offside Wolves first positive VAR call of the season came to award the hosts goal. Despite this Molineux fed up with VAR continued to sing ‘BORING’.
With a goal Molineux was loud, getting behind the team and creating more positive chances, helped by the introduction of Pablo Sarabia. It should’ve been 2-2 as Cunha found Hwang five yards out for the Korean to hit the ball wide with his first time effort.
Out of nowhere, Eze the only member of deadly Palace forward trio not to find the net finished off a great chance as he was played through and rounded Bentley to tap the ball into an empty net. 3-1 Palace game very much over.
The game fizzled out for the most part after this goal with one final moment of drama in the 85th minute when Wolves thought they had a route back into the game. Awarded a penalty for an Ahamada foul on Cunha, the defender given his marching orders with a second yellow card. VAR had to even itself out on the day and adjudged the foul to have taken place outside the box no penalty.
A nice moment for Young Paraguayan u21 international Enzo Gonzalez as he was given his debut as 7 additional minutes were given by the fourth official. The youngster looked to get on the ball and tried to be positive, one to look to in the future.
The full time whistle was blown on Wolves Molineux campaign with only one game remaining in this season away to Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp’s premier league goodbye. It’s good we are safe as on recent form Wolves have been nothing short of atrocious (admittedly with a lot of injuries).
Fosun not to announce 2024/25 season ticket prices need to put a lot of work in to make the side competitive again next season, we shall see what is to come next.
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.