JOHN TARAS TAKES A LOOK AT WOLVES FA CUP EXIT TO BOURNEMOUTH
Team News: Wolves make five changes,
Johnstone, Semendo, Djiga, Bueno, Toti, Ait-Nouri, J Gomes, Bellegarde, Sarabia, Cunha, Larsen.
Wolves played superbly and won a week ago 1-0 but on Tuesday we were beaten at home by Fulham 2-1.
Today’s 5th round Cup tie will be concluded today with extra time and penalties if needed.
FIRST HALF
From kick off Bournemouth showed their intentions with a foul on Cunha after less than 60 seconds. Bournemouth’s increased tempo forced Johnstone into a rushed clearance which got charged down. Wolves struggled to get their goal kicks away with Bournemouth’s high press. Wolves gave Bournemouth far too much space on the ball.
The pattern of the game settled down as Bournemouth gave Wolves no time on the ball and if Wolves did break out Bournemouth fouled repeatedly without any punishment from the Referee. in comparison, Gomes went into the book for a nothing foul!
On 31 minutes Bournemouth scored a simple goal with a tap in by Evanilson after Johnstone parried a shot from the ever dangerous Semenyo.
Bournemouth thought they’d scored a second goal on 40 minutes but VAR was called upon. I thought Johnstone had been blocked on the line but VAR checked first for handball and then offside. It took eight minutes before the goal was disallowed. Both sets of fans were singing “it’s not football anymore!” Bournemouth had the ball in the net again but it was ruled out for either offside or handball? You didn’t know anymore!
The half finished with Wolves just one down.
SECOND HALF
The second half was more of Bournemouth pressing forward and Wolves repelling attack after attack.
Wolves struggled to get into the game until on 60 minutes a wonder goal from Cunha brought Wolves back all square. Larsen played a square pass to Cunha who was all of thirty yards out but he unleashed a thunderbolt into the top right hand corner giving Kepa no chance.
But Wolves struggled to get forward and the pattern of the first half with niggling fouls carried on.
Vitor made his first changes with the ineffective Sarabia replaced by Munetsi, Gomes who was on a yellow card was replaced by Andre and Semedo replaced by Doherty.
Huijsen who should have been booked in the first half scythed Cunha down and finally got booked. By rights it should have been his second yellow.
The Referee showed his colours with all the players he should have yellow carded he booked Ait-Nouri for not taking a throw in quick enough in the 85th minute!
On 86 minutes Traore came on for Djiga.
On 86 minutes Traore came on for Djiga.
The game drifted towards Extra-time without Wolves threatening a second goal. Johnstone made two good saves to keep Bournemouth out and the 90 minutes were up.
Alfie Pond came on for Bellegarde at the start of extra time.
EXTRA TIME & PENALTIES
Extra-time was mainly one way traffic as Bournemouth hit Wolves with wave after wave of attacks.
Johnstone made two brilliant saves from headers just outside the six yard box. One was world class as he flew through the air to tip over a bullet header.
Wolves didn’t threaten the Kepa goal at all. On 119 minutes the game exploded with a red card for Wolves. Matheus Cunha when he lost his head and sent Kerkez to the ground. In mitigation Cunha had been fouled all game but it was no excuse. Wolves down to 10 men for the last three minutes.
No more goals even with Bournemouth pressing for the winner.
Penalties: Wolves took the first penalty as Bournemouth won the toss and chose to kick into their Fans. The first seven penalties were all scored. Dean Huijsen who should have been sent off for two yellows, missed the first penalty. So that made it 4 – 3 to Wolves. Next up for Wolves was acting captain Matt Doherty, all he had to do was score and Wolves were in the Quarter Finals. Sadly he dragged it two foot wide of the left hand post. Bournemouth levelled at 4-4. Next up was Boubacar Traore, he went for power but it struck the underside of the bar and stayed out.
Luis Sinisterra stepped up and scored to put Bournemouth into the Quarter Finals
FINAL THOUGHTS
Wolves had the game there to be won at 4-3 on penalties but it was not to be. Bournemouth played a better game than Wolves.
The five changes didn’t help Wolves cause. They didn’t test Kepa and he didn’t have a chance with Cunha’s 60th minute shot. But it was Bournemouth who searched for a winning goal. They peppered Johnstone’s goal and he made several crucial saves.
Djiga had a reasonable debut but Wolves missed Agbadou. The pairing of Bellegarde and Gomes didn’t stem the attacks from Bournemouth. But the biggest failing was in attack. Wolves didn’t threaten Bournemouth enough but for the Cunha thunderbolt.
But on 119 minutes Cunha let his team down big time. He reacted to another snap at his heels by Kerkez. Yes he’d been chopped down repeatedly but his explosion on 119 minutes got a straight red card. This meant that Wolves first choice penalty taker was off. He was jostling with his own players as captain Semedo tried to get him off the pitch. Goalkeeper Bentley tried to get him down the tunnel but he didn’t go quietly.
The cost of his red card is going to hit Wolves big time. Matheus Cunha has already served a ban for a red card against the Ipswich security official. The FA will surely not allow any mitigating defence this time and a lengthy ban is on the cards.
Wolves must now regroup and play Everton next week without their talisman.
A sad finish to Wolves FA Cup campaign. So near against the odds on penalties but Wolves are out and just survival to play for.
ARTICLE BY JOHN TARAS
Wolves Member for several years but follower since the 70’s. Now retired and looking forward to being involved in discussions.