I had a feeling this might happen. It wasn’t as much as a case of ‘after the Lord Mayor’s show’ for the Baggies, it was more, what time do we have to arrive at the departure lounge for our summer holidays.
I realise that’s a rather cynical view after the celebrations we all enjoyed last week, and this isn’t me being fickle either – take note Wolves fans – it’s an honest assessment of the first half heartbreak I had to endure at midday this afternoon.
You have to give credit to Wolves. For the first twenty minutes they wanted it more. Of course they did. They knew that a defeat would’ve all but relegated them. Whereas Roy Hodgson’s men – absent of Dorrans, Reid, Brunt and the suspended Scharner – have nothing left to play for. It showed.
The teams
Gonzalo Jara managed to shake off the knee injury which forced him off against Aston Villa to join Olsson, Meite and Shorey along the back. Carson retained his position in goal, with Tchoyi preferred to Vela out wide and Thomas returning on the other flank. Morrison played alongside Mulumbu in the absence of Paul Scharner – what a loss that proved to be. Pistol Pete played up top with Simon Cox in behind.
First half
After a nervy and scrappy start in which both sides gave the ball away on numerous occasions, it was Wolves who opened the scoring in an all too familiar fashion as far as Albion fans are concerned. Olsson needlessly gave away a silly free kick on the edge of Albion’s area. Scott Carson making a good flying save to tip Jamie – Don’t mug me off – O’Hara’s free kick around the post.
From the resulting corner, Albion’s Achilles heel showed its ugly head again. Before Tim Cahill’s goal against us in November, the Baggies had not conceded a headed goal. However, our inability to defend against set-pieces came back to haunt us. Hunt’s corner was nothing special. But when Peter Odemwingie left Guedioura unmarked six yards out from goal, you knew what was going to happen next. Fletcher – also left unmarked by Cox – fired under Carson from close range. How not to defender corners #1.
Wolves, buoyed by the goal, were on top and pushing for a second. It seemed only a matter of time with our midfield having no bite, our wingers having no enthusiasm or idea and our forwards unable to control the ball for any period of time.
The second Wolves’ goal on 28 minutes was almost a carbon-copy of the first. Hunt again drilled over another corner from the left. Cox, up against Fletcher, was unable to stop the forward heading the ball back across goal with Guedioura again left unmarked yards out to fire home. This time Jara the guilty culprit. How not to defender corners #2.
Fletcher almost made it three from another corner soon after but Peter Odemwinige had Albion’s best chance of the first half moments before the break when he turned Elokobi inside out before firing just over – Hennessey seeming tipping the ball wide.
After the break
If it could’ve got any worse it did seconds into the second half. Abdoulaye Meite – who always seems to have a mistake in him – failed to control a harmless through ball with Steven Fletcher racing on to the ball and curling it around Scott Carson. Game over only two minutes into the second half.
As strange as it sounds the goal seemed to bring Albion to life. Thomas made Hennessey work as Albion finally had a shot on goal. The Baggies again pressed as they finally got a foothold in midfield. Cox did well down the right before pulling the ball back to Thomas who was brought down for a penalty by Guedioura. Peter Odemwingie stepped up to slot home his 15th goal of the season. A lifeline, maybe?
The noise around the Custard Bowl at this stage had quietened. Albion were on top and bossing the game. Albion again attacked down the right with Peter Odemwingie firing the ball across the box. Simon Cox flicked the ball towards goal with Hennessey making an excellent one-handed safe. Somen Tchoyi unable to tap home the rebound.
Albion came closer minutes later when Tchyoi – playing in a more central role – found Thomas. The winger’s first touch took him away from goal but he still managed to fire a shot at goal. His fierce shot cannoned back off the crossbar when a slotted effort would’ve surely resulted in a goal.
Again Albion pushed forward. Mulumbu played an inviting cross which found Tchoyi unmarked. His header agonisingly flew over the crossbar. The visitors had missed another clear chance with Wolves on the ropes.
Fortune had Albion’s last real opportunity of the game when he spun Craddock but his left footed effort from six yards out lacked any power or direction. The Molineux crowd finally found its voice in the 88th minute when the game petered out – despite five minutes of injury time.
On reflection
Albion just didn’t turn up in the first half. It was our worst display under Roy Hodgson and arguably our worst half since the first 45 minutes against Manchester City away – and we all know what happened to the manager after that performance!
We really missed the physicality of Scharner, Reid and Brunt- especially their heading ability. As excellent as he is going forward, Peter Odemwingie just can’t defender from corners. Anybody remember Blackburn at home? It didn’t help we fielded a team of vertically-challenged footballers but it seemed that Wolves wanted it more.
The game highlighted the real need to strengthen the squad in the summer. This isn’t an overreaction, it’s the honest truth. The likes of Meite, Jara, Morrison, Thomas, Tchoyi, Cox are not up to it. We need another right-back, centre-back, left-back – as back-up for Shorey – another defensive midfielder, winger, attacking midfielder and another quality striker.
Today was the first real disappointment of the Roy Hodgson era. I hope you were watching Jeremy Peace.
Have your say on Albion's defeat here at Baggies Banter.