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Dave
Jones stuck with the same side which dumped Newcastle United out of
the cup last week. Wolves played 4-4-2, with Murray, Irwin, Naylor,
Lescott and Butler at the back, Kennedy, Newton, Cameron and Ince in
midfield behind a strike force of George Ndah and Kenny Miller.
Wolves
adapted to the terrible pitch conditions early on and settled
quickly, however neither team were able to play flowing football due
to the ball constantly being caught amongst one of the many divets
which appeared as the game went on.
Martin
O`Connor then fouled Shaun Newton on the edge of the area. The foul
was bad enough and worth the booking but the Ex-Blues skipper then
threw the ball in the direction of the Official in frustration.
Nobody could argue with the booking received for the tackle but many
would argue that the Referee should have also booked him for
throwing the ball away, as a result O`Connor would have had to leave
the field and the ball moved 10yrds further forward to the centre of
the goal - this not surprisingly did not happen and Irwin blazed the
resulting free-kick high and wide..
On
26 minutes Cameron blazed over after an assist from Jo Lescott
before O`connor`s tame shot was claimed by Matt Murray. The pathetic
pitch conditions were now playing a huge part on the game as
free-flowing football was not to be found and the game turned into a
scrappy midfield battle.
Just
before the break Naylor fired a shot well wide from 35yrds and the
half ended without either keeper having a save to make.
Half
Time – Walsall 0-0 Wolves
The
Second half was no better than the first, although this half did
contain a comedy moment in which Wolves used to their full advantage
to steel the Three points from Walsall..
Neither
side were able to take control of the game and again it became a
midfield battle with very few opportunities.
Darren
Wrack was booked for a nasty challenge on Shaun Newton. The Winger
needed a lot of treatment and was then replaced by recalled Striker
Adam Proudlock. Kenny Miller made way to the right-hand-side to play
on the wing and Proudlock partnered George Ndah in attack.
On
62 Minutes Wolves took the lead in a goal which would easily suit A
Question Of Sports "What Happend Next" round. Walsall
Centre-Back Danny Hay played a tame back-pass back to `keeper Jimmy
Walker who swung a leg into thin air and the ball trickled past him
as he scrambled too scoop the ball back before it crossed the line
only for poacher George Ndah to score a simple tap-in to send the
home supporters in dismay as the Wolves fans celebrated in fits of
laughter at the mistake of the game.
Junior
then came close for the Saddlers as a corner was poorly cleared only
for his shot to drift wide of Matt Murrays far post..
Mark
Kennedy was booked for time-wasting late on and the game finished in
the way it had been conducted - Scrappy and untidy.
Full
Time - Walsall 0-1 Wolves
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