Superb Ten Man Wolves Battle Past Ipswich

McCarthy
By Scott Cooper
August 10 2006

WOLVES 1-0 IPSWICH TOWN- A stunning goal from Jay Bothroyd and a terrific one-handed penalty save from Matt Murray ensured Wolves and Mick McCarthy took their first three points of the season.

The excitement at Molineux on Tuesday night was back. A battling display in a game which had a wonder strike, superb goals, six home debuts, terrific work rate a sending off and three very valuable points.

This was the best Wolves performance since, ironically, the home win against Ipswich Town back at the end of the 2004/05 season and in many ways the performance last night was even better.

Two years ago the players simply played to their near potential. The likes of Kennedy, Lescott, Cameron, Miller and Seol put in a neat performance which resulted in three points and effectively ended the Tractor Boys hopes of automatic promotion. Mick McCarthys Sunderland went on to win the league with an at the time record of 94 points.

However the "Ferrari Culture" at Molineux has gone and with it has the likes of Kennedy, Miller, Seol and the rest of the big earners. This is a new look Wolves now and one which in the first two games of this season has put in more effort than the combined previous bunch did in the whole Hoddle reign.

From back to the front the side has changed and with it, so has the way the team perform. Last night showed Wolves still are the side we used to know and love. They are capable of playing nice football, creating chances and be pleasing on the eye, but what impressed the fans the most was the effort, grit and determination.

Mick McCarthy may have picked up a squad which had seen 12 first team players depart and he may have fielded a side against Ipswich which didn't feature a single player who played on the final home game of last season but Mick McCarthy has instilled a new belief - and the fans are loving it.

To say this was one of the most enjoyable performances in recent years may sound a bit of an over-reaction, but it's true. The Wolves fans are widely criticised for the way they get on the players backs, but all we ask is to see the players giving 100%. 100% the fans got on Tuesday and the reaction of the crowd told it's own story.

"Fans love to see a performance like that from their team," Mick McCarthy said after the game.

"The lads did everyone proud tonight. They gave the crowd something to shout about and the atmosphere inside the ground was terrific."

Wolves took the lead on the 27th minute mark. A deep ball from Rohan Ricketts found new signing Jay Bothroyd 30 yards out and the former Charlton striker hammered the ball home with a stinging low left footed drive.

However just three minutes later and Wolves were forced to change their attacking style to a batting one. In a tangle with Williams, Carl Cort appeared to push the Town player over and received a straight red for his actions.

Wolves reverted to five in midfield with Bothroyd deployed as the loan striker and three minutes before half time the referee pointed to the spot after Jody Craddock appeared to trip Nick Forster.

The referee was loudly boo'd for his decision, but the boos soon turned to cheers as Matt Murray dived to his right to make a magnificent one handed save to deny the spot kick from Richards.

The second half would be about hanging on, but it was Wolves who looked the most dangerous. Late on however Ipswich came into the game, but Wolves showed resilience, determination and hung on for all three points.

Verdict:

It's still early days but if the determination stays as it has been for the first two games of the season the fans will be happy. Wolves fans have only ever wanted to see pride and passion and if a defeat shows grit and determination they will still be cheered off the pitch.

McCarthy has worked wonders so far but we are only two games into the season. It's important not to get carried away but the signs at the moments are pretty good!