Wolves Back To Winning Ways - Match Report

By Scot Cooper
October 14 2006

WOLVES moved to fifth in the Championship after a professional display at home against Colchester United. Jay Bothroyd scored the only goal of the game in the second half but the scoreline should have been more comfortable for the home side.

Wolves bounced back from the 4-0 defeat away to Cardiff City with a 1-0 win at home against Colchester United. It will be seen as a good result considering Colchester were six games without defeat prior to today but Wolves missed chances and should have won more comfortably.

McCarthy opted for both pace and power in attack with Jemal Johnson and Jay Bothroyd leading the line whilst Gary Breen was allowed a start after seeing his red card against Cardiff rescinded.

Wolves started the brighter and nearly took the lead after 15 minutes. A 25 yard free kick from Bothroyd cannoned off the post and bounced to Darren Potter who's first time cross found first Craddock and then Bothroyd but neither player was able to bundle he ball over the line.

Wolves controlled the game but Colchester were never out of it. Colchester skipper Karl Duguid came closest for the visitors before the break but his 20 yard snapshot was wide of Murrays near post.

The second half was just six minutes old when Wolves finally took the lead. A cross from the lively Ricketts found the right boot of Bothroyd who prodded the ball home from six yards.

It could have been two a minute later when Jemal Johnson squared the ball back to the on-rushing Potter who fired over from 15 yards out. As the game wore on McCarthy opted for pace up front. He replaced Bothroyd with Davies and Clarke came on for Ricketts.

The extra pace provided an entertaining end to the game with Craig Davies desperately unlucky not to open his account for the club following a string of great saves from Colchester 'keeper Davison.