Pitch Ruins It For Wolves - Full Match Report

Molineux
By Scott Cooper
February 5 2005

WOLVERHAMPTON Wanderers picked up an unwanted record on Friday night as Sunderland visited Molineux for a 1-1 draw. Elliot gave the visitors the lead whilst Seol equalised after just 37 seconds.

WOLVERHAMPTON Wanderers picked up an unwanted record on Friday night as Sunderland visited Molineux for a 1-1 draw. Elliot gave the visitors the lead whilst Seol equalised after just 37 seconds.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are on the worst defensive display for 20 years as Sunderland became the 18th consecutive side to score past Wolves. The Molineux club have not been able to keep a clean sheet since the 19th October and on Friday night notched up their sixth 1-1 draw in nine league games.

So many 1-1 draws in such a short space of time is far from play-off form and although Wolves have lost just once in the nine league games Hoddle has been in charge for the fact that Wolves are unable to kill teams off is becoming somewhat of a worry.

The fact that Wolves lack a clinical edge up front is worrying manager Hoddle who is seeing the play-off hopes wiped away with every game Wolves fail to win.

"We had the chances but didn't have our scoring boots on tonight," Hoddle said in his post match interview.

"I thought we were going to be in for a good performance. Even though we went one down we bounced back right away but after 30 minutes we couldn't sustain it."

Both managers were very critical of the pitch which is in it's worst condition for many years. The pitch is suffering from a fungal disease according to Adam Singleton, the Wolves groundsman. "Leave spot" has caused the pitch to lose it's lush green colour and as a result of this, the pitch is very difficult to play on.

"The pitch didn't help because the ball was bobbling about and we couldn't get it down and pass it around enough to get going." Said Hoddle.

Wolves started the brighter of the teams, but Sunderland forward Elliot put the visitors in the lead with a stunning shot from the edge of the area after just eleven minutes.

However Sunderland were only allowed to hold on to their lead for 37 seconds, Seol Ki-Hyeon it was who headed home for Wolves from a Lee Naylor cross.

"A draw is a fair reflection of the game." Said Hoddle after the final whistle.

Wolves now don't play again until February 19th, but by then, the play-offs could be out of reach.