Wolves suffer in injury-time

Some one wrote lately that Mick reads our posts on here. Have a look at the article 'Let's hit target' on the official site, third and fourth last paragraphs. Mick is right, his 4-5-1, the one fielded on Sunday, at least, was an attacking formation, because Wolves attacked and controlled play for a good part of the match; an attacking 4-5-1 made up, but for two players, of defenders and midfielders, nonetheless.

I know I should realise that there is every likelihood that the Wolves will chuck away a point or two in the dying minutes of a match, but whenever it happens my mind refuses to believe it. I still didn't believe it when I woke up this morning in Derby. Although I should have been thinking about the meeting in Leicester, when on the train, I found myself wondering if it had happened and, if so, could it be rectified. Only when I saw the goal go in this evening (my brother-in-law recorded MOTD2), did I accept that we had needlessly lost another two points. And it was avoidable. Hennessey played well but he should have caught the ball. Even so, it shouldn't have been a problem, had Jarvis not missed a sitter. It's no good telling me that WBA should have scored several goals and therefore deserved to draw. The fact remains that we gave away a goal in the second minute of injury time and it shouldn't happen. I am still thinking about MM's tactical substitutions and whether they contributed to the result. The reports say that we dominated the first half but we seemed to lack penetration in the final third of the pitch. How long was it before we got our first corner? I think we should have played with two men up-front, that is, if we are really serious about scoring in open play. I also thought that Doyle looked jaded: perhaps the sheer effort of trying to battle up-front by himself is wearing him down. On Saturday we have to attack for, as lovesW insists, there is now no alternative. If we do not get the three points against Blackpool, it will seem like the beginning of the end. I'll be there to keep an eye on them.

The result of the match is not what bothers me. It is the lack of scoring chances created during the game that does. What use is it dominating play for 30' to create one scoring chance? The vision and class of Milijas got the goal from a set piece. What can you expect with a 4-5-1, albeit employed 'attackingly' (MM), the emphasis one of containment and a hope of a Dolyle or a Jarvis break? Even if Hennessey had not spilled the ball for their equalizer, my reaction would have been no different. It means the urgency of playing with more attackers - to create those chances- has not been recognized. Actually, apart from the benefit of two points, a win would have served to justify this style of play and stamp it for the next games, with disastrous results, I dare to say. I do not know - I cannot know - whether MM's mind is made up to carry on with these tactics, as he did last season, when it did work. But, as I have said elsewhere, the situation at the bottom of the table, along with the teams in there now, do not make of this tactic a safe one to bank on. Wolves were plain lucky to be ahead for as long as they were. Hodgson had it in two lines: 'Hennessey was very busy throughout the match. You cannot say the same for Hennessey.' A defeat would have had the alarm bells ringing. As it is, the doom is postponed yet another time' It is Blackpool now that's the do-or-die, next it will be Spurs. When will the barrier of caution and fear restraining these wolves fall? With five games to go, having to win them all to have even a mathematical chance, and at the mercy of the other teams slipping up?

Spot on, LovesW but do I detect a shift in your opinion of MM, his tactics and his ability to redeem the situation? I know we have all said this for weeks but we absolutely have to defeat Blackpool this Saturday. I'll be there. Incidentally, I still find it hard to accept Sunday's result, fortunate though we were to be ahead within two minutes of the end of the game. And it may not have been MM's fault. Reports suggest that he was shouting at the players to defend further up the pitch, instructions that they nervily ignored.

If Blackpool win tonight against Spurs they can probably afford to lose on saturday and the total points required for safety will again rise.I fear that time and performances are catching up with us.Form is temperary,class is permanant,when we've been on form we can beat the best,trouble has been the form has not been maintained for any decent amount of time.UTW

Crete: total points required will be high, anyway that game goes. I would go about it differently,SB 60. I would have gone about it differently last season too. I am not MM, never been in his closet, but wish him success, whatever his ways, for his success is Wolves' too. That should make my stand quite clear.

Good last point. The fear is, a ' saved by the bell' win followed by wariness again against Spurs. Dropping points on Saturday would really leave no option. Watched Blackpool - Spurs on Myp2p; Spurs dominated play throughout, but when on the break, Blackpool put away their chances, because they had the plyers to do it, and they did.