Wolves 2 - Sunderland 1

It was a much better performance from the lads today. I was also pleased to see MM display a little more flexibility and thought in his team selection. Dropping Johnson, though necessary, must have been painful. Craddock, I thought, brought greater poise and solidity to the defence. MM also resisted the temptation to bring back Stearman. Zubar was far more effective this week and in spite of a couple of errors further strengthened our defence. With him and Ward overlapping up the wings, we suddenly look a more potent force going forward. Ward was impressive and not merely because he stopped a certain goal. He looked calm and confident on the ball and, as captain for the day, led by example. Jarvis, too, played well, his cross being headed in by Fletcher for the first goal. Fletcher, like the team in general, sharpened up in the second half and he will score many more if he gets pinpoint passes like that one. Even so, MJ still tends to overhit the ball, whereas Hunt, who had an unconvincing game, kept firing it short. He should have buried his chance in the first half too. The return of O'Hara livened up our midfield and ensured that we achieved parity (at least) in this area. What we don't do as well as the opposition is break quackly from defence. We are also vulnerable to the counter-attack, as the Sunderland goal proved. WH should have guarded his near post but who can criticise the man who kept us in the game. Of course, it shouldn't have been a penalty: Craddock did not touch Larsson and it was outside the box anyway. This result willl lift the spirits of the players as well as giving us momentary relief in the survival stakes. We should not kid ourselves that we are 'out of the wood' yet. We should be putting away more of our chances, while tightening up further at the back. Had Larsson scored from the spot, we would not have come back. But, hey, let's enjoy the moment and congratulate MM and the lads for a great, hard fought victory ... even though it's going to be somewhat more difficult next week.

We might not break 'quackly' from defence but we did break our 'duck'.

Berra has received a good press for the way he controlled Bentner but, as you rightly point out, HHW, he often has to resort to ... er ... underhand means. He will lose us matches if he persists in holding on. Redknapp and Phillips highlighted an example in the box that should have resulted in a penalty. You make a good point about pairing Johnson with Craddock, though it might depend on the state of Jodie's hamstring. We have to play Fletcher up front and, I would argue, with Doyle just behind him. However, the wingers have to deliver consistently good crosses into the box. When Jarvis managed to cue it up properly, Fletcher scored.

OLDGOLD, that mirrors my view as well, and perfectly, were it not for the word 'much' in the opener. More of the same will be forthcoming, but not all the time, make no mistake about it, we are not exempt from those 'bad days at the office. I have come to accept that both good and bad performances 'fall from the sky'. And MM had stated something to that effect last season. Were it otherwise, could it be managed, we would invariably play like this week in week out.

As to that, Southbank....on the lines of my closing point in my last comment, no new additions are necessary IF one could get the lot we have already to play well consistently. It seemed at first RJ had settled matters at the back, you will recall. Now it is back to Craddock, who did superbly well. I did mention once legislation should be passed to deny JC retirement. Incidentally, I have heard two versions of a saying by two English blokes, and it was with reference to RJ: one said he was a g*y as a £10 note, the other said as a 9 bob note. Admittedly, the two chaps come from different areas in the UK.

Here's the thing: With Henry available again and Craddock injured does mick throw them both back in after what we have witnessed? We were so much more fluid and attack minded in midifeld without "backpass" Henry repeat, and as mentioned looked a helluva lot more resolute at the back with Jody. Zubar is a million times better than stearman, who it must be said, is NOT a premiership defender, nice guy im sure, but not for the prem. We do need strengthening, atleast 1 defender and another striker, SEB is another championship at best player, and we need more ooomph up front... It was an improved performance, and seeing mick drop one of his (underperforming) favourites was a welcome sight, but i fear Henry and Johnson will be straight back in ... (Agreed Johnson has to come back in as Jody is injured - but this just emphasizes the lack of depth in our squad)

I agree, it was a MUCH better performance than the last two. Obviously that's not saying a lot, the performances against Everton and Chelsea were awful. The thing is, MM thought the performance at Everton was 'brilliant', so he probably was unable to articulate how good we played against Sunderland.It was on a par with the wins over Blackburn and Fulham and the first half against Spurs i.e. we played as well over 90mins as we are capable of. There's no 'kicking on from here' to come. There's the probability of no points from OT which makes the Stoke game the latest in the list of 'massive' games for us. Johnson now has to come back in due to Jody's ol' 'strings.The fact that three seasons in there's a debate as to whether he should play if fit, sums up our progress perfectly, I feel.It was good to see Doyle come off on sunday. He's turned himself ( or others have) into one of those CF's who relinquish all responsibility for scoring goals, replacing the irreplaceable (goals!) with running (and diving) aroung a lot. The thing is, it isn't him that's setting up our only goalscorer with chances. He's not scoring nor assisting Fletch to.Our no10 HAS to start regardless of formation or fixture.

I wouldn't take to much notice of any reported figures,SB. There's money available, it appears but as Kia points out, there's probably players on the way out, too. Let's not forget that those leaving maye well be e.g. a proven PL scorer. Someone who has a knack of scoring even in a struggling team, playing knackers.We would definitely fall into the bracket of clubs who are susceptible to 'hostile' transfers from more established, wealthier clubs.Having an out-and-out CF scoring at the rate he is, in the mould of our former greats is exciting, of course and vital to us. I'm just pointing out the possibility that Fletch's antics are being monitored very closely.

I should imagine O'Neill will be given a few bob in Jan. So there's one competitor for players we may be interested in, or for players whom we currently employ.Sunderland are having trouble scoring goals, I hear. I agree with your assessment of AG's match 'maturity', SB, and i'd like to see him stay. It may well be that he's already received the instructions we'd like to give him ourselves and hasn't played to them, though. It's quite frustrating because, as Hansen would put it:"there's a player in there somewhere"...it's a case of tapping into the potential.