Wolves 3 City 3

By: David | February 3rd, 2009

The new attacking line up sees former Wanderer, Carl Cort partnering Cureton up front, with the two Old Firm rivals on the bench. Adam Drury was reinstated at full back with Ryan Bertrand pushed up into midfield to combat the threat of Kightly.

A minutes silence was immaculately observed for the sad passing of former Wolves and Villa legend Paul Birch who lost his battle against cancer yesterday aged just 46.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Stearman, Craddock, Ward, Kightly, Henry, David Jones, Jarvis, Ebanks-Blake, Keogh.
Subs: Higgs, Edwards, Vokes, Iwelumo, Reid.

City: Marshall, Otsemobor, Doherty, Grounds, Drury, Croft, Clingan, Russell, Bertrand, Cureton, Cort.
Subs: Nelson, Killen, Carney, Hoolahan, Gow.

The game kicked off with both teams playing 4-4-2, and City took the first shot on 2 minutes with Darell Russel trying his luck from 25 yards which Hennessey saw wide. Cureton then had a shot after robbing the centre half, Stearman.

Wolves first real attack came in the 8th minute but Rusty tackled back and broke up play. Feeding Croft

Foley up to eBlake, Drury beats him to it. Wolves don’t look at the races yet and City are looking bang up for this game.

Norwich really up in Wolves’ players face getting to every loose ball typified by Rusty’s tenacious play. On 10 Rusty won ball with strength and Henry brought down Rusty earning the Wolves player a booking for cynical play stopping city attacking.

eBlake and Keogh linked up and eblake took shot from 30 yds which was seen well wide by Marshall.

Game opened up after 15 when attack broke down for City seeing Wolves counter and earning the first corner of the game, which Marshall took comfortably.

Wolves were looking out of sorts and weren’t being assisted by a rather quiet crowd.

Henry and Rusty were really enjoying their midfield tussle with good old fashioned challenges going in from the two ex Stoke team mates.

eBlake hit the crossbar after a rising pile driver from 12 yards. Kightly had gone through City like a hot knife through butter to create the opening. Certainly a let off for us as Wolves are waking up.

Good play from Drury to shepherd Keogh down the flank and his cross is straight to Marsh.

eBlake scores after a poor initial save from Marsh who spilled the initial Kightly shot which Jarvis slipped to eBlake and he made no mistake.

The Molineux came to life following eBlakes opener after the nervy start from their heroes.

Cureton was in after Cort headed on and the Wolves defence allowed the ball to bounce, but his shot was straight at Hennessey.

Croft scores after another mix up in Wolves defence. A weak, weak header from Stearman to his keeper, but Croft had anticipated and rounded the keeper to slot in.

A minute later and Croft was gifted another half chance from Wolves’ defence.

Kightly crossed into the box but City’s defence didn’t deal with it and Keogh should have scored. Then Drury tried to clear with his right foot which went straight to Wolves but they couldn’t capitalise.

Grounds put the ball out for Kightly to receive treatment on 35.

Cort and Cureton were given a dubious offside after bending their runs to get in behind the defence.

Grounds cleared and set Cureton away but Stearman made partial amends by halting Curetons run.

Sam Vokes replaced Michael Kightly after he couldn’t recover from his shoulder injury. Vokes played up front and Keogh moved into the wing berth. Vokes made an instant impact winning Wolves another corner. Grounds clears and the ball comes in only for Cort to clear amid shouts from the fans for handball, however the referee was well positioned and no penalty given.

At the other end Cureton ran onto Cort’s flick on to be one on one with Hennessey but was flagged offside.

eBlake into Keogh who returned the ball and Marshy redeemed himself by saving first from eblake then whilst on his knees, and with Wolves half celebrating, from Keogh.

Rusty was fouled 35 yards from Wolves box and Clingan blasted it into the wall but Wolves broke with Jarvis but Semi mopped up after playing him onside.

Cort slipped himself between the centre halves to create an opening but it was saved.

Half time and City are good for the draw.

Carney on for Bertrand in a more attacking move following Kightly’s removal due to injury.

Carney nearly got Cort in with a beautiful ball but Cort didn’t read it.

Cort scores his first City goal. A sublime side footed finish from 20 yards after Rusty’s through ball, just two minutes after the restart.

Stearman slips allowing Cureton in but the assistant gives a foul on the Wolves player.

Carney raced forward and put a beautiful ball into the far post for Cureton to bury but he fluffs it. Oh dear, that would have surely seen it won even at this early stage.

Semi made a great break and fired his shot straight at Hennessey, great counter from Gunny’s men. McCarthy is doing his nut on the sidelines.

Henry shoots but it’s blocked on the penalty spot and the ball is pinging around before Wolves shoot and Doc blocks it out for a corner. Croft again tracks back and helps the team out.

eBlake turned in the area to shoot but it’s blocked and in the ensuing scramble eBlake bundles it over the line. Wolves had got in behind City.

Lee Croft is booked for a sliding tackle on Ward. From free kick eblake heads but it’s cleared off line. Jarvis robbed Rusty after he dithered and slips in eBlake for his hatrick after another scramble in the box. In a mad ten minute spell the game has turned on it’s head with eblake’s 20th goal of the season. has this taken the wind out of City’s sails.

Carney put a great ball into Cureton who heads it past the post when it was easier to score. He’s missed two sitters now. I bet Arturo would have slotted them both in.

Wolves drove forward with full back Ward who kept going and won a corner. Jones put the ball in and another scramble ensued, this time it’s cleared as far as Stearman. Semi gave possession away and eBlake was in again but closed down well this time.

City won their first corner after a long ball from Marshy to Cort and he fed Cureton who got held up. From the corner the Ginger Pele charged through to put the ball and half the Wolves defence in the back of the net. 3-3!! We may as well take off all defenders as they’re not doing a particularly good job for either side!

Croft crosses in for Carney who lifts the ball over Hennessy but wide, Semi collects the loose ball and crosses in.

Cureton deservedly gets taken off to make way for Alan Gow. He knows he should have scored at least two tonight and was shaking his head as he made way to bench.

Henry brings down Rusty late and the referee tells him that’s his last chance. Hopefully he doesn’t get sent off as it’s a great battle between the two pals, no doubt trying to have the last word after all their texting to each other this week.

Gow was bundled over and from the ensuing free kick Drury ended up on the ball but the attack broke down.

Sam Vokes was chased down by Jonathon Grounds and could only fire his shot into the side netting.

With ten minutes remaining, Jarvis crosses and Keogh can’t put in a shot of any worth after pressure from Drury.

City were on the back foot and Andy Keogh chose to pass rather than shoot with boos of the Wolves fans ringing in his ears. McCarthy substitued Keogh to the applause of the fans some of whom felt the wrath and derision of McCarthy for their lack of support.

Wolves with a corner which was excellently headed away for a throw to Wolves, who were starting to assert continued pressure, but with the woeful defending on show City couldn’t be ruled out to score another goal.

Stearman took the ball half the length of the pitch but rather than shoot passed it straight to Rusty. Again they broke and Rusty cleared to set us on the counter.

Cort made way for Killen having played a great game. Killen was nearly in as Ward went walkabout but was fouled.

Then Croft committed a foul but with the crowd baying for blood the referee showed common sense, as with Henry, and told him no more.

Matt Jarvis made way for 15 goal Chris Iwelumo, what a bench! He had a minimum of five minutes of stoppage time to make a difference. Wolves got a throw that should have gone City’s way. From that they got a corner and eBlake looked odds on to score but a great block from the Doc, I think, gave them another corner, which came to nothing.

Croft crossed into the box which was cleared and hacked clear. Carney fed Drury who found Gow and as he tried to win a corner it went out for a throw.

This is no match for the faint hearted, still 90 seconds remain and it’s still anyone’s game although many fans are streaming to the turnstiles.

Carney breaks but the linesman gives him offside incorrectly. From the free kick the ball comes to eBlake who fires it into Doc and Marshall gathers.

wolves are attacking but Croft breaks it up and starts off down the wing in yet another counter attack but the final whistle goes and honours are even in a match neither side truly deserved to lose. I can hardly breathe after that pulsating game. Gunny’s unbeaten run continues.

Both Saints and Charlton lost so that’s a point gained in the relegation race and certainly one I’d have taken prior to kick off.