Wolves 4-2 Millwall

It was always going to be a tough ask to make it into the top six when Wolves needed other results to go in their favour.

Needing a win, Kenny Jackett selected possibly the most attacking line-up to face his former club Millwall, with Dave Edwards playing in midfield and Van La Parra on the right wing.

At a rainy Molineux, Wolves started slowly with the pressure on them to get a result. Stark contrast to the visitors, who played with the freedom of a team whose fate had already been decided.

But Wolves soon found a rhythm to their play and were close to opening the scoring when Van La Parra went through on goal, but David Forde came out of his goal quickly and smothered the Dutchman’s attempt.

Wolves took the lead in the 20^th minute when Sako picked the ball up in his own half, gliding past Millwall defenders with ease. His effort on goal was thwarted, but the ball fell to Nouha Dicko who scored from eight yards.

Wolves continued to dominate until half time and once again looked sluggish at the start of the second  half. Just as Millwall were beginning to look dangerous, Dicko made 2-0. Picking up the ball on the left, the Malian cut inside onto his right foot before unleashing a cannon of a shot leaving the keeper no chance.

Millwall struck back immediately when Wolves were slow to react following a freekick and Aiden O’Brien scored from close range.

With Ipswich and Derby losing and Brentford losing, Wolves know that they could make the playoffs if they won by five goals and continued to push forward. They were rewarded with a third goal in the 70^th minute when Ebanks-Landell scored from a Sako corner. The young defender appears to have a knack of getting in the right places from set pieces scoring his fourth career goal for Wolves.

Wolves continued to press with 20 minutes left to play and were close to another through chances from Sako and Edwards.

Any hopes of a grandstand finish were quashed when Millwall pulled one back 8 minutes from time when Wolves struggled to clear their lines and Philpot scored on his debut.

Sako had an excellent game in what looks set to be his last for the club.  Clearly wanting to end on a high, Sako was a constant menace with his power and skill. The maverick Malian capped off a great performance with the final goal of the game. After rolling his marker, he drilled the ball from a tight angle in front of the South Bank.

It was a good win and it was always going to be a tough ask to make it into the top six going into the match. But to end the season on 78 points and miss out on a playoff place on goal difference will be a tough pill to swallow.

It would be easy to go through games where draws should have been wins or when they should have scored more. But there isn’t a team in the country who isn’t contemplating past results.

To finish 7^th following promotion to the league is something the club can be very proud of. If Wolves are able to keep the core of the team going forward and can make some astute acquisitions in the summer, they might just be able to finish in one of the six places above them next season.