Under the Friday night lights at Molineux, Wolves arguably gave their best performance of the season as they beat Derby 2-0.
Following the midweek win against Sheffield Wednesday, the only change Kenny Jackett made was replacing Van La Parra with James Henry.
Both teams looked to attack from the start of the match with both teams creating good half chances. Benik Afobe had a volley well saved at the near post by Grant and Derby had a goal ruled out after the referee had already blown up for a foul by Batth.
The Wolves captain managed to escape any punishment for the foul, despite being the last man and debatably denying a goal scoring opportunity. The resulting free kick was well saved by Kuszczak as Wolves held firm in the first half as they struggled to gain much momentum going forward towards the end of the first 45 minutes.
Wolves started well in the second half, pressing them high up the pitch. The pressure forced the Derby left back to play a loose pass for Kevin McDonald to spring upon, before he fed the ball into the path of Nouha Dicko who’s shot went through the goalkeepers legs after a couple of deflections.
Derby put Wolves under the cosh after the opening goal as the home side couldn’t get out of their own half. Heroic defending by all of Wolves backline kept them in the game as they put their bodys on the line for the team.
Wolves still posed a threat going forward on the counter attack with Afobe hitting the bar after going one on one with the keeper.
But with Wolves being overrun, Jackett made decisive changes bring on Edward and Van La Parra to give the team fresh legs in the middle of the park. The substitutions gave Wolves a lift and enabled them to get out of their own half.
Wolves second goal came from Van La Parra’s cross which was sliced horribly by the Derby defender, looping high towards his own goal. Under pressure from Danny Batth and his own captain Richard Keogh, Lee Grant flapped at the ball as it went it being him.
The second goal took the sting out of Derby, who struggled to get a foothold into the game after the bizarre goal they had conceded.
Wolves saw the game out extremely well, not letting the occasion get to them and stifling Derby until the end.
Sako nearly capped of a strong games with a goal at the death. After slaloming through the Derby defence he couldn’t quite keep control his shot with his weaker foot as it went over the bar.
To a man, Wolves put in a fantastic display against a very good team in Derby. Wolves are now two points behind the east Midlands side, something which seemed very unlikely a few months ago. How times have changes.
Match Stats
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