I’m starting to think Wolverhampton Wanderers should change their motto from ‘Out of Darkness, Cometh Light’ to the more apt, “We like it make things hard for ourselves”.
Kicking off later than our promotion rivals, Wolves went into the game knowing than a victory against Leeds would see them go into the top six.
It looked like the occasion might get the better of Wolves when they conceded the opening goal. Kevin McDonald attempted pass out of danger ended up at the feet of Charlie Taylor, who slotted past Ikeme. It was a poor goal to concede, however if Wolves are set on playing possession based football, they will let in goals when they could have aimlessly hoofed the ball up the pitch instead. Unfortunately it might be the price we have to pay for attractive attacking football sometimes.
Wolves responded in exactly the right manner and in the 19th minute got their reward. Afobe picked the ball up on the right hand side, driving to the edge of the area and crossing the ball to Nouha Dicko to strike home at the far post.
After parity was restore, Wolves continued to dominate for large spells in the first half. On the stroke of half time, Sako’s chipped ball found its way to Dicko, whose shot found it way under the diving Silvestri and into the back of the net.
Wolves continued their attacking urgency in the second half and it wasn’t before long they had a third. After some pinball in the Leeds box, the ball fell to Afobe who made no mistake.
The home fans in buoyant mood, Wolves started stroking the ball around and see the game out as they looked set to have breached the playoff places.
With concentration levels lowered, Leeds found their way back into the game in bizarre fashion. Attempting to clear a simple crossed, Danny Batth sliced his clearance horribly past the helpless Ikeme in goal.
The goal shook Wolves as the struggled to get a foot hold in the game. In the 74th the game was tied at 3-3 when the Wolves defence could clear their lines and the highly-rated Alex Mowatt picked up the loose ball and curled it into the top corner.
In the first half of the season Wolves had suffer from a few opposition comebacks, but the new found belief and determination Wolves have gained in the last few months gave them the confidence to dust themselves down and look for the winning goal.
Wolves piled on the pressure in the last ten minutes. With only two minutes, Kevin McDonald lofted the ball to the far post, where Dave Edwards rose highest to flick the ball home.
The jubilation of the victory was only matched with the relief that Wolves didn’t throw away what could have been a straight forward victory.
Two of Wolves best performers against Leeds were Scott Golbourne and Dominic Iorfa. The fullbacks willingness to support their wingers as well as solid defending have made them vital to the current system Wolves are playing.
Nouha Dicko quite rightly won man of the match. Dicko seems to have upped his game playing alongside Afobe and with Sako, the trio almost guarantee Wanderers goals right now no matter who they are up against.
image via www.birminghammail.co.uk
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