Forget Manchester United,
forget Liverpool and forget the performance away at Portsmouth. The hard
work and huge glimmer of hope Wolves gave themselves with their
performances in the respective games was washed away last night in a
painful second half at Elland Road.
As the clock struck midnight and the
coaches returned to Molineux following the defeat at Leeds, the Steward on
the coach stood-up. He usually gives a brief summary of the game before
wishing everyone a safe journey home. "I`ve been trying to think of
something to say about that" he said as the coach pulled onto the
Molineux car park, "but I cant". Those few words echoed those of
the remaining 1,700 who were stunned by the below par performance from
Wolves sat in the South East Upper at Elland Road last night.
Had it not have been for the
superb Vio Ganea then things could be even worse because this was a
performance on par with that of Blackburn Away, Chelsea and Charlton at
Home and was one which could secure Wolves to relegation should the lads
not "bounce back" yet again.
The goals started on the 14th minute
mark. A high looping cross was fumbled by Paul Jones and Alan Smith tapped
the ball in from close range. Whether he knew about it or not did not
matter, the fact that Wolves had conceded an early goal, again, did
matter.
Wolves though showed their
fight and spirit and equalized. A clever knock-down on the edge of the
area from Carl Cort found Vio Ganea who unleashed a superb strike into the
back of the net. Wolves were back into the game, plying the pressure and
deservedly level, but from then on things seemed to spiral downhill at a
rapid speed.
Wolves were back in the game
for 20 minutes, but then conceded another poor goal. Paul Jones punched
the ball clear, but his 8yrd punch landed to the feet of Dominic Matteo
who shot towards goal and the ball, aided by a deflected, nestled in the
net past the stranded Jones.
As the half-time whistle blew
the sense around the away support was that of a lack of luck. Lady Luck
has been shining on Wolves recently, but the first two goals for Leeds
were probably lucky. The first was a mistake from Jones and the ball hit
Smith before landing in the back of the net, whilst the second hit the
back of the net with the aid of a deflection, but luck was to pay no part
in the second half.
Wolves did not turn up in the
second half. Why? Nobody knows, but it could be a mistake which could
condemn Wolves to relegation.
On 62 minutes it was 3-1. Alan
Smith drilled the ball across the face of goal and Milner pounced to smash
the ball home. The goal had a strong whiff of offside to it, more bad
luck? Nah, just pathetic defending.
Wolves were dead and buried.
So, when the goal difference at the bottom of the table is tight its best
to lose by a small margin. That would mean keeping it tight at the back
and seeing out the game, but we`r Wolves and it was never going to happen.
Mark Viduka strolled into the
box and casually fired the ball past Jones in injury time to ensure Wolves
would be planted bottom of the Premiership before the 10 day break.
On reflection it was probably
a good idea that the Coach Steward had no words to describe the game and
Wolves frailties. Had he named all the mistakes we would probably be still
there.
LEEDS 4 -1 WOLVES
