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Premiership Season 2009-10      Aug 2009 Sept 2009 Oct 2009  Nov 2009 Dec 2009  Jan 2010 Feb 2010 Mar 2010 Apr 2010 May 2010

Copyright © and Database Right The FA Premier League/The Scottish Premier League/The Football League/The Scottish Football League Limited 2007. All rights reserved. No part of the Fixtures Lists may be reproduced stored or transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of Football DataCo Limited.   Reproduced under licence from Football DataCo Limited. All rights reserved. Licence no. FANZ0910/118101

Sat 27th Feb Bolton Wolves  KO 3pm

Sat 20th Feb Wolves Chelsea  KO 3pm

Tue 9th Feb Wolves Spurs  KO 7.45pm

Sun  7th Feb Blues Wolves KO 13:30 Live on Sky

A torrid first ten minutes when Birmingham threw everything at Wolves became a first half where Wolves grew in confidence and eventually forced a goal after a good cross from Zubar, a poor centre from Jarvis, and a lucky interception by Ridgewell which cannoned back off the post into Doyler's reach. For 40 minutes of the second half we hung on, relatively comfortably, looking as though we might escape with all three points. And then our nemesis was sent on and once again Kevin Phillips picked our pockets and walked away. So Mr Craddock, how many times have you seen him do this? So why don't you try marking him? 2,650 Wolves fans knew all about him - again! Happy Birthday Mick who started with a nominal 4-3-3 or, as we know it, 7-2-1 with everyone apart from Doyler and Davy Jones a fully paid up member of the back 4. Unfortunately the "attack" force, Doyler apart, has managed three goals between them and never looked likely to score, although three good chances went missing (Zubar two headers and Foley shot straight down the GK's throat). A great shot from Guedioura announced his arrival though. One little scene worth remarking - Doyler walking off at half time explaining to Zubes that pushing a player in the back in the penalty area isn't allowed! We were lucky there.

Birmingham City 2 (Phillips 80, 85) Wolves 1 (Doyle 42)

Wolves were just ten minutes away from an unexpected but deserved victory over Birmingham City when their nemesis, Kevin Phillips, struck twice in the final ten minutes to cancel out Kevin Doyle's first half opener. It was a sickening blow for the ~Molineux men and their supporters.

~Mick McCarthy fielded the side that took a point from Hull a week earlier with Doyle again playing a lone role up front. Before the start a minute's applause was held in honour of former Birmingham and England goalkeeper Gil Merrick who had passed away at the age of 88.

Blues kicked-off attacking the Railway End of St Andrew's that held a sizeable contingent of away supporters and with less than three minutes gone Ronald Zubar had to make a last ditch tackle to prevent Barry Ferguson having a clear sight of goal. From the corner conceded, taken by James McFadden, Doyle headed away at the near post. But the danger wasn't cleared and after McFaddon returned the ball into the box, this time it was ~Stephen Ward who headed behind. The City pressure continued and Christophe Berra did well to get in the way of a fierce angled effort from Lee Bowyer before, from another McFadden corner, Liam Ridgewell helped the ball on to Cameron Jerome whose header hit Michael Mancienne and went behind. In the first Wolves attack of note, after nine minutes, Roger Johnson cleared Doyle's low cross as Dave Jones ran in. Sebastian Larsson wasn't far off with a 25-yard volley that swerved over the angle and then Marcus Hahnemann saved at Jerome's feet after Scott Dann and Christian Benitez combined following a Larsson corner. The first Wolves corner came in the 19^th minute but Jones's kick curled into the arms of City keeper Joe Hart. After Dann had fouled Doyle 25-yards out from the Blues goal, ~Karl Henry teed up Jones whose volley skimmed the top of the net as it flew over although Hart looked to have the danger covered. Hart was booked after tripping Doyle just a foot to the side of the home area. Jarvis took the free-kick but it bounced to safety off the wall. Wolves, having seen off the early home pressure, were now starting to pose threats of their own and twice within the space of a few seconds Matt Jarvis and Henry had shots blocked. In the 31^st minute Stephen Carr was penalised for a foul on Jarvis near the left-hand corner flag. Jarvis lifted the free-kick into the six-yard box and Zubar charged in to power a header wide of the far post. The ball broke kindly for Jerome who raced down the left channel into the box and hit a low shot that Hahnemann saved with his legs. Then Dann's was narrowly wide with a scissors kick after Hahnemann had punched out Larsson's corner. Johnson was yellow carded after a heavy challenge on Ward, and Kevin Foley volleyed into Hart's arms after Mancienne and Doyle had headed on. But Wolves moved into the lead in the 42^nd minute when Doyle rifled the ball home from close range after Johnson had deflected Jarvis's driven cross onto his own post (pictured). Moments after the resumption ~Jody Craddock was penalised for a challenge on Jerome three-yards outside Hahnemann's area. There were groans from the home fans when Larsson's free-kick flew both high and wide. As the half drew to a close Mancienne was booked for pulling back Benitez and home penalty appeals for a push by Zubar on Ridgewell were ignored by the referee.

Half-Time: Blues 0 Wolves 1

Dann's foul on Doyle to the right of the area led to a Jones free-kick that was cleared to Benitez who was then pulled back Jones who was booked. Doyle held the ball up and released Jarvis on the overlap but the winger's attempt to return the ball to Doyle was blocked. The Wolves striker then fired into the side netting and, when play switched to the other end, Benitez was hurt in a collision with Hahnemann. Phillips came on as his replacement. Midway through the half Dann went into the book after he had cynically pulled back Doyle who would otherwise have had a clear run to goal. Wolves then replaced Jones with Adlenne Guedioura whilst Blues sent on Craig Gardner for Larsson. Within seconds of his introduction Guedioura hit a left foot drive that Hart gathered at the second attempt. The home side made their final change when Keith Fahey replaced McFadden. Foley had a first time effort comfortably saved by Hart and Guedioura, with a terrific shot from 25-yards, was just a foot too high. But Blues pulled level in the 80^th minute when City's three substitutes combined. Fahey crossed and Gardner headed the ball down for Phillips to net. Worse was to follow five minutes later as Carr's cross was chested down by Phillips and rifled home. Henry was booked for a foul on Ferguson who was then yellow carded for a retaliatory push on the Wolves man. In stoppage time Hart saved at the feet of Guedioura and, after the final whistle, Berra was shown the yellow card for dissent.

Blues: Hart, Carr (capt), Bowyer, Ridgewell, Larsson (Gardner 68), Jerome, Benitez (Phillips 63), Ferguson, Johnson, Dann, McFadden (Fahey 75). Unused subs: Taylor, Michel, Jervis, Vignal. Bookings: Hart (24 - foul), Johnson (40 - foul), Dann (66 - foul), Ferguson (87 - retaliation), Bowyer (90 - foul).

Wolves: Hahnemann, Zubar, Ward, Mancienne, Craddock, Berra, Foley (Ebanks-Blake 89), Henry (capt), Doyle, Jones (Guedioura 68), Jarvis (Surman 89). Unused subs: Hennessey, Elokobi, Vokes, Mujangi Bia. Bookings: Mancienne (45 - foul), Jones (47 - foul), Henry (87 - foul), Berra (90 - dissent).

Referee: L. Probert.

Attendance: 24,165 (2,650 away supporters).

Half time stats

Possession (%) 59 41

Shots on target 6 3

Shots off target 4 3

Corners 7 3

Fouls 6 6

Most fouls Carr Berra

1 2

Yellow cards 2 1

Red cards

Full Time

Possession (%) 54 46

Shots on target 10 5

Shots off target 5 7

Corners 11 4

Fouls 12 18

Bowyer

Most fouls Bowyer 3 Doyle 4

Yellow cards 5 3

As it happened

0: Atmosphere building up at St Andrew's ahead of the 1.30pm kick off. Tough ask for Wolves today against a Blues team beaten just once in 17. ~Mick McCarthy's 51st birthday as well. Events over the next 90 minutes will determined whether it's a happy one!

0: Joe Hart and Marcus Hahnemann lay wreaths in the opposition goalmouths ahead of kick off in memory of Blues legend Gil Merrick, who passed away this week. Both applauded by the opposition fans at each end.

0: Minute's applause prior to kick off which is also warmly followed by all fans inside St Andrew's.

0: And we're underway.

3: First real chance of the game and it falls to Blues. Ferguson plays a clever ball for Bowyer who has made a good forward run and controls it well before firing in a shot which Zubar deflects out for a corner.

4: Doyle gets a clearing header from the flag kick but the ball is worked back out to McFadden who cuts inside before drilling a low shot which Ward heads behind. Another corner comes in but Wolves manage to clear.

5: Blues have come right out of the traps here and produce another good chance. Bowyer again finds space inside the area and hits another shot which is blocked by Berra.

6: And even closer this time from another corner. Ridgewell heads the deep corner back across goal and Jerome is free on the six yard line to head for goal. But the ball hits Mancienne and goes over the bar.

9: Wolves muster their first attack after Jarvis dispossesses Carr and breaks from defence. Jones and Henry both involved in feeding the ball out to Foley whose low centre is intercepted by Johnson with Jones lurking behind.

12: Blues comfortably been the dominant force so far and Wolves will be relieved to have come out unscathed. Berra has to be on his toes under pressure from Chucho and clears.

14: Another chance for the hosts as Larsson latches on to a headed clearance. Dipping first time half volley carries plenty of menace but is just over the bar.

15: Wolves ease the pressure by launching an attack of their own. Doyle does well down the left and cuts inside to put in a cross which Carr heads away in front of the arriving Jones.

16: Blues quickly back on the offensive and Bowyer puts in a dangerous cross to the back post which Zubar heads behind.

17: And so close to an opener again from the corner. Met by Dann who heads into the danger zone where the ball bounces off Chucho and dropped for Jerome until Hahnemann dived in to smother.

20: Wolves win a corner at the other end and Jones's inswinging delivery appears to glance Larsson's head but Hart isn't affected and makes a clean catch.

23: Wolves win a free kick 25 yards out after Doyle is felled by Dann. Henry taps to Jones who flicks the ball up and volleys it just over the bar. Decent hit but Hart had it covered.

24: Doyle latches into Wards's header and is tripped by Hart outside the box after the Blues keeper came charging out. It's over on the left hand side with Blues defenders covering so not a goalscoring opportunity and the card is yellow for the home keeper.

28: Spell of Wolves possession down the left involving Jarvis, Ward and Foley ends with the latter sending in a left foot cross which is too deep.

29: But Wolves keep up the momentum with Jarvis and Henry both having shots which are pretty much blocked at source by the Blues defence.

30: Blues back on the attack with Larsson's cross but Bowyer can only loop a header goalwards and Hahnemann takes.

31: Wolves seem to be concentrating their efforts down the left flank and Jarvis is upended by Carr after going past him. Free kick comes in from right next to the byline and Zubar jumps well from close range but can only direct his header across goal and wide.

32: Meanwhile a replay shows Henry's earlier effort struck the hand of Carr right on the borderline of the penalty area. From close range so would have been harsh but some referees give them.

33: Henry meanwhile catches Ridgewell in the face as he tries to shield the ball. Blues fans baying for punishment but there was never any intent at all and the clash was accidental.

35: Wolves win a free kick on the right but the whistle has gone even before Jones's delivery has reached the area as referee Lee Probert spots a Wolves push.

35: Blues break through Jerome down the left and his low drive is blocked at the near post by Hahnemann. Bowyer not happy because he feels his heels were clipped by Mancienne as he tried to get up in support. Replay again shows accidental contact but Bowyer continues his protests.

36: Mighty close from the corner too. It's another Larsson inswinger which Hahnemann claws away from on his goalline but Dann is on hand with an acrobatic effort which flashes inches wide.

39: Wolves win a corner after Carr's attempted backpass drifts out but while Berra gets his head to Jarvis's delivery it's a looping header which is always going over.

40: Flashpoint here as Johnson goes in late on Ward. Wolves players not happy with challenge but Johnson indicates he was going for the ball. Yellow card which looks about right via the replays.

41: Spot of head tennis inside the area finishes with Foley getting a good connection on a left foot drive. Unfortunately it's almost too good and flies straight into Hart's midriff.

42: GOAL: DOYLE 0-1. Wolves appear to have recovered from their early problems and now take the lead. Move started on the right before Jones and Henry work it out to Jarvis on the left. Johnson tries to intercept his low cross but only diverts the ball onto his own post and Doyle is Johnny-on-the-spot from the rebound to tap home.

44: Blues win an immediate free kick 25 yards out after Jerome is fouled by Craddock. Larsson a danger from here. Not this time however as his effort clears the crossbar.

45: Two minutes added time to follow.

45+1: Mancienne fouls Chucho and this time it is a yellow for the Wolves man.

45+2: Zubar heads clear inside the area and appears to nudge Ridgewell as he does so. No penalty though according to Probert.

HALF TIME: BLUES 0-1 WOLVES

46: Back underway.

47: Wolves win an early free kick which Jones swings in but it's cleared. Jones then fouls Jerome as Blues look to break and is penalised with a yellow card.

48: Crowd today is 24, 165 with 2, 650 from Wolves.

51: Corner to Wolves taken by Jones on the left but Zubar can't get his header on target and it's well wide.

53: Wolves on the break after a Blues attack comes to nothing. Doyle finds Jarvis on the left and the winger cuts in and tries to shoot but it's blocked.

55: Roles are reversed as Blues break after a spot of Wolves possession. But Jerome's centre is comfortably cut out by Berra.

56: Blues will want to put on the pressure and Bowyer makes another good break to get on the end of Larsson's cross but it takes a ricochet off a Wolves defender and then a Blues man and goes out for a goal kick.

57: Wolves back on the attack with Doyle cutting inside but from a narrow angle firing into the side netting.

59: Another dangerous inswinging corner from McFadden is headed away by Doyle at the near post. But Blues win another. Referee Probert stops play to have a word with Hahnemann and Jerome before it's taken and the Wolves keeper claims it.

62: Benitez is offside as he chests the ball down but carries on and Hahnemann comes in with a sliding tackle which leaves the Blues man needing treatment.

63: Wolves usual nemesis Phillips is now off the bench for Benitez.

65: Spot of headed pinball on the edge of Wolves area as they look to get the ball away. Finally succeed.

66: Dann cynically brings down Doyle as the Wolves striker goes past him. Fortunately for Dann Doyle was still around 40 yards from goal so the card is yellow as opposed to red as there were no defenders covering.

67: Jarvis sends the free kick in and no one gets on the end of it and it's one of those which isn't too far away from creeping inside the post.

68: Another change for either side. Guedioura on for Jones for Wolves for his first taste of a Midlands derby. Gardner on for Larsson for Blues.

68: Impressive first impact for Guedioura who strongly holds off a Blues opponent before getting in a low left foot shot which forces Hart into a save. Doyle again did well in the build-up to hold it up.

69: Johnson gets his head to Ferguson's free kick and powerfully heads across goal but no other Blues man able to get on the end of it.

74: Final change for Blues, Fahey for McFadden.

75: Phillips tries his luck from distance but it's wide.

76: Bowyer flies in on Henry with two feet. Somewhat surprisingly not even a booking.

76: Doyle again involved as the free kick goes into the box and chests down for Foley whose left foot drive is gathered cleanly by Hart.

77: Blues with another chance as Henry dispossessed inside his own area. Berra in though with a good block as Jerome gets his shot off.

77: Wolves back on the attack immediately and a great strike from Guedioura just over the bar.

79: Hahnemann spills at testing ball into the box and Jerome is on the rebound. But he's on the floor and can only stab the ball wide. May well have taken a touch off Craddock hence the award of a Blues corner which Wolves manage to clear.

80: GOAL: PHILLIPS 1-1. And now Blues equalise, and it's that man Phillips. All three substitutes involved with Fahey crossing to the back post, Gardner heading across goal and Phillips providing the first time finish.

85: GOAL: PHILLIPS 2-1. Could this get any worse? Carr advances down the right and crosses for Phillips, who chests down before firing low into the bottom corner.

87: Henry booked for a challenge on Ferguson and Ferguson also booked for retaliation after going after Henry. And the Scot wants a few more verbals even after that. Cue another talking-to from the referee.

89: Double switch for Wolves as last throw of the dice. Ebanks-Blake and Vokes on for Jarvis and Foley. Nothing to lose now.

90: Four minutes added time to follow.

90+1: Bowyer into the book for a foul on Mancienne. Free kick slung into the box by Henry but headed clear.

90+4: Guedioura chests down a centre from Doyle but the ball runs away from him and Hart is out to gather.

90+4: Foul given against Surman as he goes in to challenge and that will probably be that.

90+5: Full time whistle goes and Berra appears to be booked afterwards for dissent.

FULL TIME: BLUES 2-1 WOLVES

Tuesday 2nd February Crystal Palace v Wolves (FA Cup 4th ROund replay) KO 19:45 Live ITV4

Crystal Palace 3 (Butterfield 61, 65, 67) Wolves 1 (Henry 90)

This was just plain awful. For each of Butterfield's goals it looked as though they went in in slow motion - but it was the Wolves defence moving in super slow motion. Hennessey (aka Butterfingers) made a good save put pushed the ball down to Butterfield for the first - he later got clapped when he finally caught a ball - or Butterfield v Butterfingers - the second no defenders got to Butterfield (a reserve right back playing because Palace were short of players) and Stears was miles behind for the third - got a tackle from behind in and would have been redcarded if Palace hadn't scored. But the big mistake was Mick's yielding the initiative to Warnock right from the beginning by playing one (Sammy Vokes) up front. Sammy only won two balls all the time he was on (Big Chris won more in his first two minutes on the pitch). Both Chris and SEB need match time so why not play them for the first half at least. Mujanga Bia was just plain awful - worse ball control than Carl Cort. Hennessey hesitant again. Five centre halves is a real wierd line up, and Foley was totally at sea in midfield. Dave Jones didn't really get the chance to fix it. Mancienne did okish, but Milijas was suffering from not playing and couldn't get into it. Karl Henry scored a terrific goal but that was our only highlight. Zubar was the only one really trying - and gave his shirt to the crowd at the end. At least the players didn't just slope off at the end and said thanks to the 900 supporters. And at least the Railway Telegraph is still open as is Doneagles super chippy

from Wolves

A hat-trick in just seven minutes from Crystal Palace's Danny Butterfield heralded Wolves' FA Cup exit after a lack lustre display from the Molineux men in a fourth round replay at Selhurst Park. There were five changes to the Wolves side with Geoffrey Mujanga Bia making his full debut. Mick McCarthy once again opted for a 4-3-3 line up. (no it wasn't it was 5-4-1) After an uneventful opening five minutes, Ronald Zubar had to head behind a dangerous cross from Butterfield and Kevin Foley was nicely placed to clear the resultant corner from Darren Ambrose.  Sam Vokes then won a tussle with Claude Davis on the edge of the Palace box. The Welsh striker was forced wide and when he pulled the ball back to Mujanga the youngster scuffed his pass and the danger was cleared.  In the 18^th minute Nathaniel Clyne delivered a cross that Ambrose hooked over the bar from 20-yards with a first time effort. (Clyne had rejected a move to Wolves last week - as Wolves made what Palace boos Colin called derisory - saying Moxey always tries to get a cheap deal)

Alan Lee broke down the left channel but his cross went over the head of Ambrose before home skipper Shaun Derry went into the book for a late challenge on Michael Mancienne in the centre circle. Mancienne took the free-kick himself and, after the Palace defence failed to clear their lines, Mujanga took a return pass from Ned Milijaš but fired high over the angle of post and bar. Lee became the second home player to be shown the yellow card, for dissent, before Ambrose and Nick Carle had shots blocked in quick succession by the visitors defence. After appearing to head against the back of Jody Craddock's head, Lee had to leave the field for attention to a cut forehead. Three minutes before the end of a mundane opening half, Neil Danns shot inches wide of the far post after he had collected a low cross from Carle. Wolves responded with a Milijaš free-kick that was headed wide by Vokes, and then a rebound presented Mujanga with a half chance but Julian Speroni in the home goal had spotted the danger and he ran from his goal to clear.

Half-Time: Palace 0 Wolves 0

Two Palace free-kicks within shooting distance came inside the first five minutes of the new half. Both were taken by Ambrose with Wayne Hennessey claiming the first and the second flying wide of the mark. Danns headed wide after a cross from Ambrose and Foley lifted a shot high over the bar at the other end. Wolves changed to a 4-4-2 formation just before the hour mark as Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Chris Iwelumo went on in place of Vokes and Mujanga. Within two minute Wolves were behind. Palace gained a fortuitous corner, with television replays showing the ball had gone behind off Ambrose. He took the flag-kick and although Hennessey made a good save from Lawrence's header, Danny Butterfield was there to nod over the line. Speroni had to punch clear after Jody Craddock had headed a Milijaš corner up into the air, before Palace went two up in the 65th minute. Ambrose nodded on a Speroni clearance to Butterfield who beat Hennessey with a low right foot shot. The Palace keeper cut out a low cross from Ebanks-Blake before Butterfield completed a seven minute hat-trick when he forced the ball home after a flick on from Lee. Ebanks-Blake was booked after a body check on Carle and Dave Jones was sent on from Mancienne for the final 15 minutes of a miserable night for Wolves. The only consolation came in the shape of a Karl Henry goal - the captain shooting high into the net after Foley had knocked back a Richard Stearman cross.

Palace: Speroni, Clyne, Hill, Danns, Derry (capt), Davis, Lawrence, Carle (Comley 84), Ambrose, Lee (Andrew 75), Butterfield (Djiali 88). Unused subs: Scannell, Wynter, Mann. Bookings: Derry (27 - foul), Lee (31 - dissent).

Wolves: Hennessey, Stearman, Zubar, Milijaš, Craddock, Berra, Foley, Henry (capt), Vokes (Iwelumo 59), Mancienne (Jones 76), Mujangi (Ebanks-Blake 59). Unused subs: Surman, Hahnemann, Halford, Castillo.

Booking: Ebanks-Blake (71 - foul).

Referee: L.Mason. Attendance: 10,282 (898 away supporters)

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