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Championship season 2007-8

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Match Report

26	Tuesday	1st January	15:00		Wolves	0	0	Sheffield Utd	37	1.4	10	+1	Blades H
FA	Saturday	5th January	14:00		FAC3 Wolves	2	1	Cambridge Utd					3rd round
27	Saturday	12th January	15:00		Wolves	0	3	Crystal Palace	37	1.4	12	-2	Palace H
28	Saturday	19th January	15:00		Scunthorpe	0	2	Wolves	40	1.4	10	0	Scunthrpe A
FA	Saturday	26th January	15:00		FA Cup	1	4	4th round					4th round
29	Tuesday	29th January	15:00		Wolves	2	1	Sheffield Weds	43	1.4	9	+1	Owls H

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Wolves 2 (Keogh 11 Ebanks-Blake 92) Sheffield Wednesday (Tudgay 19)

A great start with Andy Keogh hitting the bar in the first 30 seconds and scoring after 11. The game could and should have been put away but a mistake by Darren Ward gifted Marcus Tudgay his equaliser and Sheffield got right back into the game, clearly winning the second half, except on goals, with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake showing the strikers what a striker should really do, from a cross by Jay.  The real illumination came aound the 85th minute with a superb strike by sub Dabiel Jones returning from loan at Northampton - why was he ever away? - which moved in the air but just wide. The defence withstood periods of strong pressure, with Foley again starring and Rob Edwards trying to reclaim his place from injured Neill Collins who left the field after 7 minutes. Up front, Andy Keogh looked back to his real sharpest, aided by moving Elliott out of his way to the right wing. Elliott got a good reception when substituted but his ball control still left a lot to be desired counterbalanced by his hard work tackling back. Man of the match - shared between Matt Jarvis and Dave Edwards and Wayne deserves a mention for two great saves.

Here’s the WoW view

Wolves 2 (Keogh 11, Ebanks-Blake 90) Sheffield Wednesday 1 (Tudgay 19)

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake struck in the second minute of stoppage time to give Wolves their first home League victory since the beginning of December. Mick McCarthy's men started the game at a furious pace and took an early lead through Andy Keogh before a defensive lapse gifted Marcus Tudgay an equaliser. There were few clear cut chances for either side following the break before Ebanks-Blake broke Wednesday hearts with his late winner.

After being cup-tied for the game at Watford, recent signings Ebanks-Blake along with David Edwards returned to the starting line up and Michael Gray was also back in the side with Darren Potter, Jay Bothroyd and Rob Edwards the men making way - all three being named as substitutes. There was an amazing start to the game with Keogh hitting the bar twice in the opening two minutes. After 27 seconds Kevin Foley's throw appeared to reach Keogh off a defender's head but as the striker smashed a shot against the underside of the bar, the linesman flagged for offside. Then Matt Jarvis with a superb burst of pace, beat his marker and pulled the ball back from the by-line to Keogh who thumped a first time shot against the woodwork. The ball rebounded to Karl Henry on the edge of the box but his follow up was just wide of the mark. In a rare Wednesday attack, Jermaine Johnson's low cross from the right ran through to Wade Small at the far post but he squandered a good chance by shooting wide. Neill Collins was hurt after a challenge and although the defender carried on for a few moments he was clearly struggling and was replaced by Rob Edwards. Wolves took a thoroughly deserved lead in the 11th minute and it was fitting, after his close calls, that Keogh should be the man to make the breakthrough.  He took a return pass from Ebanks-Blake before beating Lee Grant in the Wednesday goal from eight-yards with a shot that went in off the inside of the post. It was all Wolves and two corners in as many minutes had the visiting defence in all sorts of trouble before they were eventually cleared. Completely against the run of play the Owls drew level in the 19th minute. Darren Ward and Rob Edwards got in a tangle as they tried to clear Glenn Whelan's cross and Tudgay took full advantage by beating Wayne Hennessey from 15-yards. Wolves were soon back on the attack after the setback and Grant had to dive full length to save a low angled effort from David Edwards. Then Grant failed to hold a shot from Stephen Elliott but he just managed to deflect the ball behind as David Edwards charged in.  In the final minute Tommy Spurr went into the book after he had upended Elliott. Jarvis pumped the free-kick into the box and Keogh rose to head wide of the far post. In stoppage time Elliott cut inside two defenders before seeing his shot deflected behind for a corner. Jarvis played the ball short to Henry whose short cross was headed onto the roof of the net by Ebanks-Blake.

Half-Time: Wolves 1 Wednesday 1

Ebanks-Blake figured again shortly after the restart but his shot on the turn lacked the power to trouble Grant after Keogh had set up the chance. Akpo Sodge had a great chance of putting the visitors ahead just before the hour mark after he had run onto a through ball from Tudgay and skipped around Hennessey. But the Wolves keeper was up like a shot as the Sheffield man was picking his spot and to the relief of the vast majority of the crowd he dived on the ball at Sodje's feet. Then a Whelan corner, Sheffield's first of the game, was headed onto the roof of the net by Tudgay. David Edwards looked on to restore Wanderers lead as he raced between two defenders but his shot went straight into the arms of Grant. Sodge went down injured after an innocuous looking challenge in the Wolves box. After treatment on and off the field, he was carried off on a stretcher. Grant saved another shot from Ebanks-Blake before Wolves replaced Elliott with Daniel Jones and, a few minutes later, Keogh with Bothroyd. Jones, just back from a lengthy loan spell at Northampton, almost did the trick with a tremendous drive that was less then a yard away from the far post, and then Bothroyd saw his long-distance effort fly behind after hitting a defender. Rob Edwards went into the book after tripping Tudgay and Hennessey made a smart save after a snapshot from Small.  With five minutes of additional time signalled, Wolves piled forwards in search of a winner and it arrived after Gray had pumped a deep cross into the box. Bothroyd ran in at the far post and volleyed the ball back into the middle for Ebanks-Blake to stab home from six-yards out.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Gray, D. Edwards, D. Ward, Collins (R. Edwards 9), Elliott (Jones 72), Henry (capt), Ebanks-Blake, Keogh (Bothroyd 81), Jarvis. Unused subs: Potter, Stack. Booking: R. Edwards (89 - foul).

Wednesday: Grant, Bullen (capt), Hinds, Whelan, Tudgay, Beevers, Johnson (O'Brien 45), Small, Sodje (Burton 65), Spurr, Wallwork. nused subs: Wood, Gilbert, Boden. Booking: Spurr (44 - foul).

Referee: P. Josling.(2 out of 10)  Attendance: 22,746.

Watford 1 (O'Toole 70) Wolves 4 (Keogh 5, 90, Elliott 58, Bothroyd 68)

An impressive display, led by Andy Keogh Matt Jarvis and Jay Bothroyd against a lacklustre and under strength Watord who, togethe rwith their fans, seemed to be suffering from a hangover caused by the sales of Marlon King. The quality of the passing and interplay was what we had been missing and even Stephen Elliott got on the scoresheet - at a critical time, and, to give him his due, it was better taken than a chance Jay had, and he celebrated in front of the fans. The defence had a few nervous moments, but Kevin Foley was again imperious and Rob Edwards back to his old best. Here’s WoW’s report

Wolves marched on to the fifth round of the FA Cup after an emphatic 4-1 victory over Watford at Vicarage Road.

Andy Keogh, with a brace, Stephen Elliott and Jay Bothroyd were the men that did the damage to put Wanderers through into the last 16 of the competition for the first time in five seasons. Darren Potter and Bothroyd came in for the cup-tied David Edwards and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake with the other change coming in defence where Neill Collins moved to left-back with Rob Edwards coming in to partner Darren Ward in the middle in place of Michael Gray who was named as a substitute.  The first half saw Wolves defending the end of Vicarage Road that housed over 2,000 travelling supporters. The early action all happened at the opposite end to the Molineux faithful. Inside the first minute Bothroyd was fouled by Al Bangura 30-yards out from the Watford goal. Potter played a short- free-kick to Bothroyd who turned and laid the ball off to Kevin Foley on the right, but the defender's centre was cleared. Wolves, much the livelier of the sides in the opening stages, moved into the lead in the fifth minute. Wayne Hennessey's goal kick was flicked on by Bothroyd to Keogh who spotted Richard Lee off his line and cleverly flicked the ball over the stranded keeper from the edge of the box. Just two minutes later, Lee just beat Keogh to Jay Demerit's knock back. Keogh and Bothroyd argued with the referee, with some justification, when the official didn't penalise the keeper for picking up what was a blatant back-pass, Lee dived low to save from Bothroyd who had run onto a Matt Jarvis square ball before Watford almost drew level when Nathan Ellington struck the post with a free-kick after Ward had fouled Tamas Priskin 22-yards out. Ellington went close again with a well struck shot that was deflected wide for a corner, but Lee was soon back in action at the other end when he just beat Keogh to the ball after some good wing work from Jarvis. With 33 minutes gone it was Wolves' turn to be denied by the woodwork when Ward's header rebounded off the foot of the far post following a Jarvis corner. Lee then cut out a cross-shot from Bothroyd with Keogh, stationed just behind the keeper, a certain scorer had the ball got through to him. 

Half-Time: Watford 0 Wolves 1

Straight from the restart Wolves almost doubled their advantage. Jarvis picked out Bothroyd whose low shot was deflected away from goal by the legs of Lee. Watford's new signing, Mat Sadler, a reported target for Wolves, fired into the top of the side netting before the visitors moved into a two goal lead in the 58th minute. Jarvis, with two defenders closing down on him, picked out the unmarked Elliott who kept his cool before delivering a low shot past Lee. Karl Henry went into the book for kicking the ball away at a Watford corner and, when Wolves went forward, a driven centre from Bothroyd flew across the face of the home goal. It was Bothroyd who put Wolves three goals to the good as the half reached its midway point. Potter found Jarvis whose low cross was calmly tucked into the net by the Molineux striker. Just two minutes later Watford reduced the deficit when John Joe O'Toole scored from 12-yards after the Wolves defence had failed to clear a cross from Steve Kabba. Ellington almost grabbed a second four minutes later with a header that flashed inches wide of the post after Tommy Smith had supplied the cross. Wolves, however, were still enjoying the majority of the attacking play and Keogh drilled a shot wide of the far post after he had been played in by Elliott. In the final minute Keogh notched his second and his team's fourth when he took a pass from Bothroyd and sidestepped a defender before beating Lee from the edge of the box.

Watford: Lee, Doyley, Demirit (capt), Mackay (Mariappa 76), Sadler, Kabba, Bangura, O'Toole, McAnuff, Priskin (Smith 62), Ellington. Unused subs: Poom, Stewart, Rinaldi.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Collins, Potter, D. Ward, R. Edwards, Elliott, Henry (capt) (Gibson 90), Bothroyd (Kightly 90), Keogh, Jarvis (Gray 85). Unused subs: Stack, Breen. Bookings: Henry (63 - kicking ball away at corner), Bothroyd (86 - dissent).

Referee: K. Stroud. Attendance: 12, 719.

Saturday 19th January Scunthorpe 0 Wolves 2 (D. Edwards 8, Ebanks-Blake 46)

Mick’s new signings got on to the scoresheet to break Wolves awful run which had seen us slip from potential top to 12th in 2008. Dave Edwards “rescued” from the Luton collapse and Sylven Ebanks-Blake scored early in each half and midfielder Edwards had a part to play in the second goal.  Dave’s attacking capabilites were recognised by Mick playing two wingers, with Matty Jarvis having his best match since his appearance at Grays. Stephen Ward gave way to him, while “striker” Elliott played on the right. Mick was very pleased with the rapport between Andy Keogh and Sylvan, he said in the interview afterwards, but didn’t spot that it was all down to the Irons playing Jeff Beck’s “Hi Ho Silver Lining” before the match.

Here’s how Wolves World saw it:

Wolves registered their first League victory in nine attempts with a 2-0 win in an open and entertaining game at Scunthorpe. New boys David Edwards and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake were the men on the mark to deservedly give the Molineux men three much needed points. There were four changes to the team that had lost to Crystal Palace at Molineux. Edwards made his debut and Andy Keogh returned to face his old club with Stephen Elliott and Matt Jarvis also back in the starting line-up. The quartet came in for Darren Potter and Stephen Ward, who were named as substitutes, Jay Bothroyd and the injured Darron Gibson. Keogh and Ebanks-Blake led the attack with Jarvis playing on the left and Elliott the right of midfield. An opening minute corner taken by Jarvis was headed out to Elliott whose first time shot went over the bar. hen Edwards and Keogh combined to set up a chance for Jarvis who hit a low shot that was taken by home keeper Joe Murphy at full stretch. Just eight minutes into his first game for the club, Edwards gave Wolves the lead. Jarvis hit a low cross to Keogh and he helped the ball on to Edwards who turned and netted from eight-yards out. Just four minutes later Ebanks-Blake was inches away from a second after he had taken a pass from Jarvis and turned to curl a shot just the wrong side of the far post with Murphy a spectator. Home skipper Andy Crosby wasted a good chance when he fired wide after running on to a low centre from Ian Morris, and Morris was off target himself shortly afterwards after Matt Sparrow had supplied the cross. Murphy just beat Jarvis in a race for the ball inside the home area, and, when play switched to the other end, Wayne Hennessey comfortably dealt with Sparrow's shot. Murphy had to be at is best to tip over Ebanks-Blake's header following Michael Gray's free-kick, and there was a moment of danger for Wolves when Martin Paterson beat the offside trap as he ran onto Paul Hayes' through ball but, from a good position, he shot wide. Keogh raced along the by-line and was about to pull the ball back for Ebanks-Blake when he was robbed by a fine challenge from Marcus Williams. Darren Ward made a last ditch tackle from the floor to deny Sparrow a clear run at goal before good work from Ebanks-Blake almost conjured up a second for Wolves. The striker ran into the box from the right and although his pull back was deflected behind Keogh, the ball fell invitingly into the path of Jarvis who picked his spot only for Cliff Byrne to throw himself into the path of the shot to block. Both Edwards and Byrne were both booked within a minute of one another for shirt pulling, before the half ended with a fine reflex save from Hennessey who beat away Paul Hayes' drive after a cross from Kevan Hurst. 

Half-Time; Scunthorpe 0 Wolves 1

Just 50 seconds after the restart, Ebanks-Blake opened his account as he put Wanderers two up. Neill Collins had already headed clear a dangerous cross from Hayes when the ball was cleared upfield to Edwards who played Ebanks-Blake in - the striker calmly lifting his shot over the advancing Murphy. From a Morris free-kick, Hayes flicked the ball dangerously across the face of the Hennessey's goal, but Wolves were soon back on the attack and when Gray's corner dropped to Elliott, the former Sunderland striker hit a tremendous shot that bounced off a defender into the path of the impressive Jarvis. He returned the ball into the box and Collins' flick was hacked clear from near the line by a defender. Rob Edwards replaced Gray in the 57th minute to partner Ward in central defence with Collins moving to the left-back position. Hennessey needed two attempts to bring a long range effort from Ben May under control and then, midway through the half, a great ball from Elliott found Keogh who ran into the box before lifting a shot over the bar. The referee ignored Ebanks-Blake penalty appeals after Crosby challenged him from behind, before Jarvis beat his man as he cut in from the wing and squared the ball to Ebanks-Blake who saw his low shot brilliantly turned aside by Murphy with a defender completing the clearance. Ebanks-Blake was just wide after he had taken a through pass from Kevin Foley, and May wasn't far off a consolation goal with a well-struck drive from 25-yards in the final minute. 

Scunthorpe United: Murphy, Williams, Crosby (capt), Byrne (McCann 56), Sparrow, Hayes (May 56), Paterson, Martis, Cork, Hurst (Forte 49), Morris. Unused subs: Butler, Lillis. Bookings: Byrne (43 - foul), Sparrow (90 - foul).

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Gray (R. Edwards 56), D. Edwards, D. Ward, Collins, Henry (capt), Elliott, Ebanks-Blake (S. Ward 88), Keogh, Jarvis. Unused subs: Potter, Eastwood, Stack. Bookings: D. Edwards (42 - foul), Ebanks-Blake (65 - kicking the ball away at free-kick).

Referee: M.P. Russell. Attendance: 7,465.

Saturday 12th January Wolves 0 Palace 3 (Morrison 24, Scannell 49, Scowcroft 66)

Well, Palace had 4 shots and scored with three. The first came from a free kick which should have been the other way but then the excuses for abject defending run out. Two of the goals were unstoppable but the first was from a good header back by Palace in the box while the second was from Wolves’ defensive header but both Morrison and Scowcroft took their chances extremely well. Sylvan Ebanks Blake, looking as barrell chested as Shaun Newton, had an impressive debut, spending a lot of time in the penalty box. Boos again came from the reduced crowd - notably when SE-B was substituted and when Jay Bothroyd spooned over the bar from 6 yards with an almost open goal beckoming - can’t be helping the team much.

here’s how WoW saw it

The introduction of new signing Sylvan Ebanks-Blake failed to halt Wolves' dismal League run as in-form Crystal Palace were comfortable 3-0 winners at a gloomy Molineux.While Ebanks-Blake made his debut, Karl Henry returned from suspension with Andy Keogh and Matt Jarvis dropping down to the bench. Wolves kicked-off attacking the hotel end of Molineux but the opening minutes were devoid of goalmouth action. The first corner of the game went Wolves' way in the 11th minute but Darren Ward was unable to divert his header in the right direction following Michael Gray's flag kick. Within two minutes, Palace won their first corner after Wayne Hennessey had pulled off a tremendous save to deny Jamie Scowcroft. Ben Watson lofted a free-kick into the Wolves area and Scowcroft powered a header that looked destined for the top corner until Hennessey athletically turned the ball over the bar. A dangerous low cross from Sean Scannell was met by Clinton Morrison whose first time shot hit a defender and bounced to safety. At the other end Henry was crowded out as he tried to work a shooting position after taking a centre from Darron Gibson. In the 23rd minute, Ebanks-Blake just failed to get his head to a cross from Henry. Stephen Ward was stood just behind the new man and he couldn't have seen the ball until the last second but his header was still just inches wide of the post. After going so close, Wolves fell behind just a minute later. Watson's free-kick wasn't cleared and the unmarked Morrison smashed an unstoppable volley into the net from 12-yards out. Palace keeper Julian Speroni struggled to claim the ball after a low shot from Jay Bothroyd who had onnected with Stephen Ward's pull back, before Gibson limped off to be replaced by Jarvis. Matt Lawrence had to head over his own crossbar after Stephen Ward had nodded Jarvis' cross back into the six-yard box. Jarvis took the corner conceded and former Palace defender Darren Ward saw his header comfortably saved on the line by Speroni.  In stoppage time, Mark Hudson prodded the ball narrowly wide after running on to an in swinging cross from Watson.

Half-Time: Wolves 0 Palace 1

A shot from Henry was cleared by Clint Hill before two Jarvis corners had the Palace defence at full stretch. But disaster struck in the 49th minute as the visitors went two up with Scannell converting from close range after Morrison had knocked back John Halls' centre.  Mick McCarthy made two changes following the goal with Keogh and Freddy Eastwood replacing Ebanks-Blake and Stephen Ward. A minute into their introduction the duo combined but Keogh was crowded out as he tried to profit on Eastwood's cross. Keogh was a fraction wide with a header after a Jarvis centre and Speroni then touched away a low shot from Eastwood. But Scowcroft's thumping 30-yard volley in the 66th minute was the signal for a significant number of Wolves fans to start heading for the exit gates as Palace's victory was all but confirmed. Indeed it could have been four moments later had Scowcroft not lifted the ball over the bar from six-yards out after he had met a Lewis Grabban cross. A measure of the way things were going for Wolves came when Hudson cleared Bothroyd's shot off the line with the ball hitting Henry and rebounding wide of the post. Watson was narrowly wide with a 25-yard shot and Speroni beat out an Eastwood effort from a similar distance at the other end. Ten minutes from time Bothroyd lifted a close range shot over the bar after Keogh had beaten the offside trap and cut in from the right before squaring the ball.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Gray, Potter, D. Ward (capt), Collins, Henry (capt), Gibson (Jarvis 42), Ebanks-Blake (Keogh 53), Bothroyd, S. Ward (Eastwood 53). Unused subs: Edwards, Ikeme.

Crystal Palace: Speroni, Scowcroft, Hudson (capt), Lawrence, Hill (Hills 66), Halls, Watson, Derry (Moses 84), Soares, Scannell (Grabban 68), Morrison. Unused subs: Freedman, Fletcher.

Referee: H. Webb. Attendance: 22,650.

Saturday 5th January Wolves 2 (Kightly 69 Collins 88) Cambridge Utd 1 (Rendell 42 pen)

So, at last Kites is back into the action and he turned the match. Wolves created plenty of chances but continued the goal drought and Cambridge gave us a few scares.  WWLSC sponsored Neill Collins was the villain as an attempted clearance on the edge of the box was intercepted by Convery. Neill forced him wide but, although his cross hit Neill on the chest, Ref Friend decided it was a pen and Cambridge went in at half time in the lead, although they had to clear off the line as the play went straight down to the South Bank. The pundits were hoping for an upset, but Freddy came on at half time for Andy. And then Kites was brought on to a standing ovation after 60 and his power and pace turned the match.  First he scored from a great Jarvis cross helped on by Freddy - Kites left his marker standing in the center of the box.  As time wore on, Cambridge’s hopes of a reply strengthened but then Ref Fried made up for the penalty decision and gave Kites a dubious foul right on the goal line outside the box in front of the North Bank. Kites took the kick and signalled Neill Collins where the ball would be - and a thumping header won it. 

Wolves 2 (Kightly 69, Collins 88) Cambridge United 1 (Rendell 41)

No Stats - WoW not working properly but here’s their view of the match

Second-half substitute Michael Kightly, back from a six week injury break, came to Wolves' rescue by scoring an equaliser and then setting up the winner against non-League Cambridge United.

The Blue Square Premier League side led at the interval through a disputed penalty and they took Wanderers to the wire in an entertaining FA Cup third round tie.  Matt Jarvis and Darren Potter came in for the suspended Karl Henry and Seyi Olofinjana in an otherwise unchanged Wolves team. Cambridge kicked-off attacking the North Bank end and they could have been behind after just 30 seconds. Jarvis beat Stephen Reed inside the area and pushed the ball back to Jay Bothroyd whose goalbound shot hit Mark Albrighton and bounced to safety. But United were close to a shock opener in the ninth minute. Reed fired over a deep cross from the left and Mark Convery's header was cleared from just in front of the line by Neill Collins.  Wolves immediately broke away through Jarvis who took a return pass from Andy Keogh before hitting a low centre that was turned behind by Albrighton. Danny Potter in the United goal made a fine save from Darron Gibson in the16th minute after Darren Potter's square ball left the on loan midfielder with just the keeper to beat. Bothroyd's shot on the turn from 22-yards was deflected behind for a corner before Convery missed a golden opportunity of giving his side the lead as the half reached its midway stage.  Convery took a pass from Scott Rendell and beat Darren Ward but from six-yards out he shot against the chest of Wayne Hennessey. Stephen Ward drove the ball into the arms of Potter after running on to a Keogh flick before, in the 34th minute, the keeper kept out the Irishman's header with an excellent save following a Gibson free-kick. Gibson figured again with a long range effort that drifted wide before Cambridge moved into a shock lead four minutes before the break following a controversial penalty award. Convery intercepted Neill Collins' intended pass to Kevin Foley. The Cambridge man was forced wide but his centre hit Collins who was adjudged to have handled by the referee. Collins didn't move his arms and the ball appeared to strike his shoulder but the official waved away protests and Rendell rifled the penalty into the roof of the net. In the 44th minute Albrighton cleared Keogh's header off the line with his thigh after Foley had crossed from the right.

Half-Time: Wolves 0 Cambridge 1

Freddy Eastwood came out for the second-half in place of Keogh and the former Southend man fired a shot narrowly wide within four minutes of his introduction. Reed cleared a Collins header off the line after the defender had connected with Jarvis's corner. From the flag-kick conceded, again taken by Jarvis, Darren Ward nodded the ball down into the path of Stephen Ward who volleyed over the bar. Loud cheers greeted the introduction of Kightly with just over an hour gone and it took him just eight minutes to conjure up an equaliser when he turned home a low cross from Jarvis from six-yards out. Potter wasn't far away from a second with a shot from fully 30-yards out before Bothroyd beat the offside flag and found himself with just the keeper to beat. But the striker tried to take the ball around Potter and lost the contest. Daniel Gleeson and Paul Carden were booked for respective fouls on Jarvis and Eastwood who had earlier been yellow carded after a heavy tackle on Carden. Bothroyd was also booked, for diving, as he was sandwiched between Michael Morrison and Reed. In the 88th minute came the incident that led to Wolves' winner. Albrighton was deemed to have fouled Kightly near the by-line to the left of the Cambridge area. Kightly lifted the free-kick into the heart of the goalmouth and Collins ran in to head home from close range. In the four minutes of stoppage time, the visitors piled everyone forward in an attempt to gain a replay but three times Wolves went close to extending their advantage. Gibson, from 40-yards, was wide after he had spotted Potter off his line, Jarvis cut in from the left and drove narrowly over the angle before Eastwood jinked his was into the United area and screwed a shot wide of the near post.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Gray, Darren Potter, D. Ward (capt), Collins, Jarvis (Edwards 90), Gibson, Keogh (Eastwood 45), Bothroyd, S. Ward (Kightly 61). Unused subs: Elliott, Ikeme. Bookings: Eastwood (63 - foul), Bothroyd (84 - diving)

Cambridge: Danny Potter, Coulson, Albrighton, Morrison, Gleeson, Carden, Brown (capt) (Pitt 77), Reed (Boylan 90), Wolleaston, Convery (Fortune-West 90), Rendell. Unused subs: Peters, Willmott. Bookings: Gleeson (78 - foul), Carden (80 - foul)

Referee: K. Friend. Attendance: 15,340.

Tuesday January 1st Wolves 0 Sheffield Utd 0 ko 3pm

Chorus of "you don't know what you're doing" from the South Bank for Mick McCarthy when he brought Andy Keogh off and sent Elliott on, who produced only one decent ball - but the other players had long given up on his crosses.(ANdy has been suffering from a heavy cold)  He had Jarvis ready to come on, but sent Freddy on instead. Two strikers playing on the wings. Good performances by Micky Gray and Stephen Ward.  And two good saves from Paddy Kenny unfortunately. Robson set up for the point. Ref definitely not a homer.

Commentary said Andy been ill with fluHere’s how WoW saw it.

Wolves 0 Sheffield United 0

There was no winning start to the New Year for Wolves as an at times scrappy encounter with Sheffield United finished without a goal.

The starting line-up and bench were unchanged from the game at Norwich as Wolves kicked-off attacking the South Bank end.  Just 30 seconds had gone when Michael Gray's cross caused confusion in the visiting defence before the ball bounced to United keeper Paddy Kenny. Wayne Hennessey also had an early taste of the action when he was forced into a full length save to turn behind Gary Speed's 20-yard drive. Kenny comfortably dealt with an angled effort from Andy Keogh before Speed, making his debut for the Blades, was penalised for a challenge on Seyi Olofinjana to the right of the Sheffield area. Jay Bothroyd lofted the free-kick into the middle and Neill Collins ran in to head narrowly wide. Gary Naysmith's foul on Keogh in a virtually identical position led to another Bothroyd free-kick and again Collins got a head to the ball but it went out to the far side of the box before being cleared. Rob Hulse was well wide of the far post with an angled drive before a flowing Wolves move involving Karl Henry and Keogh ended with Bothroyd backheeling into the path of Henry whose shot from the 18-yard line was blocked.  With 31 minutes gone there was a close call for the Wolves goal when Jon Stead's shot from the edge of the area hit a defender and flew inches over Hennessey's crossbar. Kevin Foley planted a through pass into the path of Henry as the midfielder sprinted into the United box and Keogh just failed to get a foot to the low cross that followed. There was a tremendous scramble in the six-yard box before the ball was cleared upfield. Just before the interval Collins powered a header just over the bar following a Bothroyd corner.

Half-Time: Wolves 0 United 0

Lee Hendrie's through-ball put Hulse in on goal but the striker hesitated thinking he was offside and then held his head in his hands as he realised there was no flag as Hennessey collected. Hulse figured again in the 54th minute when he turned inside the area and hit a shot that Hennessey was relieved to see drift wide. The third chance for the visitors in the ten minutes following the interval came when an attempted clearance bounced into the path of Hendrie who cut into the box and, from close range, hit a shot that was superbly kept out by Hennessey with Darren Ward completing the clearance. Two United men were booked in a minute - Hendrie for clattering into Foley and Chris Armstrong for pulling back Olofinjana. Hulse was a whisker away with a low 20-yard shot before Stephen Elliott went on in place of Keogh. The switch didn't exactly meet with universal approval from the crowd but the striker was still suffering from a effects of a heavy cold.  Olofinjana's lofted through ball dropped perfectly for Bothroyd who raced clear towards Kenny's goal. But Leigh Bromby had chased back and he got in a tackle as Bothroyd shot at goal giving the United keeper the opportunity to save. Kenny made a fine save with four minutes remaining as Olofinjana let fly with a volley from 20-yards and there were corners at both ends as the game drifted into stoppage time - but there was to be no end to the stalemate.

Wolves: Hennessey, Foley, Gray, Olofinjana, D. Ward, Collins, Gibson, Henry (capt), Keogh (Elliott 65), Bothroyd, S. Ward (Eastwood 77).

Unused subs: Edwards, Jarvis, Ikeme.

Blades: Kenny, Naysmith (capt), Bardsley, Stead (Gillespie 84), Hulse, Hendrie (Montgomery 84), Kilgallon, Tonge, Armstrong, Bromby, Speed.

Unused subs: Bennett, Lucketti, Sharp.  Bookings: Hendrie (59 - foul), Armstrong (60 - foul).

Referee: L. Mason. Attendance: 24,791.