Blues dominated the early exchanges and it looked quite possible that we’d see a goal before old I.P. had finished his first Bovril. We didn’t; instead we saw a stream of overhit crosses going out for goal kicks. Wolves were largely depending on long balls hit from the back, looking for Dean Sturridge to chase.
Figueroa had a good first half and was winning the ball well and laying it off to his midfielders. His team mates seem to have abandoned the ‘Lucy’ nickname and now call him ‘Lucho’, which seems a shame to me – I quite liked the idea of having a striker called Lucy. Carter was having a good game as well and seemed to be enjoying his central midfield battle with Gazza. Kirovski was having a ‘mare of a first half and seemed unable to control the ball or find a Blues player with a pass.
Wolves took the lead after 25 minutes. A free kick was swung in from the right from which Gascoigne found himself totally unmarked inside the six yard box with time to head the ball past Vaesen. Given that Blues were playing teenage left-back Mat Sadler as a makeshift right centre-back, I suppose it’s no surprise that the marking from crosses was a little awry.
Wolves had a kid called Ashley Vincent in midfield. This kid has to be the most uncoordinated person you’ll ever see in a professional football team. His various limbs and appendages seem to each have their own independent control function. If, dear reader, you ever get the chance to see him play, I would most strongly recommend it, for the pure entertainment value alone. They also featured some bloke called Silas who, I think, is Portuguese. He’s got bags of pace and excellent close control and looked very dangerous until one realised that he seems totally incapable of making the right decision when he gets near the opposing goal. When his time comes, as it does for all of us, his tombstone shall surely read ‘Silas – he flattered to deceive’
Blues were still playing some fancy football but totally failing to create a scoring chance. Wolves looked more dangerous when they got out of their own half and it was no great surprise when they doubled the lead after 43 minutes. This time it was a corner that came in from the left. Again, the cross was undefended in Sadler’s zone and Wolves centre back Keith Lowe had time to miscue his header but still see the ball go into the net.
Half time, Blues 0 Wolves 2
Blues came out buzzing in the second half and tore into the Wolves defence. Kirovski was having a much more effective time and carrying the ball into the heart of the defence at every opportunity. Wolves weren’t able to attack with any real regularity and so Blues fullbacks Kenna and Williams were able to get forward at every opportunity. The extra width this created was causing the young Wolves backline to become very stretched, much to the chagrin of ‘keeper Andy Marshall, who was screaming at his defenders to “circle ‘em”, whatever that means!
57 minutes and Blues pulled a goal back. A corner was swung in from the left and flicked on by (I think) Carter. Lucho threw himself at the ball but his header was blocked up into the air by
After 78 minutes, Wolves made the substitution I’d been waiting for. Finally giving up on the hapless Ashley Vincent, he was taken off and replaced by Jimmi-Lee Jones. I’ve always been a VERY big fan of Jimmi-Lee Jones, I fondly remember her early hit ‘Chuck E’s In Love’ and her excellent comedic, yet sexy, performance in A Fish Called Wanda. She doesn’t look any older, just a lot more masculine.
80 minutes and Blues levelled the score 2-2. Tom Williams made a superb run, cutting into the box from the left and turning two defenders, leaving them for dead. He drove a low cross along the six-yard box. Again, it was Lucho who lunged in, looking for a touch. The ball came off a defender to Kirovski outside the back post, who crashed the ball smartly into the net.
85 minutes and Gazza was subbed. He’d tired badly but went off to a great ovation from the Blues fans. He’d shown some fine touches and excellent vision. He seemed to appreciate the gesture from the Blues fans and applauded back. I doubt if we’ll ever see him play at the top level again but he looks like he could still do a job in the Nationwide.
Blues continued to press for the winner and the young Wolves defence struggled to keep them out. Wolves midfielder Keith Andrews, back after a loan period at Stoke, was doing a great job of trying to keep the kids in shape, shouting, swearing and generally cajoling them. Kirovski hit the outside of the post but that’s as close as it got.
So, 2-2. Probably a fair result. Blues had most of the play but didn’t create enough chances to deserve the win. Wolves kept going under quite a lot of pressure and took their chances well.
Blues: Vaesen, Kenna, Williams, Carter, Painter, Sadler, Sheppard, Kirovski, Figueroa, Barrowman, Motteram. Subs: Doyle, Hall, Courtney, Till, Kilkenny.
Wolves: Marshall, Flynn, Talbot, Townsend, Lowe, Andrews, Vincent, Gascoigne, Sturridge, Silas, Cooper. Subs: Jones, Ikeme, Walters, Watson, Mulligan.
