Clarets blunt toothless Wolves

Last updated : 22 August 2004 By David Clark
A fine Claret - Michael Duff
The home side completely dominated this game and for ninety minutes, played football that was both high in tempo and entertainment value, this against one of the more fancied sides to do well this season in t' Championship.

Let's not forget that Wolves are also something of a bogey side and they had won six of their previous seven visits to Turf Moor. There was little evidence that a seventh victory was on the cards for a toothless David Jones side yet to win this season as the visitors mustered only two shots on target in the ninety minutes.

With the Clarets unchanged for the fourth successive league game, the formation and game plan was also unchanged as Clarets opened brightly against the visitors.

Mo Mo Mo Camara collected probably the season's quickest booking when stupidly going head to head with Newton after only five seconds. Ref Webster may have changed the colour of the card, had the offence been committed later in the game, yet he decided not to card Newton after he blatantly took out his former team mate moments later as the two clashed deep in Wolves territory.

Olofinjana had the first of only two on target efforts for the visitors when he was allowed time and space after only four minutes. Wales No2 Coyne was equal to the low drive and the balance of play quickly swung in favour of Stevie Cotterill's chargers, when Blake setup Chaplow and the youngster's angled drive was tipped over by Wales No1 Jones.

Chaplow was again in action a minute later and his angled drive from fifteen yards looked in all the way, but crept just wide of Jones' far post with Hyde following up and also expecting to see the ball nestling in the corner.

Unlucky thirteen was the minute Frank Sinclair will want to forget when a farcical goal gifted Wolves an unexpected lead. A harmless punt up field by Wolves defence was bouncing towards the Clarets area, Coyne was on his way to collect, yet Sinclair's misguided and short header left Coyne stranded allowing Newton to roll the ball home into the unguarded goal, Wolves in front through a howler.

Needless to say Clarets were stunned by this, the first time this season they have trailed, yet to their credit they were level within ten minutes. Branch won the ball in the centre circle and advanced before laying the ball out wide to Blake, some thirty five yards from goal.

Off went Robbie on a mazy run, dribbling past three Wolves defenders and into the area before coolly despatching a low shot that left Jones on his backside for a truly wonderful goal, his first of the season in this hundredth game for the Clarets.

Miller's blatant foul on Hyde saw him cautioned and as Wolves rallied briefly, we had a rare moment when the ever whinging Ince, not only made it to the Clarets area, but also managed a glancing header that flew harmlessly over Coyne's bar.

Ten from the break and another error from Sinclair saw Miller go free into the area and the 50:50 challenge with McGreal was deemed fair by the officials, Mr Webster taking time to check with assistant Stott before waving play on.

That was basically as good as it got for Wolves, the rest of the half played out a contest between Blake and Jones in the action that followed.

Jones was at full stretch to keep out a Blake free kick and then he was almost deceived by the power and direction from a second free kick from down by the touch line, but the 'keeper showed great agility to keep out the dipping curling shot from distance.
HT 1-1.

Sour grapes - Wolves fans, where were they?
Clarke unceremoniously upended the impressive Duff and another yellow was waved in the air as the second half got under way.

Rampant down the other flank, Camara made a great run and then crossed superbly for Ian Moore to get in a header that was deflected away for a corner as Clarets began to impress themselves upon a now stretched Wolves side.

Cameron was booked for a shirt pull on Moore as the pacy striker broke away and Branch's angled volley on the hour almost caused a second goal, but Blake could not turn the ball goal wards as it flashed across goal.

The pressure brought the crowd to life and a decent atmosphere sounded out before Grant entered the little book for what looked a good tackle on Olofinjana.

Undeterred, Grant was back in the action moments later and a deft lob over the top put Moore away, his cross into Blake at the near post caused momentary panic and the loose ball would not fall kindly to either Chaplow or Blake before being cleared to safety.

Another good run and cross by Camara picked out Hyde at the far post and the inrushing midfielder was unlucky to see his volley hit the side netting.

The pressure was building and the best chance of the game fell to Blake with a quarter hour remaining. Duff was superb in controlling the ball by the dead ball line and used the space well before drawing the ball back to Blake whose shot on the turn from the penalty spot was slightly scuffed and agonisingly wide of the unguarded far post.

Still Clarets pressed and Chaplow tried a lob over the advancing Jones, but did not get height on the ball and it turned into an easy catch for the 'keeper.

Mulligan replaced Miller, but it was not to change the game at all in its final stages. Chaplow put Moore in and his shot was wide of the angle from ten yards before briefly there was a scare as a misunderstanding between Coyne and Sinclair saw the latter toe poke the ball away for a late corner when clearing a dangerous ball into the box.

So Mr Webster drew matters to a close. This was the best the Clarets have played under Steve Cotterill to date and on this form, the Clarets showed they can match anyone in this Division.

Yes Wolves were under strength and yes they left with a point, the manner of Clarets performance, its quality, tempo and overall entertainment left many a departing Claret feeling rather good about their current team.
FT 1-1.

Bums on seats:- 13,869

A fine Claret:- Michael Duff. Ever improving and game by game his link play with defenders and the attackers gets better and better. His timing of tackles, headers and energy to get forwards in support is impressive. On this kind of form he surely ain't no Duffer.

Sour grapes:- Where were all the Wolves fans? I know it's still holiday time down black country way, but come on. There looked to be less than two thousand in the visiting section and whilst Wolves have not won away since April 2003, it's fair to say more were expected for this early season encounter.