Turf them out!

By Ivybridge Wolf
April 2 2024

The games keep coming! Probably just as well, as tonight, in the second of our three consecutive Claret and Blue premier league trilogy, Wolves travel up to Lancashire to play Burnley at Turf Moor with the opportunity to expunge some of the pain from Saturday evening. The match at Villa found us, largely as expected, wanting badly up front on a night when our squad depth and frailties were exposed. It wasn’t all gloom and doom, despite the result, and I wouldn’t wish to be too harsh on the team (including the youngsters) or manager. We played well in reasonable chunks of the contest, and I suspect many will wonder what might have been if Ait Nouri had found more composure for his glaring first half chance. We certainly kept the ball and retained it well but, in the end, attacking mobility, guile and ideas were often absent.

Onto Burnley this evening then, kick off 7.45pm and unfortunately not being screened on TV. What are our prospects? Do I need to mention the type of record we hold versus bottom 3 sides in years gone by?!! We did manage to beat Burnley at Molineux 1-0 in another rather forgettable midweek encounter in December. Hwang got the goal and other than a very good double save from Bentley, nothing much else happened – except we got the all important 3 points. Once again, for team selection tonight, it is a question of who is available. Reports from O’Neil strongly suggest Cunha will play some part in the match, whether as a starter or from the bench. This is great news as we are crying out for some creativity and pace. Reports hint a return for Dawson is more uncertain, a shame given the additional physical and verbal stability he provides. Other than that, will there be much change to the starting lineup? Given the squad, I doubt it, and to be fair, they performed well in stages last Saturday.

Expect a very tough match tonight. In their last three fixtures, Burnley have drawn away to West Ham (Hammers with a last gasp equaliser), beaten Brentford at home and then performed wonders at Stamford Bridge, coming from behind twice to earn a 2-2 draw when down to 10 men for over 50 minutes. This excellent point will surely buoy them for tonight in front of their own, knowing a couple of decent results will give renewed life to survival prospects. In that respect they will be dangerous. Added to that, they are unbeaten in their last six home league games versus us (winning 4, drawing 2) and we last won there in March 2010.

Conversely Burnley have only won 2 from their last 17 with just one clean sheet! Thus, we certainly have a chance and with that in mind, it will not have escaped Gary O’Neil’s attention that they have had 6 players sent off so far, the worst disciplinary record in the premier league so far this season. Let’s ruffle them up a bit! Ultimately, it’s all about finishing. Will we, can we, both create and score the opportunities when they come our way. Back in December, when (as mentioned) Hwang got what proved to be the winner, I don’t think anybody saw or expected a goal to come at all! I would definitely take something similar tonight, irrespective of performance and get us off 41 points to more firmly secure a top half berth! Here are highlights from that December night, to show that we can indeed beat tonight’s opposition https://www.skysports.com/football/video/16426/13023743/wolves-1-0-burnley-premier-league-highlights .

However you are able to follow the match, enjoy it and please provide your thoughts and comments in the thread below. Everything crossed for a good Wolves effort.

UTW!!

Match Thread: Burnley v Wolves 2.4.24 KO 7.45pm

Discussion started by Wolves , 02/04/2024 15:06

Wolves
02/04/2024 15:06

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:04:25:07:26:20 by Cheshire wolf.

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 19:16

Not sure this BBC graphic has got the positions correct (that's normal), but this is the lineup - Chiwone gets another dtart, Cunha on the bench. The Doc and Hugo Bueno get the nod. No Dawson at all.



Subs: Bentley, Santiago Bueno, Traoré, Cunha, Lemina, Doyle, Kimoni Barnett, Chirewa, Fraser.

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Cheshire wolf
02/04/2024 19:31

An interesting team choice bearing in mind the front three struggle to impact at all on Sat. I’m sure we will see Cunha at some point to prepare him for the weekend. Interesting also to see Doc replace Santi in the back three, and both Hugo Bueno and RAN getting a startt in midfield.

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 19:46

Suggestions its a back four, Doherty ahead of Semedo and Bueno ahead of Ait Nouri (or maybe vica versa?)

We’re off!

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 19:47

It is a back four, RAN ahead of Hugo

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 19:55

Sa performing well early on, a great defensive header away and a very good claw when bac tracking to prevent a corner.

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 19:59

13 gone and Burnley applying a fair bit of pressuer and a bit of a handful .Wolves defence covering well at the moment.

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 20:07

One whole section of the stand behind the goal (home end) is being cleared with possible problems with the roof!

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 20:08

Good work from Semedo but RAN over hits his control ….. great opportunity wasted there.

First Wolves corner …. Sadly comes to nothing

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 20:13

Corner from Sarabia goes to the back post, Doc heads it in the danger area and Gomes header goes wide. Gomes has to do better there!

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 20:18

Chiwome plays a lovely ball up to Sarabia and chases up to take the return but Sarabias pass is not good enough. Chiwome would have been clean through there with a better ball

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 20:20

Vitinho evades a few Wolves defends but, thank goodness, his shot from 15 yards was weak and straight down Sa’s throat!

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 20:21

Forest 3-0 up v Fulham and Toon beating Everton 1-0, both at HT

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 20:24

Goal to Burnley …. Tremendous cross to Bruuno Larsen for a fine fine finish. No defender near him

Up the other end, Wolves had a great chance from a corner, but the shot hit our own player





Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2024:04:02:20:26:12 by Ivybridge Wolf.

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 20:37

RAN weaves his way forward and after a great run is fouled in an advanced position in 48th minute.

Free kick clipped in from Sarabiaand there he is, RAN to head it home - stupid VAR review which takes a good while again but deemed onside, quite correctly.

1-1 HT - well done Wolves but locals are not happy!

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Billericay Wolf1
02/04/2024 20:41

1-1 RAN equalises. Now HT.

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 20:52

We’me off again

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 21:00

52 gone. A couple of quite poor Wolves goal kicks giving the ball away.

RAN, get ball, through one on one, hits the keeper …… arrrg. Very similar to the Villa chance. Should be 1-2

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 21:04

Since the RAN miss it’s all Burnley! Sa saves our skins from a shot 10 yards out.

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 21:07

Another important Sa save and now a corner …. Sustained Burnley pressure. We need to get hold of the ball

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 21:15

Wolves sub ….. it’s Bueno for Bueno

Back 3 I prresume

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 21:19

Jay Rodriguez on for the goal scorer Bruun Larsen

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 21:22

Here we go then …… Chiwome off and Cunha on for the last 14 minutes plus added time

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 21:27

10 minutes to go.

You get the impression that any result, win, draw or lose is possible from this match.

C’mon Wolves!

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Billericay Wolf1
02/04/2024 21:28

I hope bringing on Cunha isn't too much of an injury risk, still he's got to play sometime.

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 21:29

Traore to replace Sarabia.

GON protecting the point?

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 21:32

RAN, super cross fro the advancing Lemina, header fro 11 yards, grazes the post! So close!

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 21:34

Rodrigez scores but he’s only 2 yards offside!!

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 21:36

Another good Sa save!!

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 21:37

4 minutes added time.

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 21:40

A sly nasty |Gomes challenge earns himself a yellow card.

Final minute

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An angry wolf
02/04/2024 21:41

Forgot we were playing so didn't enter any score in the prediction league. The pre match odds had Burnley as slight favourites I can see so guess a draw was on the cards between 2 sh1te teams

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Ivybridge Wolf
02/04/2024 21:43

FT 1-1

An even and well contested and enjoyable match to be honest. Both sides had the chances to get all 3 points.

Burnley were desparate for all 3 points, credit to them and real credit to Sa for making some very good saves.

Onto Molineux and West Ham now!

UTW

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Andy Pandy
02/04/2024 22:03

Sa has kept us in it, especially 2nd half. Good goal from Ait-Nouri, two players keeping him onside but good old VAR holding up play for another pointless couple of minutes. He should have had another in the 2nd half when through on their 'keeper. Lemina unlucky with the header that touched the post but have to say I thought Burnley just edged it. Pleased to see Cunha back on the pitch. No criticism of Chiwome, or Fraser before him, but at the moment they don't look ready to me. That's not to say they won't be and of course O'Neil has had little choice but to play them.

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An angry wolf
03/04/2024 00:05

Many on the mix seem happy with a point but for a point of reference regarding the celebration of a point...Burnley's record this season is Won 4 Drawn 7 Lost 20. At home they have a record of Won 2 Drawn 2 Lost 11.

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