By Alan Duffy

Queens Park Rangers 1-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers – Premier League – 4th February 2012

Djibril Cisse could never be described as a shrinking violet, so it will come as little surprise that the former Liverpool man was once again the centre of attention at Loftus Road, albeit for all the wrong reasons. After playing an important part in QPR’s opening goal of the game, the striker then reacted badly to a challenge from Roger Johnson, grabbing the defender by the neck before, predictably, receiving his marching orders from ref Mark Clattenburg.

The home side’s opening goal on 16 minutes was quite superbly constructed, with Cisse feeding Shaun Wright-Phillips, who deftly back-heeled the ball into the path of new-boy Bobby Zamora, who powered the ball home. However, after the Frenchman was sent off, Wolves looked the more likely winners.

Half-time sub Kevin Doyle made an immediate impact, with his cross finding its way to Matt Jarvis who fired home the equaliser in the first minute of the second period. The visitors then pushed for the winner, with both Doyle and Steven Fletcher coming close. However, Wolves’ pressure eventually paid off, with Doyle netting on 71 minutes after good work from Jamie O’Hara.

Rangers did rally in the latter stages of the game, with Adel Taarabt going close, but ultimately it was Mick McCarthy’s side who would take all three points, points which move them out of the bottom three and level with Rangers. Mark Hughes will be well aware of just how easy it will be for his new side to get mired in a relegation battle.

On a less positive note for Wolves, Arsenal loanee Emmanuel Frimpong, who was stretchered off midway through the first half, may well have suffered a serious knee injury.

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Highlights to follow…

Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

Young, l’il-bit-wappy midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong is one of the Premier League’s more charismatic chaps, with his all-action and passionate performances on the pitch endearing him to Wolves’ fans ever since he made his loan move from Arsenal.

The Ghana-born youngster is also a major Twitter personality, with his online spats with Piers Morgan in particular, only adding to his popularity. However, now the 20-year-old has entered the John Terry/alleged racism debate, questioning the rather slow  actions of The FA over the affair.

Frimpong Tweeted:

“Wanna no if Anton Ferdinand was in the England team and was being charged for racism would the FA wait till the summer to charge?outoforder”

He followed that Tweet with:

“If I ever get Racially Abused I wouldn’t think f telling the FA…..I would rather tell my mum.”

You can bet that Frimpong isn’t the only player with this opinion, either, which isn’t a very good indicator of how the country’s young black footballers view the authorities at the moment.

                          

Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-3 Liverpool – Premier League – 31st January 2012

Liverpool boosted their top four chances with an impressive victory over Wolves at Molineux on Tuesday night, while Andy Carroll celebrated the first anniversary of his move to Merseyside with a much-needed goal.

Both sides had chances to opening the scoring in the first half, but it wasn’t until the 52nd minute that the deadlock was eventually broken, with Carroll prodding home a Charlie Adam centre. Craig Bellamy doubled score soon after with an effort that Wayne Hennessey really should have saved.

The home side’s second-half collapse was well and truly complete when Dirk Kuyt made it three on 78 minutes, with a booing Molineux faithful less than impressed by their side’s capitulation.

While Mick McCarthy’s charges are now well and truly in a relegation dogfight, Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool still have their eyes on Europe.

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Highlights…

Photos: PA

                          

By Chris Wright

You’ve been Frimponged…

Video: Metro

                          

By Alan Duffy

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers – Premier League 14th January 2012

Much has been written and spoken in recent weeks about Tottenham’s title burgeoning title credentials. However, against Wolves at White Hart Lane, the Lilywhites somewhat struggled to live up to the hype, producing a disappointing display in front of their home fans.

Wolves came to the Lane with good memories of north London, having recently secured a superb 1-1 draw at Arsenal. In Steven Fletcher, they have one of the top division’s most in-form strikers, while in Gunners’ loanee Emmanuel Frimpong, they have a dynamic, if raw, midfield powerhouse.

Indeed, it was Scottish international Fletcher who opened the scoring for the visitors, netting from close-range on 22 minutes after a corner. The goal, which came against the run of play, was controversial to say the least, as replays showed that the initial corner should never have been given.

Spurs pressed for the equaliser, but couldn’t find a goal until after the break, when Croatian schemer Luka Modric fired home from the edge of the penalty area. However, the home side couldn’t complete the comeback against a Wolves side which defended superbly.

That draw means that Spurs miss out on the chance to go level on points with the two Manchester sides, while for Mick McCarthy’s Wolves, it was another valuable point in their slow, but steady climb up the table.

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Highlights to follow.

Photos: PA

                          

Arsenal 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers – Premier League – 27th December 2011.

Arsenal’s old failings came back to haunt them at the Emirates in their rearranged clash with Wolves. Despite having a hugely superior amount of possession and firing in countess efforts on goal, the home side still came unstuck, conceding a sloppy goal and failing to make the most of their dominance.

It had all started so well for the Gunners, with Gervinho netting after just eight minutes. But despite dominating Mick McCarthy’s men, they couldn’t build on their lead. And then, on 38 minutes, Steven Fletcher headed home from close-range after the Gunners failed to adequately deal with a corner.

Arsenal pressed and pressed in the second-half but couldn’t find a way past Wayne Hennessey who made a string of magnificent saves to protect his side’s vital point. Even Robin van Persie, in the hunt for Alan Shearer’s record of 36 goals in a calender year (The Dutchman has 34 so far) couldn’t find a way past Wolves Welsh ‘keeper.

With 15 minutes to go, Nenad Milijas was sent off, rather harshly, for a foul on Mikel Arteta, but even with a man advantage, the Gunners couldn’t get the three points that would have lifted them above Chelsea and into the top four.

Wolves, on the other hand, return to the Midlands with a superb point won mainly by their superb goalkeeper.

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Highlights…

Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-2 Norwich City – Premier League – 19th December 2011

A hard-working Wolves came back twice against Norwich City At Molineux to secure a vital point which inches Mick McCarthy’s men another few steps away from the drop-zone.

Andrew Surman opened the scoring for the Canaries after just 12 mins, heading home from a Wes Hoolahan cross. However, the home side levelled after 37 minutes, when Sylvain Ebanks-Blake fired home after a Stephen Hunt effort had been blocked by Russell Martin.

A similar pattern occurred after the break, with Simeon Jackson netting what looked like being the winner with just 15 minutes to play. However, once again, Wolves delved deep and came up with another equaliser, this time from the head of Ronald Zubar.

Paul Lambert’s Norwich stay in the top half of the table while Wolves edge two points clear of the bottom three.

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Highlights…

Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Stoke City – Premier League – 17th December 2011

You have to hand it to Tony Pulis, you really do. For all the (often justified) criticism of his team’s tactics and style of play, Stoke continue to ground out decent results season after season, never looking like getting themselves embroiled in a relegation dogfight.

While their impressive European exploits have often taken their toll on the squad, the Potters returned from their (meaningless ) defeat at the hands of Besiktas in midweek to secure yet another Premier League win on Saturday afternoon at Molineux.

Irish midfielder Stephen Hunt had put the home side a goal up on 17 minutes after Jonathan Woodgate pulled down Matt Jarvis in the box. Hunt converted the penalty kick while soon after the labouring Woodgate was hauled off by an obviously unimpressed Pulis.

Wolves looked comfortable until just before the hour mark, when Kevin Doyle deflected a Robert Huth free-kick into his own net. Then, with 20 minutes left, Peter Crouch bagged the winner, beating Wolves’ ‘keeper Wayne Hennessey from close-range after good work from Matthew Etherington.

The Potters climb to eighth in the table while Wolves now hover just two points above the drop-zone.

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Highlights…

Photos: PA

                          

By Alan Duffy

Manchester United 4-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers – Premier League – 10th December 2011

It may not make up for their Champions League horror-show in midweek, but by comfortably beating Wolves at Old Trafford, Manchester United at least rediscovered some of their attacking verve.

A brace for both Wayne Rooney and Nani gave the home team a convincing win against a Wolves side who struggled at both ends of the pitch.  2-0 down at half-time after a goal a-piece from Rooney and Nani, Mick McCarthy’s side did temporarily get back into the game courtesy of a header from Steven Fletcher on 47 minutes. However, United were soon in control of the game once again, netting two more goals to make it 4-1 with almost half an hour left to play.

Phil Jones impressed once again in midfield for the Red Devils who moved to within two points of league-leaders Manchester City (who play on Monday). Wolves, on the other hand, find themselves just three points clear of the drop-zone.

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Photos: PA