Wolves 0 Stoke C 0:IF WEST Midlands Constabulary's insistence on a noon kick-off was based on the theory that elements inclined to disruption might still be half asleep, they need not have worried. The most tanked-up hooligan would have been snoring after half an hour yesterday.
It was about that time that the chants of “Boring, boring” first began to issue from the Wolves supporters. Prompted by Stoke’s exclusive reliance on the infamous long throws of Rory Delap as their attacking weapon of choice, it might also have been taken as a comment on the home team, who have now scored one goal in the eight league games they have played at Molineux since Christmas. Playing one up front may have something to do with that, though at least they try to pass the ball.
Highlights were minimal. Delap launched some 25 long throws into the Wolves penalty area and a couple inevitably caused problems. Abdoulaye Faye headed one over the bar, and the big defender had another chance when another throw was only half-cleared, and Robert Huth turned it back into the box. Again Faye nodded the ball too high.
In the second half Mamady Sidibe side-footed over from six yards, Wolves’ best chance came late, Kevin Foley’s volley dipping just wide with five minutes left. After that Glenn Whelan fizzed a decent effort over the bar while Wolves substitute Nenad Milijas curled a free-kick straight at Stoke goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
But neither goalkeeper was required to make a difficult save throughout. Unsurprisingly, the Stoke manager, Tony Pulis, shrugged off the reaction of the Wolves supporters.
“Listen, they cheered when Wolves threw it long and booed when we threw it long. It’s a great weapon for us. The opposition don’t like defending it and we’ll keep using it. The more they don’t like it, the more we’ll use it.”
Mick McCarthy had no problems with it either. “They do what they do well, and we handled it well,” he said.
Stoke are already safe, and Wolves are now six points clear of the relegation zone with four matches to play, but if this is what it takes, the question surely has to be asked whether it is worth it.
