Wolves 0 Villa 3

Jul 29 2006 By Paul Berry, Birmingham Mail

MICK McCarthy joked on checking in at Molineux that he was unable to play Merlin the Magician when it came to helping Wolves out of their summer doldrums.

Well even the best from a combination of Paul Daniels, The Great Soprendo and the Lord God himself might not be enough to help Wolves at the present time.

A summer when all the transfer activity was in departures rather than arrivals, including the untimely exit of Glenn Hoddle, has left Wolves in a mess which was nowt to do with McCarthy's making.

But he has been handed the poisoned chalice of formulating some sort of team in barely a fortnight - and on this evidence that's a big big ask.

Meanwhile Villa, a club in turmoil off the pitch - those 'We want Ellis Out' chants are far from going away - have now won three pre-season games against lower league opposition helping themselves to no fewer than 10 goals and conceding absolutely zilch.

Anyone think the players are pining for David OLeary?!

Each and every one of those 10 goals have refreshingly been provided by graduates of Villa's Academy, and once again it was the younger element who led the way in an afternoon when the Premiership side rarely had to click out of first gear.

Liam Ridgewell and Gary Cahill looked determined at the back, Steven Davis and Peter Whittingham buzzed either side of the always-comfortable 'veteran' Gavin McCann, and substitute Gabriel Agbonlahor showed the sort of pace that Wolves could only dream of in handing Jody Craddock and Gary Breen a torrid time.

It was Ridgewell who grabbed the opener, taking advantage of a chasm-like gap in the Wolves defence to exchange passes with Kevin Phillips before slipping the ball under former Villa keeper Michael Oakes.

That was on 32 minutes, and seven minutes after the break it was two, Gareth Barry's quick thinking and perfect delivery ensuring his swiftly-taken free kick bounced in off the post to leave Oakes floundering.

The third was all about Agbonlahor. Taking advantage of Wolves defensive shortcomings by latching onto Barry's ball over the top, the rookie striker showed a clean pair of heels to all who pursued him before giving Oakes no chance with a neat low finish.

Villa also had the best of the game's other chances, Whittingham and Phillips shooting off target in the first half with Breen and Craddock also forced into last-gasp challenges to deny Luke Moore and Cahill.

For Wolves, the first effort on target arrived courtesy of substitute Stephen Gleeson five minutes from time, but there were at least one or two positives for McCarthy amid the general concern.

On an afternoon of worrying injuries for - give or take a letter in spelling - Wolves and Villa's young Davies's, Molineux fan and trialist Karl Henry did more than enough to suggest he can plug the gap which may be left by his fellow Wulfrunian Mark.

Kevin O'Connor and Lewis Gobern also remained unfazed by their illustrious company, and Denes Rosa continues to suggest he could well provide Wolves most potent threat when Championship hostilities get underway in five days time.

It is perhaps ironic that just as Wolves appear to have found themselves a decent manager, McCarthy faces a race against time just to get himself a team sorted to set off on the gruelling Championship journey at Plymouth on Saturday.

Meanwhile Villa, for all the managerial and takeover speculation, and despite missing a clutch of regular first-teamers, are at least coasting through pre-season on the pitch with barely a whimper.

Trouble is they won't face any easier challenges than this Wolves side in the unforgiving glare of the Premiership, and as they head off for their final preparations in Germany and Holland later this week the continuing instability can't be doing anyone any favours.

So while McCarthy may be well in need of that magic wand as he sets about what seems almost an impossible job, a spot of magic dust to bring a successful conclusion to the managerial and ownership situation at Villa wouldn't go amiss either.

WOLVES (4-4-1-1): Oakes; Edwards (Little 57), Craddock, Breen, Naylor (Clyde 57); Gobern (Bothroyd 45), O'Connor (Gleeson 85), Davies (Henry 8), Ricketts; Rosa; Bull (Cort 5, Finkler 74).
VILLA (4-4-2): Taylor; Hughes, Cahill, Ridgewell, Bouma; Davis (Gardner 42), Whittingham, McCann (Green 82), Barry (Samuel 66); Moore, Phillips (Agbonlahor 62).