Wolves 1, Aston Villa 1: Why Wolves put Aston Villa to shame

Oct 26 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

Carlos Cuellar was not bought as a full-back and although never tested by a winger – Matt Jarvis stayed on the bench – he performed admirably while Stephen Warnock looked comfortable on the opposite flank.

And what of Wolves? Karl Henry, bought for £175,000 from Stoke (equating to a month’s wages for any number of Villa Park employees) is relishing his partnership with Segundo Castillo (season-long loan). They had much the better of Stiliyan Petrov and Sidwell.

Michael Mancienne had better get used to watching from the dug-out as Jody Craddock and Christophe Berra are an outstanding pair, and quite how Ronald Zubar managed to not get a game for three months is anyone’s guess.

Villa have clearly played better but look as if they have to be at full tilt to get results, while there is a feeling that Wolves have got room for improvement.

Michael Kightly is nowhere near sharp enough and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is a shadow of the player of the past two seasons.

Perhaps his late penalty will kick-start things. Andy Keogh can certainly count himself desperately unlucky not to be starting.

As for the game itself, few, if any, would argue that a draw – and a 15th consecutive winless fixture for Wolves against their old foe – was not right and proper.

Gabby Agbonlahor shot poorly at Wayne Hennessey’s near post inside the opening minute following a huge punt from Brad Friedel, but then Richard Dunne should have been penalised for two tugs on Kevin Doyle’s shirt in the box after he mis-kicked an attempted backpass. Villa were more purposeful after the break but Young wasted two chances, one from a superb Petrov pass.

Wolves were lucky to survive when Sidwell’s goalbound shot was blocked by team-mate Dunne but Villa were ahead when Craddock sleepily allowed Agbonlahor to turn and his habit of creating a piece of derby magic continued.

Villa should have shut up shop but weren’t good enough and within minutes Sidwell’s ill-timed, ill-judged lunge on Kightly allowed Ebanks-Blake the opportunity to notch his first of the season from the penalty spot.

The former England Under-21 striker smashed an unstoppable shot high into the roof of the net where Friedel had stood and Molineux erupted.