Source: Telegraph
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 Stoke City 0: match report
Wolverhampton Wanderers sustained their end of season improvement by taking their recent run to just one defeat in the last six games as they secured a further point to enhance their Premier League survival chances. [LNB]However, entertainment was hardly a priority at Molineux where Stoke's greater physical presence enabled them to muscle the home side out of their more orthodox footballing stride. [LNB]Liverpool v Aston Villa previewStoke have the trademark long throws of Rory Delap to thank for their first half domination, although it was a ploy greeted with disdain by home supporters. [LNB]Yet while the Wolves' followers dirided, as "boring, boring" the predictable Stoke set plays, there was little genuine conviction to be had from their own team. [LNB]Playing with just a lone striker, Kevin Doyle, it is little wonder Wolves have delivered a feeble 10 goals in 18 encounters at home this season. How boring is that? [LNB]They, too, passed without real purpose thus falling easy prey to the visitors who were able to get men back quickly and defend in depth. [LNB]Such was Stoke's monopoly that even defender Abdoulaye Faye was given the opportunity to abandon defensive duties to three times threaten the home goal with headed attempts that narrowly missed the target. [LNB]Right-back Robert Huth joined in as well although he, too, failed with a header as Wolves struggled to contain the aerial bombardment supplied by Delap. [LNB]Wolves had little to offer in return, David Jones kicking fresh air when Kevin Foley crossed from the right. Matt Jarvis then failed when he required too much time, having been offered a possible shooting opportunity. [LNB]Indeed it was eight minutes into the second half when the first genuine opening of a depressing encounter was created. [LNB]It fell to Mamady Sidibe but the Stoke striker finished wretchedly from close in when Danny Higginbotham's cross from the left dipped over the head of Dave Kitson. [LNB]Two powerful long range Glenn Whelan attempts concluded an instantly forgettable Staffordshire derby. [LNB]
