Wolverhampton 3-1 Blackburn: Match Report

30 August 2014 16:31
Wolverhampton 3-1 Blackburn: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game as it happened.


Wolves duo sink Rovers

Wolves impressive attacking duo of Nouha Dicko and Bakary Sako combined to ensure that the team celebrated 125 years of league football at Molineux in style with a 3-1 Skybet Championship win over Blackburn Rovers.

Dicko opened the scoring before Sako helped himself to a double as Kenny Jackett's side collected their fourth win from five games in the match the club had earmarked to commemorate the landmark.

The duo put Wolves two goals ahead before Jordan Rhodes gave Blackburn a lifeline from the penalty spot, but his side could not build on that with Sako sealing his brace to sentence Blackburn to a second defeat in three games.

Wolves broke the deadlock after just 13 minutes thanks to the persistence of Sako, who refused to let Lee Williamson settle on the ball and charged down his clearance.

When Sako found Kevin McDonald in space just outside the penalty area, the Scotsman floated in a cross that Dicko deftly headed just inside Paul Robinson's near post.

But Wolves' advantage would have been short-lived if it had not been for the alertness of goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.

Just two minutes after Dicko had made the breakthrough, Ikeme threw himself to his right hand side to spectacularly palm away a rebound off Ben Marshall after he had blocked a clearance from Danny Batth.

Marshall was cursing Ikeme again 11 minutes later when he pushed his 25 yard free-kick around the post.

The value of Ikeme's heroics then became fully apparent when Sako doubled Wolves advantage with a powerful piece of finishing in the 33rd minute.

After Wolves won a free-kick when Marshall fouled Dave Edwards on the right hand edge of the Blackburn penalty area, Sako whipped a curling drive through the crowded goalmouth and past the stranded Robinson.

Former England international Robinson had to be alert at the start of the second-half to ensure that Blackburn were not swept completely out of sight when he did well to deny Matt Doherty from close range before being relieved to see the right-back's second effort flash just past the post.

Blackburn were toiling to find a route back into the game but got one when referee Keith Stroud pointed to the spot after ruling that Rhodes had been fouled by Batth in the 59th minute.

Rhodes, who had last week been the target of an unsuccessful B#10m bid from Hull City, calmly sent Ikeme the wrong way from the spot to grab his second goal in two games.

While Blackburn then enjoyed a little purple patch of possession, Wolves still carried the greater threat in attack as they showed when Dicko and Sako combined to make the game safe in the 68th minute.

Dicko broke clear down the right wing and delivered a cross that Sako side footed past Robinson from 12 yards.


Source: PA