Finding themselves at the foot of the table at Christmas need not mean the drop. A few seasons back, Wolves were in such a position, with the key distinction that they kicked off on Boxing Day with 10 points rather than a mere two. The current plight represents a case of historic incompetence, the most prolonged defeat streak in club history. The Brentford forward's brace after the interval, compounded by the goalkeeper's stop of Jørgen Strand Larsen’s penalty adding insult to injury, saw them finish fourteen points behind the safety line. A mere trio of clubs have previously lost ten consecutive top-flight games on the bounce. Each of them ended the campaign rock-bottom by season's end.
A Week of Change and Tragedy at Molineux
It had been a week of change and tragedy at Wolves' home ground. The club's chairman, a figure who had drawn fan criticism who recently described relegation as a “technicality”, departed on Friday, replaced by an interim appointee, a temporary successor sharing a surname but no relation. Ahead of the game, a period of quiet reflection was held in memory of Ethan McLeod, the academy prospect and Macclesfield player who lost his life in a traffic collision. A sibling, Conor, a current under-21 squad member, was alongside relatives on the sidelines.
Stripped of assets, plunging to historic lows, there will be no great escapes here.
The Visitor's Crucial Task
While Wolves' situation looks almost hopeless, Brentford’s run of form has given rise to relegation concerns. Securing victory at Molineux was imperative. The Brentford manager had omitted the scorer from the previous match, the experienced midfielder, for the younger legs of Yehor Yarmolyuk as he pursued a much-needed victory after a winless run. His team began in the usual fashion, with a Michael Kayode long throw.
Andrews’ team were having, though not necessarily enjoying, a large portion of the ball. While their typical share is around forty-four percent it rose close to 70%. It does not come naturally.
Wolves' Survival Tactics
In attempting the near-impossible, with the initial target being the eleven-point mark Derby went down with in 2008, Wolves' boss is battening down the hatches, deploying a system that resembles a back five more than a back three. Often seven. As attacking spectacle was scarce, the paying public directed attention to the boardroom, with chants of “Fosun out” and banners declaring “our club” brandished.
Although the visitors dominated the ball, the first stop came from the Brentford keeper, when David Møller Wolfe’s cross nearly took a deflection past him, only briefly lifting the gloom among the home fans. The initial attempt on target did not arrive until the thirty-first minute, with André blasting a free-kick into the wall. That represented the most extended delay for a opening attempt in the Premier League for half a decade. The long throw remained Brentford’s chief creator until, at last, the winger dribbled into the area to force a save from José Sá.
A Second Half of Limited Improvement
Would the latter period offer more than such low-level ambition and application? Ki-Jana Hoover’s aimless clatter of the ball into the stands suggested not, though soon after Sá made a fine reflex save from Kevin Schade’s header, followed by a less convincing fumble of a follow-up attempt.
Hope and noise levels increased during a period of Wolves pressure that was energetic though bereft of quality. Full rancour arrived when the opening goal was netted, after Vitaly Janelt’s chip and a communication breakdown between Ladislav Krejci and Santiago Bueno handed a golden opportunity.
Prior to the goal, Wolves fans, who had long accepted their destiny, sought solace in history, chanting the names of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Rúben Neves, stars from happier, less hopeless times.
Completing the Victory and Inflicting Further Insult
Brentford have an unhappy habit of conceding points from winning positions, and brief optimism flared when a headed chance stayed too high. The Danish midfielder, on as a substitute as the manager looked to solidify the center of the park, might have sealed it from Lewis-Potter’s diagonal. Instead, he, operating on the flank, supplied the second goal, a crisp volley.
Following Kelleher saved on a penalty in the dying moments, awarded for the Irishman’s challenge on Matt Doherty, songs questioning the players' commitment grew louder. Stripped of assets, plunging to historic lows, there will be no great escapes here.
