Wolves lose out to the Millers

Wolves created plenty of first half chances at the New York Stadium but the ball wouldn’t go in the net and after a less effective second half they were punished by a fortunate winner for the hosts. And after their failed pursuit of a number of striking options in the transfer market over the summer, it was perhaps their inability to offer something different up front that was their undoing on the day.

After a quiet opening 15 minutes Rotherham were lucky not to concede when a Sako shot was cleared off the line, the ball rebounded back to the winger whose second shot was also cleared off the line before being cleared at the third attempt. Then Sako got to the line and drilled in a low cross that was scrambled clear.

But then Rotherham also came very close when Taylor turned past Stearman and hit a rising shot that same back off the bar. It had suddenly turned into a lively and feisty game. But Wolves were to go close again when the lively Dicko charged down the keepers clearance and then squared the ball to Van La Parra whose shot was yet again cleared off the line. Then the final close call of the half came when the ball broke to Dicko 30 yards out who hit a first time chip over the keeper and inches wide of the far post.

The second half was nowhere near as lively and we had to wait until more than halfway through the period to see some goalmouth action. Then Sako had three free kicks in dangerous positions. The first was deflected by the wall for a corner and the second went over the bar with the third also hitting the wall.

With quarter of an hour left the home side broke the deadlock after Ikeme had blocked a shot and then it seemed that Edwards attempted clearance was blocked by Taylor with the ball rebounding unto the net. Wolves immediately replaced Sako and Van La Parra with Jacobs and Henry. But the closest Wolves came to an equaliser was from another free kick from a good position which Henry curled over the wall but just wide.

Ikeme – had little to do and could do nothing about the goal 7
Doherty – doing well on his return to the team but a fairly quiet game against a Rotherham team that played quite narrow 7
Batth – solid against a physical Rotherham attack although his distribution occasionally let him down 7
Stearman – did ok but was occasionally outmuscled by the Rotherham frontline 6
Golborne – the pick of the defence on the day 8
McDonald – best player on the field and ran the midfield 9
Evans – Rotherham closed the Wolves midfield down well all over the pitch and he made a number of poor passes through being rushed 5
Van La Parra – not as influential as last week but still looks a decent signing 6
Edwards – gets into the attacking box better than the other midfield players but his contribution in midfield is limited 6
Sako – not his best day and disappointed from free kicks in good positions 6
Dicko – a real handful for the home defence in the first half but struggled to get into the game after the break 7
Jacobs and Henry came on as subs but made little impact

So now we move on to Fulham on Wednesday looking to add to the three points gained so far. I wouldn’t mind seeing Price and Jacobs given a chance there but we shouldn’t over react to one defeat. Wolves season will be more influenced by what happens in the comings and goings in the transfer market in the next fortnight