To me, this was a game where I wasn't expecting a result, but a performance to at least make up for the previous game against Wigan. However, I did not foresee us playing Liverpool off the pitch at Anfield! And to me, that is exactly what we did.
We went there with a game plan, and it worked perfectly. We pressed them high up the pitch, never allowing them any space and despite what I thought was a lightweight midfield we won the battle in the middle. In Kevin Foley and Nenad Milijas, we have two excellent footballers with football brain who can also defend. For me, Milijas was the best player on the park. He outshone Steven Gerrard in the middle, producing breathtaking passes and crucial strong tackles.
Although I still believe we need to sign a centre back, both of our central defenders were excellent. They never once looked in trouble and Stearman in particular was one of the obvious choices for man of the match. There were no silly mistakes from him, and after Hennessey's save from Meireles he did superbly to follow it in and clear the ball.
And then, there were the forwards. It was fitting that Stephen Ward would get the winner after just over a year ago being harshly sent off at the same ground. I loved Mick's quote about Reina:
“The sending off last year was disgraceful – I didn’t think it was a particularly bad foul on Lucas,” said McCarthy.
“Pepe Reina ran 70-odd yards to get involved and get him sent off but he was going anyway so it wasn’t needed.
“If he recognised Wardy’s face bearing down on him and sticking the ball past him for the winner then I’m delighted.”
Ward put in a good all round performance, and after the first twenty minutes grew in confident. Alongside him, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake put in a as good a performance I've seen from a Wolves striker this season. He has learnt to hold it up brilliantly, and his tireless work is being rewarded. He's set up our last two winners and scored the third against Sunderland.
Hennessey - 7
Zubar - 6
Stearman - 8
Berra - 7
Elokobi - 7
Jarvis - 7
Foley - 7
Milijas - 9
Hunt - 7
Ward - 8
Ebanks-Blake - 8
If we can go to West Ham and put in a similar performance, we could go into the Chelsea game on the back of two wins and who knows what could happen?
Who was your man of the match?
