Dean Saunders recorded his first win as Wolverhampton Wanderers manager at the 10th time of asking to boost the club’s chances of avoiding a disastrous relegation. A sweet strike from David Edwards and a stunning overhead kick from Sylvan Ebanks-Blake sealed the Championship strugglers’ first victory since the former Liverpool striker was appointed in January.
Stunning: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake scored an overhead kick as Wolves won 2-0 at The Den
MATCH FACTS
Millwall: Forde, Adam Smith, Shittu, Beevers, Lowry, Chris Taylor, Wright (Trotter 74), Abdou, Woolford, Marquis (Tyson 46), Afobe (Keogh 12). Subs Not Used: Maik Taylor, Dunne, N'Guessan, Osborne.
Owner Steve Morgan has admitted Wolves, with a £25million wage bill, have no plans for life in English football’s third tier but those well-paid players displayed some much-needed resolve to lift themselves out of the bottom three. Saunders said: ‘It was comfortable. I know what I’m telling them is right because I’ve done it before.
'You just have to keep believing. It was a great goal from Sylvan.’ For Millwall, this was a fourth successive home league defeat and hardly ideal preparation for an FA Cup quarter-final tie against Blackburn Rovers on Sunday. Furious Lions boss Kenny Jackett said: ‘Apologies to the people that paid to watch, we were very poor.’ David Edwards' first goal since August gave the visitors an early lead before Ebanks-Blake's superbly executed volley just after the hour secured a win that moved them out of the drop zone.
Drought: Dean Saunders earned his first win as Wolves manager
Challenge: Roger Johnson tackles Millwall's John Marquis at The Den
Nice, if he can get past fifteen and they stay up that would be an achievement.
I remember man an man on this forum said the youth was a rux baller, yet he is scoring goals in a struggling team. Crystal Palace and Hull put one million pound bids for him in January to try and get them to the Prem, however Wolves turned them down because they know he is crucial to their survival in the Championship.
Two goals in four second-half minutes earned Wolves their first win at Molineux under Dean Saunders, three points that could prove crucial in the battle for npower Championship survival. David Davis scored a freak own goal to give the rock-bottom visitors a first-half lead and the Robins looked on course for their first away win since Sean O'Driscoll took charge. But Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Kevin Doyle converted two Stephen Hunt crosses to earn just their second victory in 2013 and end a seven-game winless run at home.
Crucial strike: Kevin Doyle celebrates scoring what proved to be the match winner for Wolves against Bristol City
Leveller: Sylvain Ebanks-Blake fires home to bring Wolves back on level terms on 76 minutes
Big moment: Sylvain Ebanks-Blake celebrates scoring the equaliser for Wolves
Match Facts
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Ikeme (De Vries 46), Doherty, Johnson, Gorkss, Robinson, Edwards (Sigurdarson 38), O'Hara, Davis, Sako (Hunt 32), Ebanks-Blake, Doyle Substitutes Not Used: Henry, Batth, Doumbia, Foley Scorers: Ebanks-Blake 76, Doyle 78 Bristol City: Heaton, Moloney, Fontaine, Nyatanga, Cunningham, Elliott, Kelly (Kilkenny 85), Skuse, Anderson (Adomah 15), Davies, Pearson (Baldock 81) Substitutes Not Used: Gerken, Howard, James Wilson, Bates Scorer: Davis 25 og Attendance: 21,711 Referee: Geoff Eltringham (Tyne & Wear)
A tense start to the match between teams separated by just goal difference ahead of kick off saw few chances. Steven Davies fired wide after racing clear of the Wolves backline and no-one could get on the end of Doyle's low cross at the other end but the strugglers were cancelling each other out. There was then a delay while the injured Paul Anderson was taken off and replaced by Albert Adomah, who was unlucky not to start the match having shone in the win over Middlesbrough. The deadlock was broken in the 25th minute by one of the strangest goals of the season. Davis returned Ikeme's short goal-kick back to his goalkeeper but the ball went straight through his legs and into the back of the net. It was not a strong backpass but on target - which meant Ikeme's miscontrol proved costly. The shell-shocked Molineux fans saw their side create the next real chance and only a fantastic block from Liam Fontaine denied Doyle the equaliser. But their attempts at a leveller before the break were not helped by two enforced changes, David Edwards and Bakary Sako being replaced by Bjorn Sigurdarson and Stephen Hunt. Adomah, arguably City's man of the match last time out, was next to threaten but his effort was blocked by Roger Johnson. The final chance of the match saw Ebanks-Blake fire over the crossbar with a 20-yard effort after Doyle had knocked the ball into his path.
Opening goal: Bristol City's Marvin Elliott, Liam Kelly and Albert Adomah celebrate the own goal from Davis that put them in front on 25 minutes
Taking a dive: Kevin Doyle goes down with Liam Kelly in close proximity
Bottom of the Championship table
Ikeme, heavily involved in the freak opener, was then withdrawn at the interval by Dean Saunders to be replaced by Dores De Vries. That change meant the former Doncaster boss had used all his three substitutes after just 45 minutes. Doyle, who scored twice when the sides met earlier in the season, had the first chance of the second half after a goalmouth scramble but he fired wide from six yards out. At the other end De Vries was involved for the first time on the hour mark but he made a routine save from Davies' long-range shot.
Options: Dave Edwards looks for a teammate
Eyes on the ball: Kaspars Gorkss heads to a teammate
Four minutes later City had Tom Heaton to thank for keeping their lead intact. The former Cardiff shotstopper pulled off a top-drawer save to keep out Ebanks-Blake's 18-yard effort. Wolves have not won a Championship match this season when conceding the first goal and Sigurdarson in particular was doing his utmost to change that with a number of opportunities. And they drew level with 14 minutes to go when Ebanks-Blake span and volleyed Hunt's pass into the top corner. The game was then turned on its head just four minutes later when another Hunt delivery allowed Doyle to head home a goal at the near post for a goal which could prove priceless for Wolves.
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