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Wolves’ Bakary Sako and Nouha Dicko knock wind out of Middlesbrough Wolves’ Bakary Sako and Nouha Dicko knock wind out of Middlesbrough
(about 1 hour later)
Such is the topsy-turvy nature of this Championship season that Wolverhampton Wanderers can go from mislaying the best defensive record in the country to shipping 11 goals in four games before returning to top form to end Middlesbrough’s seven-game unbeaten run and move within three points of the summit. Such is the topsy-turvy nature of this Championship that Wolverhampton Wanderers can go from mislaying the best defensive record in the country to shipping 11 goals in four games before returning to top form to end Middlesbrough’s seven-game unbeaten run and move within three points of the summit.
Goals from Bakary Sako, from the penalty spot, and Nouha Dicko enabled Kenny Jackett’s team to resume what they trust is normal service with a first win and first clean sheet in five games. Middlesbrough’s only previous defeat since August had been to Liverpool on penalties in the Capital One Cup, but they could have few arguments in this match. Goals from Bakary Sako, with a cheekily dinked penalty, and Nouha Dicko enabled Kenny Jackett’s team to resume what they trust is normal service with a first win and first clean sheet in five games. Aitor Karanka, the Middlesbrough manager, had no complaints with the result. “For me, it’s not important whether it’s a penalty or not,” he said, “because they were better than us and deserved to win the game.”
Sako looked up for the challenge right from the off on a wild and windy night in Wolverhampton and even before scoring for the fourth game in a row, had looked the liveliest player on the field. In only the second minute he ran from the halfway line, after Dicko had robbed Ryan Fredericks, and homed in on goal only to blast his shot wide of the near post. Sako looked up for the challenge on a wild and windy night in right from the off. In the second minute he ran from the halfway line and homed in on goal only to blast his shot wide of the near post. Then he swerved a free-kick from wide on the right that Dimitrios Konstantopoulos tipped over the crossbar before the breakthrough finally arrived.
Then from a free-kick wide on the right he swerved in a devilish shot that Dimitrios Konstantopoulos was grateful to tip over the crossbar before Wolves’ promising start was rewarded. Sako played in Dicko down the inside-right channel and George Friend proved an ally to his former team by tripping the Wolves forward. Sako’s penalty, a hesitant dink, barely reached the back of the net but it proved sufficient to deceive the Middlesbrough goalkeeper. It was Sako who played Dicko in down the inside-right channel and George Friend proved an ally to his former team by tripping the Wolves forward. Sako’s penalty, a delicate chip, barely reached the back of the net. “It’s one of those that if it goes in, you all love him,” Jackett said. “So we all love him.”
Wolves had misplaced a three-goal lead to draw at Millwall on Saturday and the manner in which Jackett’s team threatened to subside in the 10 minutes before half-time was remarkable. Wolves had misplaced a three-goal lead to draw at Millwall on Saturday but the manner in which the home team threatened to subside in the 10 minutes before half-time was remarkable. Jelle Vossen volleyed against the crossbar before Carl Ikeme produced two fine saves in quick succession from Patrick Bamford and Vossen. “We looked nervous on the ball and dropped off,” Jackett said. “You should not get so affected by a scoreline. With forwards pressing and your defenders dropping off, it’s a dangerous combination because you get opened up. We need to be consistent in believing in the way we play but the second half was a very good performance.”
Jelle Vossen mis-hit a volley over Carl Ikeme, the former Middlesbrough loanee, and against the crossbar after Tommy Rowe’s lax clearance ricocheted off Albert Adomah. Then Ikeme had to produce two fine saves in quick succession from Patrick Bamford and Vossen, with the latter’s shot also striking Ethan Ebanks-Landell to prompt loud appeals for a penalty. Wolves got themselves together after the break, Dave Edwards heading James Henry’s perfect centre against the crossbar and the improving Kevin McDonald dispatching two memorable shots, one fizzing just wide and a sumptuous dipping volley kissing the bar.
Wolves improved at the start of the second half and could have made it 2-0 when from James Henry’s perfect centre Dave Edwards headed downwards and up against the crossbar. Encouraged, Kevin McDonald sent one shot fizzing, deflected, just wide before unleashing a sumptuous dipping volley that kissed the bar. It was McDonald who threaded a diagonal through-ball for Dicko to chase before the forward checked back inside and bustled past Ryan Fredericks and Daniel Ayala to smash his fourth goal of the season high into the net.
Then just as Middlesbrough looked to have played their way back into the game, Wolves scored again. McDonald threaded a diagonal through-ball for Dicko to chase before he forced his way past Fredericks and Daniel Ayala and smashed his fourth goal of the season high into the net. Both Dicko, with a dead leg, and Sako, with a groin strain that makes him 50/50 for Saturday’s trip to Leeds United, were withdrawn but by then they had already done their damage.