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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
(35 minutes later)
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.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, 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.” 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 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. Sako looked up for the challenge on a wild and windy night 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.
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.”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 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.” 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.”
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 got themselves together after the interval, 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.
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.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.
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. 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.