Joining Mikey Burrows was co-commentator and Wolves Hall of Fame full-back Andy Thompson, as well as former gold and black striker Chris Iwelumo as they analysed the point at Molineux in the final match ahead of Christmas.
The trio also spoke about taking the top teams in the Premier League all the way and the job of Bruno Lage finding the balance between defence and attack.
On taking on the top Premier League sides
Thompson said: “We saw at the Liverpool and Manchester City games where we got done by the odd goal, but what we’ve got to do is go out there and kill teams off. I said that against Brighton, where we’ve got to make sure we take our opportunities.
“Chelsea have come, and I’ve heard rumours they wanted to have the game called off because of Covid and it hasn’t happened, but it’s a good time to play them as they’ve got quite a few players missing.
“I’ve said it before that they have one of the best squads in the league, but the way that we’ve played, the way that we’ve gone against teams, we’ve done alright against them, we’ve played well, we’ve held our own, but it’s about being clinical. Against these top boys, you’ve got to be clinical and take your chances.”
On being tight at the back
Thompson said: “We haven’t been conceding goals. Is it just the 14 goals they’ve conceded in the games so far this season?
“That just shows you that we’ve got a good structure about what to do and how you’re going to play. It gives you a good opportunity to win games.
“If you can defend and if you can keep teams out, make it tight, make it difficult for them to get anything from you, you know you’re going to give yourself a chance.
A 150th Wolves appearance for @AdamaTrd37 on the weekend.
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 20, 2021
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On holding out for a point
Iwelumo said: “First and foremost, I have to say it was an excellent point. In the first-half, we were very in the game and we probably had the better of it. There are no excuses, Chelsea were the better team in the second-half, they dominated it and had the chances, but everyone put in a fantastic shift.
“Even Jose Sa, with the fantastic save, everyone did their bit today and it was an excellent point. Albeit was going to be a difficult time, a busy period, so hopefully the games can come thick and fast and this performance is something they can build on.
“There was some great performances, some great relationships were grown and the only thing that was missing was that final little bit of quality, if we’re being overly critical. The chances we created in the first-half could have won us the game.
“Chelsea had the better of it, but if we had a 1-0 going into the end of the game, then they’d have to throw everything at it.”
On the lack of goals
Iwelumo said: “You look at where the goals are coming from, and I don’t think it’s just on the strikers or offensive players to have that responsibility of scoring goals, it should come from all over.
“The likes of Saiss stepping up and getting goals – that’s what it’s all about. I think they can take a lot from the first-half performance today when there were some fantastic opportunities, such as the Dendoncker header.
“You’re creating that against one of the best defences in the Premier League, one of the best teams in the Premier League, so that quality needs to be consistent. But it’s about progression now. It’s about being more adventurous when attacking and everyone knowing positioning-wise and defensively what they’re responsibilities are.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve got to go out there and spend money on new players, we’ve got midfielder who can see that pass and create, we’ve got good quality coming in from wide areas, but it has to consistently be at the level that it was in the first-half today, because at other times, it’s been poor.”
Gaffer. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/cHbwnvFuKc
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 20, 2021
On Lage’s task to find the balance
Iwelumo said: “Finding that balance between attack and defence is a difficult job for a manager, and he’s learning on the job at the moment. We can definitely see what he’s brought, there’s a defined style of football and we’re happy with it.
“If you said we’d be where we are right now before a ball was kicked at the start of the season, everyone would have snapped your hand off for it because it’s been outstanding, and I’m delighted for the boys today.”
Thompson added: “You can see that they players are tireless in the way that they work and the way they defend. You can see they’ve worked hard on making sure they’re in certain areas when the ball is played forward.
“But I’ve said I’d rather have a team who defends well and gives you an opportunity to go forward – ok, in the second-half it wasn’t great and the first-half was a lot better – but if you’ve got a team who doesn’t give much away, doesn’t concede much, you know sooner or later, if you can just get that balance right, you can build in that. If you can keep teams out, it always give you a chance.”
You can watch Matchday Live Extra 30 minutes before every Wolves kick-off this season, on Twitter and on Wolves TV, before heading over to the Wolves App following full-time for all the post-match reaction.
