Joining Mikey Burrows was co-commentator and Wolves Hall of Fame full-back Andy Thompson, as well as legendary Wolves Women defender Claire Hakeman as they analysed the gold and black fighting back from two goals down at Stamford Bridge.
The trio also spoke about getting back on track, coming from behind in a game for just the second time this season and the match-winning impact of Chiquinho off the bench.
On getting out of the rut
Thompson said: “I would hope that there’s been some words said in the changing room by the players as they try to sort things out. The manager’s not here today, but we’ve lost seven of the last 10, which isn’t great.
“We’ve been fortunate that we have amount of points that we have, and that’s given us a gap away from the rest of the teams, but I’m sure a few words have been said, but for me, it’s all about that top end of the pitch. We’ve got to do something better up there, a little bit more care and a little bit more quality.
“These players should be thinking ‘we’ve got to turn things around, we’ve got to get a run going in these last few games’, which are going to be difficult, but it’s all about having a go today, make it as difficult as we can for Chelsea and try and get a result.”
On snatching a point
Hakeman said: “I’m absolutely loving it and grinning from ear to ear. Football is all about those moments – coming back from 2-0 down. It’s two gifts from us, although Jose Sa has been immense all day, made some brilliant saves at crucial times for us, but both goals were gifts for Chelsea and they’re not going to miss those opportunities.
“But to come back into the game, the way we did, it was everything we spoke about before the game. We spoke about wanting to see the desire, we spoke about being up for the battle and the biggest factor for me, was the contributions that came from all over the pitch.
“I thought Boly was immense at the back, the way he carried the ball and the composure he showed, and the face the subs all contributed. They absolutely nailed it today. This is the kind of quality we’ve been waiting to see from Trincao, but today he was immense.
“Coady – after his error of playing the ball out for the second goal, to then step forward and make the first pass to set up that move and then be up the pitch to finish it off, it’s just class. There’s nothing better than a last-minute equaliser.”
On conceding a 10th penalty of the season
Thompson said: “We called it, didn’t we? Even before the referee went to his monitor. The way that Saiss moved his leg when we saw the replay, but you can’t do that. He should’ve dealt with it earlier on and he should’ve just kicked it out.
“You’re coming up against a lad who’s a strong boy and he could have knocked it away, but he didn’t do that. He made it uncomfortable for Saiss and unfortunately, got that penalty by Saiss just moving his leg towards him, rather than him being on the floor.”
Hakeman added: “In my notebook I wrote the word ‘gift’ twice. Where it is, right in the corner of the penalty area, there’s just no need. It would’ve been better to have just let him through because he’s still got quite a lot to do from there, it wasn’t like Lukaku was through on goal and Saiss had to make that challenge. If you can’t see it out, just toe it out for a corner. It was better than giving away a penalty.
“It was a blatant penalty, and I don’t think things like this are helping. We’ve got to stop giving away penalties, especially with silly challenges. It was a little bit naïve from Saiss but the boys battled back to get a point.”
Things you love to see 🤩 pic.twitter.com/qhJr53QaDI
— Wolves (@Wolves) May 8, 2022
On not giving in
Thompson said: “They got into a position where they found themselves 2-0 down and they’d wasted a few chances in the game, but they showed that desire to get in there and get those two goals. Conor Coady’s won that despite there being two or three Chelsea players around him. He just made sure he was winning that header when the ball came in.
“But it’s also about the quality of the delivery and if you’re putting that in there, the players know they can go up and attack it, and that’s why he stayed up there. He knows there isn’t long left in the game, he knows the clocks against them, but what Coady has done is make sure he’s won his team a point.
“He’s made sure they’ve gone away from here with a point, with their heads held high and the fans are happy, because that will feel like a win having conceded those two goals.”
On an attacking Wolves
Hakeman said: “To come to Stamford Bridge and create 14 chances, I think there was only four on target, but it’s just that little factor of us being clinical. Also, the chances might not be falling to the right players.
“Ait-Nouri, Saiss and Dendoncker had our big chances, but we didn’t have big chances for the Netos and the Jimenezs, who you want in those positions, but they all contributed in their own way.
“We’re still talking about us being clinical, but you have to take the positives. One of the things the fans really want to see is that desire in wanting to bounce back and the belief that we could get back into that game, and the players didn’t give up. They kept grinding away until we got the goal, and in between these moments, there were brilliant chances for Chelsea where Jose Sa was making was making brilliant saves.
“It was an absolute battle and a really good game. If you were a neutral, you’d have been happy with that game to watch.”
Thanking the incredible travelling support!
— Wolves (@Wolves) May 8, 2022
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On Chiquinho’s impact
Thompson said: “He looked good when he came on, he looked sharp, he looked direct and he looked like he wanted to get at the Chelsea players. We speak about having players who can drive on and get past players, and he did that when he came on. He’s then hit that all important cross for the equaliser.”
Hakeman added: “He’s making it look easy. He’s someone who you want to gamble on off the bench. I don’t think we’ve seen enough of him to say how he’s going to roll, but the fact he’s so explosive, the fact that he wants to take people on and get on the ball, is excellent to see.
“But he’s also a raw talent who I think we can work with and give us moments that are going to create fantastic potential for us. He’s a great player to have on the bench and someone you look to make an impact.”
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.
