Swansea 3 Wolves 1 - analysis

We knew even before this that Wolves weren't infallible – even at their best.

But when an injury-ravaged line-up suffer as much as they did on Saturday, you know it's time for a break.

Like an exhausted participant in this weekend's Great North Run with the finishing line in sight, Wolves are desperate for a rest.

Fitness, as we have seen, isn't a problem as Wolves have already shown in swatting away numerous teams like flies. Injuries and form are something less quantifiable.

The signs were numerous – consider Wayne Hennessey, taken out of the firing line for being 'jaded', according to manager Mick McCarthy.

Take the seven casualties of the eight players unavailable for this clash, the 'stodginess' of the Wolves midfield that gave Swansea too much freedom of the Liberty Stadium, or even the ring-rustiness that plagued debutants Carlos Edwards and George Friend.

The end result is Wolves bear something of a ragged look at the moment and this international break can't come soon enough.

Certainly not for McCarthy, who is fast running out of options. Or his crestfallen players, now falling as regularly as share prices.

With the swashbuckling 'front four' of Michael Kightly, Chris Iwelumo, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Matt Jarvis all unavailable for this test, it was hardly surprising that Wolves lacked punch in attack.

Imagine Manchester United having to cope without Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez.

In the likes of George Elokobi, Jody Craddock and Michael Gray – who was declared sick on the day of the game – and you can see why they struggled.

Of course, the more savage of Wolves' critics will say that's what having a squad is all about –the strength in depth should be there.

Well, you can wager that strength is there, but, for whatever reason, those players failed to show it on Saturday.

In a far cry from the electric start that saw Ebanks-Blake open the scoring against Crystal Palace 19 days earlier, Wolves were collectively sloppy as they conceded a 25 second opener from Jordi Gomez.

Elsewhere, Wolves' five-man midfield were always slightly off the pace set by Swansea, reinforced by the ease in which Gomez threaded through Jason Scotland for the second goal deflected up and over Carl Ikeme.

If the midfield was slow to react, then McCarthy had a point saying the defence was off the pace as they should have pushed up for offside.

Carlos Edwards underlined why his Sunderland boss Roy Keane warned the winger may take a few games to get into his stride.

Dave Edwards was brushed off the ball far too easily by Scotland for Swansea's third goal.

By the time, they face Coventry and Freddy Eastwood in 12 days' time, the picture should be much rosier, however.

Kightly, Iwelumo and Ebanks-Blake should all be back and, such has been the devastating impact of the trio along with Matt Jarvis this season that it will be a shock if their return doesn't make a massive difference.

The remnants of McCarthy's injury-ravaged squad – which included 17-year-old scholar Ashley Hemmings on the bench – were a poor match for a free-flowing Swansea side who outplayed and out-thought Wolves for much of this spiky, rain-soaked encounter, but didn't out-fight them.

In fairness to Wolves, they never gave up, and they continued to show commendable spirit.

Spirit alone can only get you so far, and Wolves never matched Swansea in the quality stakes, prompting the conclusion that Roberto Martinez's side must rank as the best footballing side they have faced this season.

If some fans have dubbed Wolves the Manchester United of this division for their power play and goals, it's little wonder the Swans have taken Albion's tag as 'the Arsenal of the Championship' in this corner of south Wales.

Former Walsall midfielder Martinez has built a team of easy-on-the-eye footballers who know how to keep possession for long periods – and in dreadlocked powerhouse up front, Scotland, possess a considerable attacking spearhead.

Wolves, for whom the improved Andy Keogh ploughed a lone furrow up front until the 52nd minute arrival of Sam Vokes, were left chasing the pretty patterns woven by the white shirts dancing around them.

In reverting to the 4-5-1 formation deployed at times last season, Wolves more or less matched up with Swansea's fluid system.

Apart from the neat passing move between Dave Jones, Dave Edwards and Keogh that saw the latter gallop through for the 16th minute equaliser, there was precious little evidence of their table-topping ability.

Although Wolves had a decent 15-minute spell after their equaliser, Swansea were good value for their 2-1 interval lead.

Scotland was denied by Kevin Foley's second successive goalline clearance following a woeful backpass from Friend.

Mark Gower had a curling effort correctly ruled out for offside as the marginally offside Gomez ran over the ball, while Scotland also headed against the bar.

At 2-1, the game was evenly poised, but the next goal was crucial – and, despite their difficulties – it could so easily have gone to Wolves.

First, Keogh lobbed tamely at keeper Dorus de Vries from Friend's astute pass just before the break.

Then Vokes, whose three goals have all come off the bench this season, went desperately close to his fourth when his point-blank volley from Foley's cross hit the legs of de Vries within seconds of his arrival.

Instead, Swansea seized the initiative five minutes later on 57 as Scotland brushed aside Dave Edwards and rifled past Ikeme from 20 yards.

Although the again-impressive Richard Stearman had a header nodded off the line, there was no way back for Wolves.

In truth, Swansea could have had more as the game, like the heavens, opened up.

Only Stearman's flicked header put off Scotland from completing his hat-trick, while Gower's powerful drive was parried by Ikeme.

As McCarthy says, if this is a crisis, then bring on more of them. Seven wins and a draw out of nine still represents an excellent start.

It's worth considering every promoted team has some sort of blip during the season.

Let's hope this is Wolves' one.