Analysis of Bohemians 0 Wolves 3

Sixty-nine days on from their last Premier League game against Sunderland and Wolves returned to match action in fine fettle.

They were solid, organised, compact, created plenty of chances and, like their swansong against the Black Cats, even played 4-4-2.

England's World Cup failure may have darkened millions of summers.

But at least on the club front Wolves are trying to lift the gloom, after a bright afternoon's work in front of the 300 or so travelling fans in Dublin.

Tight street and stands, old-fashioned floodlight pylons and a large bank of open terracing – albeit condemned - Saturday's opening warm-up game could have been a trip down memory lane.

The way Mick McCarthy's side set about the weakened Irish champions was almost a throwback to those rampaging lower division days of Steve Bull and Andy Mutch in the late 1980s.

Wolves suggested they have returned to pre-season training refreshed and eager to prove last season's survival act was no fluke.

OK, so it was a severely weakened Bohemians side after their 2-0 victory over Sligo Rovers 24 hours earlier.

But clearly the impact of 20 days' training looked like it blown away any cobwebs that had gathered around the Wolves players during their well-earned break.

Jody Craddock certainly has no intentions of standing still and so it proved as he crashed in a bullet header from David Jones' sixth minute corner.

But arguably the most impressive performance came from one of the newcomers.

McCarthy was anxious to talk up the overall competition he now has at left-back on a day when Stephen Ward made an unexpected 18-minute comeback from his knee surgery, just 24 hours after returning to full training against his old club.

But there was no denying the class of the imposing figure at left-back, Jelle van Damme.

Whether he was looking to go forwards – like he did when he slipped in Andy Keogh with a great pass early on – or defend, as he was forced to do at times to repel the tricky Lee Dixon, he did his work with some to spare.

Quick in the tackle, the Belgium international was also strong in the air and brought an air of composure to a position where Wolves didn't always convince last season.

While van Damme took the eye at the back, Steven Fletcher grabbed a debut goal in a busy performance to suggest he could provide McCarthy with a foil for Kevin Doyle, as the manager fielded what looks to be his strongest line-up for the first 72 minutes.

By then it was 2-0 after Fletcher lashed a first-time shot into top corner on 61 minutes, following a neat link-up that saw Andy Keogh find Matt Jarvis in the penalty area to lay the ball back.

Geoffrey Mujangi Bia also showed a glimpse of the potential that has convinced McCarthy to take him for another season.

The tricky winger beat two defenders then exchanged passes with fellow substitute Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, before curling home a fine solo goal to seal a comfortable win with virtually the last kick.

Three goals didn't reflect Wolves' superiority, on a day when neither Wayne Hennessey nor late replacement Aaron McCarey had a serious save to make in goal.

Jones, Jarvis, Fletcher twice, Doyle, who glanced inches side and also had an effort cleared off the line by Jason McGuinness after Fletcher set him up, and Ebanks-Blake could have made it more emphatic for Wolves.

McCarthy said: "I was very pleased. I thought we played well enough for our first game out.

"We've been back in training for three weeks and I think that extra time we've had showed in our performance.

"I thought the players were excellent. There were some nice signs - Fletcher had a couple of efforts but his goal was terrific and Jelle van Damme is a very committed, talented footballer.

"He's a 26-year-old Belgium international who could be playing in the Champions League, but he chose to come to us. I'm delighted with him and he's a good character.

"But he's got some competition. Stephen Ward came back for the last 20 minutes with the bit between his teeth and then there's George Elokobi. None of them are going to give up their place lightly.

"So we're in good shape there."

McCarthy also acknowledged the impact of Mujangi Bia.

He said: "Geoffrey's got something for certain. He's been training really well.

"We had the chances to score more and we kept things fairly tight, which we should do. I thought we played some decent football.

"Jelle got caught with one pass when they headed it over and he was annoyed with himself.

"But as I said to him, we're just starting – we're practising - you don't come back and start like you've been playing for the last six months.

"That's what these games are about. I was pleased with their attitude and the amount of work they all put in and with the shape of the team.

"There were certain things I asked them to do and they did them."

By Tim Nash