Wolves Fans' Verdict v Shrewsbury: Phew!

Rob Cartwright

What's your verdict on the match? This was your typical FA Cup tie. A throwback to the old days, with the chance of an upset, the locals were out in force together with the TV, radio and press.

The atmosphere outside the stadium was relaxed and cordial. It was different inside though. More frenzied and hostile.

I was happy with the starting XI and pleased to see another academy lad get his first team debut. Giles can be pleased with his contribution.

The first half was rather poor with both teams cancelling each other out and not much for either keeper to do. Ruddy making the best save from long range. I was concerned that our midfield were not getting a grip on the game. The pitch felt short and narrow meaning wing backs and Traore were only dealing with scraps.

The second half could not have been more different. It turned into a very entertaining game.

It was Gibbs-White who gave the ball away, just outside our own box. Shrewsbury broke quickly and when Docherty ran into the box it was Gibbs-White who really should have stopped him shooting. A deflection off Saiss left Ruddy helpless and it was very much “game on”.

Costa had the chance to score almost immediately when Doherty found him free in the six yard box. He headed well but straight to the keeper.

The time wasting from this point was very frustrating. Players were feigning injury and their goalkeeper in particular was taking every opportunity to wind the clock down. I do not consider this to be good “game management” with 40 minutes still to go. Indeed, the ref spoke to the Shrewsbury captain about this, but it made no difference.

It was clear that there would be considerable added time.

Nuno made his first sub after an hour. These were to impact greatly – Jimenez nearly scored with his first touch and probably should have done better.

It would get worse before it got better. Not sure how Neves ends up marking Waterfall at a corner. The script was written for the tallest man on the pitch to head into the net. The upset was now on.

Bottles were hurled into the Wolves end by the generous locals who thought we may be in need of a drink! Looking at my fellow supporters, that was the last thing most needed!!

Nuno has other thoughts and sent Cavaleiro on. Within minutes he sent their Docherty dizzy taking the ball back and forth four times before getting the cross into Jimenez. He didn’t miss this time.

We now had more energy and were playing well and creating chances. This had become a really good cup tie.

It was three minutes into added time when, this time, Traore went down the right side at speed, he got past the defenders and passed perfectly for Doherty to head into the net from a packed box. It was nothing more than we deserved. I was still hopeful that we could get a winner too.

We had to settle for the draw. This was a banana skin game. We got out of jail only in terms of the lateness of the equaliser. We played well in the second half, but for a couple of lapses.

The tie is not won yet though – just ask Stoke!

Who played well – and who didn't impress? We have a small squad and, on this showing, lack the depth of quality needed.

Gibbs-White and Costa did little to suggest they should start in league games, both having little impact in this one. Cavaleiro must now be above Costa in the pecking order.

Giles can be pleased with his debut, though Cavaleiro had a greater impact in his 17 minutes.

Neves was the pick of our midfield. The defence do not look confident at set pieces with or without Boly. I’m surprised this has not been sorted, at this stage of the season.

Jimenez was excellent. He is so important with his energy, link play and sensible runs. Traore played very well. Good for him to get a full game. He worked hard, got lots of the ball and made some good crosses, including the assist for the equaliser.

Man of the match was Doherty, his all-round play was good. He contributed defensively and in attack. He linked well with Traore on occasions and got the vital goal.

I’m so pleased to be in the draw for round five. Looking at some of the results we can dream the unthinkable.

Adam Virgo

What's your verdict on the match? From the position we found ourselves in being 2-0 down, getting a draw showed great belief and character once again from the players. However, being 2-0 down in itself against League One opposition isn’t good enough.

No one can really blame Nuno for the changes he made and personally I think the team he sent out was more than strong enough to beat Shrewsbury.

The first half was a poor game of football, we had the better chance(s) but Shrewsbury were looking a threat from set pieces.

Adama should have hit the target after good work from Doherty. Costa also had a chance when Adama played him in but his first touch was awful, although he did look to be fouled in the box.

Just like Leicester, we conceded pretty much straight after the second half kicked off. Neves misjudged the ball allowing Fejiri Okenabirhie to run at our defence unchallenged and play in Greg Docherty who somehow beat Ruddy from an angle he should never score from.

Yes it took a slight deflection but the direction of the ball barely changed and Ruddy has to save it. From that angle and where Docherty was, Ruddy should not be getting beaten.

Huge chance at 1-0 for us with Costa’s header being well saved by Arnold. At first I thought he should have done a lot better but watching it back, it was a very good save in all fairness.

It was frustrating how it took us to go 1-0 down to even pick up the pace of our play and show some urgency. The players should have done that in the first place because going 1-0 down in the FA Cup away from home against lower league opposition is always tough.

Then for some unknown reason, Neves had the job of marking Luke Waterfall off a corner which is baffling and of course he has a simple job of heading it in. Ruddy could have maybe came out for it because it was close to the goal but even so, one of our central defenders should have marked the goalscorer.

Cavaleiro deserves a lot of appreciation for the first goal. Twisting and turning his man about three times to get a good bit of space to whip a ball in and then the saviour that is Raul Jimenez volleyed in nicely. Game on and we’re all praying we get the equaliser, especially to laugh at the Shrewsbury fans who ran on the pitch at 2-0 and acting like the game was already won.

Isn’t it crazy how when Adama Traore plays in his actual position, he looks so much better and a major threat. No full/wing back can deal with him and every time he had the ball he beat his man and tried to make something happen. It finally paid off in the 93rd minute, perfect delivery and Doherty steams in to nod it home (all sounds a bit familiar that part). Scenes after another injury time goal.

I don’t understand how anyone can argue against six minutes being added on. The Shrewsbury goalkeeper wasted so much time on goal kicks, one of their players went down injured and took an age to go off after he was subbed, plus there were three goals in the second half before the board was put up.

All to play for in the replay and with the likes of West Ham, Arsenal and Everton all going out, we’ve got a huge chance of getting further providing we beat Shrewsbury and get a favourable draw. At home we should in all honesty but it’s never quite as simple as that.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Doherty was probably our best player. He got into some great positions down the right, getting to the byline and trying to create something. Popped up with a late goal again, this time to earn us a replay against Shrewsbury. He was constantly trying to go forward, especially in the latter stages he was getting in the box a lot and eventually it paid off after a good cross from Traore.

Adama had a good game I thought. Even as a striker he was trying his best and he wanted the ball constantly, didn’t shy away like his strike partner Helder Costa. Traore looked even better when we switched to a 3-4-3 and in the right wing position, he beat their wing back constantly that at one time, three players had to go and try stop him.

No idea why I saw Traore getting scape-goated again when he did well. The price tag isn’t his fault and it’s like if he doesn’t beat seven players, rainbow flick the goalkeeper and then produce a no-look finish, he’s had a bad game according to certain fans.

At one point he hit a strike powerful but way off target when Costa was free down the left but thinking about it, I wouldn’t have passed to him either with the game he was having.

Neves will come across as having a bad day due to their goals but if you look at the game as a whole, he played well. First half defensively he was solid and he was reading the play better than anyone, making a few important interceptions. He also had the most touches on the entire pitch and controlled the midfield for large parts, especially due to the fact we had 66 per cent possession.

Yes he made an error for the first goal, very unlike him but no way can he be blamed when the shot should have been saved and the three centre backs could have done more when Okenabirhie ran at them with the ball. Second goal, he shouldn’t be marking Waterfall and he had no chance of winning the header.

Raul Jimenez is so integral to us and we look far better as a team when he’s playing compared to when he isn’t. If anyone says he’s not worth the £35m then I’d love to know who they want for the same price who can do what Jimenez does but better. Played well again yesterday and another goal to his tally.

If anyone out there still thinks Ruddy is better than Patricio then you’re deluded. It’s not even a debate we should be having but it’s getting to a point where I cannot deal with how uneducated some people are. Their careers speak for themselves so I haven’t even got to bring that up and people can tell me about Rui’s kicking all they want but it’s not as if Ruddy can kick like Ederson. It’s aspect of a keeper’s game and it’s not even the most important, saving the ball is and Ruddy was at major fault yesterday for the first goal.

His attempt to save the ball was like someone in goal on 'pro clubs' (a game mode on FIFA for anyone who doesn’t know) who has never played there before. Patricio had a much more difficult one against Leicester from Harvey Barnes last week at his near post, the ball was smashed above him and he managed to tip it over.

Helder Costa has pretty much played himself into a move in the summer. We’re playing a League One side and he acts like a ghost. Whenever he got the ball his first touch may as well have been classed as an unsuccessful pass. It was like he’s forgotten how to run and play football. I personally think ever since he had that injury he’s not been the same player but you can’t use that excuse forever. For where the club wants to be, he isn’t good enough.

I love the guy and I know a lot of fans do but there comes a point where you need to be realistic and it’s baffling how he’s made the most appearances out of all our wingers this season when he’s been the worst in terms of performances. I wish we could have the 2016/17 Costa back, that’d be perfect but he looks shot of confidence and a lot of his performances this season have been worryingly poor.

Great to see Ryan Giles get a chance. Don’t think he did badly but he didn’t do anything special either. I think Nuno will play him again in the replay and with the squad we have, that’s understandable although if Vinagre doesn’t play against Everton next Saturday then maybe he’ll take his place.

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

What's your verdict on the match? Not our best performance of the season and in many ways a carbon copy of Nuno's first game in charge – an away defeat at Shrewsbury in a pre-season friendly.

Yes the pitch was difficult and the weather atrocious but Shrewsbury brought lower league fight and determination to make life so difficult for us.

Certain players had nightmares but the team as a whole stuck at it and Traore proved far more effective as a wide player crossing for man of the match Matt Doherty to score another late face-saver.

Again this says much of how the team has grown and, whether it is improved fitness or just never say die belief, we hit what I believe to be our fifth injury time goal of the season.

In the hat, pride just intact and the dream stays alive.

Clive Smith

What's your verdict on the match? We live to fight another day. Phew.

That looked very unlikely when their second goal went in with just 20 minutes to go.

Nuno had changed the team, with last week's front two missing, and it clearly showed. With no Otto – and Boly still unavailable – our depth of squad was, not in a good way, shown up. It did however provide some game time for Giles, MGW and Dendonker, with mixed results.

Overall, the first half was a pretty grim watch. Most of our possession was from box to box with far too few excursions into their penalty area. The positives came exclusively down our right side. Traore looked a threat, but was crowded out or fouled well away from the box.

He linked up well with Doherty who looked on a one-man mission to win the game. He had one decent effort, got to the byline a couple of times, and teed Traore up from close range that should have brought the opening goal.

Down the left Costa and MGW were offering next to nothing. Barely a challenge between them, second to the ball and losing possession far too easily and often.

Shrewsbury were predictable in their game plan – physical, quick to the tackle and attacked mainly via set pieces. They certainly showed more energy than we did, sensing that a cup shock was a realistic possibility.

Much of the crowd were still under the stands from half time when MGW lost the ball and we got caught out by their breakaway. The goal gave them even more reason to fight and work hard while we had to change things – attitude, approach and Jimenez for Dendonker, surprisingly.

Things became worse when we conceded from a corner and 2-0 with 20 minutes left looked a hopeless position. Cavaleiro came on and had an instant impact. Jimenez had failed to make sufficient contact from a left wing cross, but from the right, Cavaleiro played him in perfectly.

From then on we threw everything we could at them. A stream of corners an improved tempo and more quality from Cavaleiro and Jimenez meant we started to look much the better team. We found an extra yard of pace, or maybe they had lost a yard, as the home side became more desperate. The clock was our enemy as it was fast running out. Traore had drifted wider following the arrival of Jimenez. He found more space out there and his pace continued to offer us hope.

With half of the added time gone he crossed perfectly for Doherty to head home and secure us a replay. A deserved goal that demonstrates our never say die attitude.

So we have an extra game to play. I would be happy with four or five extra games to play. It will be good training for future seasons in Europe!

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Ruddy caught the ball and distributed it well. He didn't really have many shots on target to save.

Giles showed some promise. He put over a lovely cross for Jimenez late on, but he had little joy in the first half as the ball went down the other flank.

Doherty was on fire throughout the game. His attitude was spot on. Man of the match even before his equaliser. Plenty of dribbles and one-twos in the final third.

Saiss looked more comfortable as the ball was in the air more than last week. Tried to play the ball out, but rarely had anyone other than Neves in space to pass to.

Coady and Bennett were below par with their passing but did well enough defending.

Passing to Neves is never a bad option, he was the one player who always had enough time to control and pass the ball. Too often this was deep in our half making it hard to be able to spring a forward free.

Gibbs-White had a poor game. Often caught in possession his confidence seems to have taken a knock. All his passes were then 'safe' and unproductive.

Again it took a while for Dendoncker to get into the game. Once he did, he worked hard doing the dirty stuff in midfield and linked up well with Traore and Doherty.

Frankly it was amazing Costa stayed on for the 96 minutes. He had a good chance to make an impact, but wasted his header. Nuno must have seen something in him that no other Wolves fan could. We know he is a much better player than he showed yesterday.

Traore did well. He attracted defenders like bees round a honey pot but often got the better of them. Prior to the last twenty minutes this was usually near halfway, but he looked dangerous on the ball and stepped up even more at the end. A great assist. He should have done better with a couple of shots which were off target.

From the bench Jimenez helped turn the game our way. We changed our formation at that point and were better for it.

Cavaleiro came on after we had 'lost it' at 2-0 and played a typical cameo role. If he could play like that for ninety minutes he would start most week's. Not everything he tried came off, but his positive approach in the final third just made things happen.

Moutinho provided some neat control and quality passing just when it was needed.