Wolves Fans' Verdict v Chelsea: Proud of a point

Rob Cartwright

What's your verdict on the match? This was a tactical masterclass from Nuno. The team kept their shape and discipline superbly well and defended as a unit. Chelsea have been on a good run recently and we expected them to come at us from the off. They certainly dominated possession but I was so impressed with Wolves resolution here

How many times did Chelsea have to turn and play the ball backwards, as they could find no way through?

We dealt with everything they could throw at us. They hardly played the ball into our box, with the exception of many crosses that were either headed out, or headed for a corner by our defence. To a man they were exceptional.

Their 13 corners (to our none) were also telling. I cannot remember them getting an attempt on goal from one. I do remember Jimenez heading the ball clear a number of times. What a fantastic player he has become, under Nuno.

Chelsea were restricted to just two on target chances. It’s interesting to note that in the 90 minutes, we had both achieved one shot on target. Patricio was only marginally busier than Chelsea’s keeper.

It was a cruel blow, to concede the equaliser in added on time. That said, it was still a good result and in all honesty a fair result.

I do wish Wolves would have been more adventurous with their counter attacking, as Jota and Jimenez had the speed and ball control to cause Chelsea more problems. We also had Traore on the bench who could have given them a scare or two if bought on sooner.

Though I found the game intriguing and very tense my nine-year-old son, who had predicted a 3-1 Wolves win, said the first half was boring. If only he knew...

The equaliser came from a typical Hazard shot from outside the box, following a short corner. It was harsh, as Dendoncker was fouled into giving away the corner.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? To a man, they all did superbly well. No player was below par.

Shout out for Saiss, who stepped into defence and played like he’d been there all season. I thought Neves and Dendoncker worked exceptionally hard breaking up play in the middle. Moutinho didn’t see much of the ball but was helping keep Chelsea out of our box too.

Jota and Jimenez were frustrated by lack of the ball, but when they did get it they caused problems. My man of the match goes to Jimenez, as much for his defending as his forward play and another goal to his tally.

It looked a scrappy goal, with a deflection, but it was six passes from our box before Jimenez got into their box to shoot.

The Wolves section was loud and proud throughout the game. The home fans sat and watched in silence, until the 91st minute. How very reserved they are!

What a week we have to come now – Cheltenham Festival followed by the FA Cup quarter-final. Bring it on.

Chris Hughes

What's your verdict on the match? If you’d offered me a point before the game I’d have been more than happy with it. Looking at the stats, I should still be happy we’ve taken a point. But conceding so late on, when it had looked like we’d resisted everything Chelsea had to throw at us and I was finally going to see us win at Stamford Bridge, was galling.

Still, considering my previous five trips down here have resulted in an aggregate 15-2 score line (and I missed the 6-0 League Cup drubbing!) I should be happy enough to have seen us avoid defeat! It’s also heartening to know we’ll be back next season for another crack at them.

Our performance was one of steely determination and defensive resilience. We had little of the ball but defended deep and with structure that meant Chelsea, for all of their possession, had few clear cut chances.

The one decent break we had resulted in us going ahead through some more excellent link up play between Raúl and Diogo. Four passes between them took them from the centre circle into the penalty area before Raúl’s deflected strike spun up into the air and beyond Kepa to spark some superb away end limbs. From my seat in the second row I could see the agonising look on the keeper’s face as he tried to get back to the ball before it trickled in. Joyous!

As time ticked down it looked like we’d held on to win but it took a moment of inspiration from Hazard to rob us of victory. It was a great strike from an incredible player. Chelsea are going to be in a bit of trouble if their transfer ban sticks and the Belgian decides he’s off to Madrid in the summer. Without him they wouldn’t look anywhere near as dangerous.

On we go to the small matter of next week’s Cup game and trying to knock Ole’s wheels off...

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

What's your verdict on the match? Still unbeaten in London this season and oh-so close to three more points.

A brilliant defensive display as we smothered and blocked every Chelsea attack bar one – the only time we switched off and were punished by the brilliance of Hazard.

With the number of late goals in our favour this season we can hardly complain about this one and it all bodes well for our biggest game in nearly a quarter of a century next weekend.

Great to hear a rousing rendition of The Liquidator before kick off and this seemed to raise the volume levels in the packed away end.

It says a lot about how far we have come under Nuno when we are disappointed with only a point from a trip to Stamford Bridge.

Clive Smith

What's your verdict on the match? We were good yesterday! Hardly one of our favourite hunting ground, but this season we have no fears in London. Three wins and three draws – and this was a stand out performance.

Resilient and disciplined in defence, with barely a hint of panic at any time. We have seen us do that before of course, and we have also seen the pace the top six have and the challenge that presents. To cope so well was hugely impressive.

The first half was a defensive master class. We were under the cosh, deep in our own half, for long periods of time. However, we limited the number of crosses coming into our box by closing down which forced Chelsea to rotate the ball. Shots on goal were scarce and usually anticipated, allowing us to block and stop the ball getting to Patricio.

Keeping possession was often difficult as Chelsea pressed hard, high and in great numbers. We tried to work with the ball but Jota and Jimenez always looked to be well marshalled, with our five in midfield forced to concentrate on being goal side and defending.

The half-time stats would have looked one sided – I suspect Wolves were well ahead with tackles, blocks, interceptions, clearances and headers.

The second half saw Wolves get into more attacking positions. It was still often a case of threading the ball through the eye of a needle to pick out a pass. It was still hugely against the run of play that Wolves scored just before the hour. A Moutinho clearance to halfway saw Jimenez and Jota significantly outnumbered yet they managed to exchange passes and the ball was suddenly in the net. Pandemonium in the away end.

Game on. Bring on the Moody Blues. Cue more defending then and greater urgency from Chelsea and their expensive bench. For the first time we started to concede free-kicks near our box but we managed those successful.

We kept our concentration well. More headers, clearances and blocks, plus a few saves from Patricio, saw us hold firm until the 92nd minute. That nuisance Hazard found a gap and we had to settle for a draw. No disgrace obviously – just a reminder of our progress, being disappointed with just a point away at a top six side.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? In short, everyone played well, no-one had a poor game.

Patricio had some saves to make, mainly in the second half, and he did well.

Otto was closer to being a 100 per cent defender than in any other game this season. Crossing halfway was a rare treat. Doherty struggled to win the ball from goal kicks but was good at supporting our centre halves.

Saiss, Boly and Coady were all superb. Proper defenders all of them. Working hard to contain a very fast and fluent attack. Boly was probably the stand out of the three.

Neves tried so hard to open play up and help us keep the ball. It did not always come off but the intent was good to see.

Moutinho worked tirelessly to break up their possession and help us move forward.

For me Dendonker came of age yesterday. He has been constantly improving since his debut but he was always in the game, working to stop Chelsea attacks and steal the ball from them. Man of the match.

Jimenez showed a mature side of his game. We could have been saying 'he hardly had any service', but he made sure that was not the case. He takes up positions where we can play the ball to him and he held up play really well. His first glance was for Jota but then any midfielder.

Jota supported Jimenez well and was always a threat when we were looking to counter attack.

From the bench Gibbs-White and Traore offered fresh legs for the last 10 minutes.

Adam Virgo

What's your verdict on the match? Looking at the bigger picture, coming away from Stamford Bridge with a point is amazing but to have all three snatched from us late on was gutting. However, Chelsea will feel like they didn’t deserve to lose.

For all the possession they had they didn’t really carve out any clear cut chances where you think it should have resulted in a goal. We defended well all game but a moment of brilliance from Hazard saves them, like he seems to do so much for them.

Our players were really tiring by that point for all the effort they put in off the ball and their short corner caught us off guard a little.

We had one chance all afternoon and we took it which is credit to Jota and Jimenez because on the break, especially in the second half, they were causing problems for David Luiz and Rudiger.

Maybe a bit fortunate in the way it went in but no one cares, 1-0 up at Stamford Bridge and the noise was deafening. Shame the same can’t be said for the Chelsea fans who were silent all afternoon.

The only good thing about Chelsea was the fact they played the liquidator before the game.

The first half seemed to be to just stay in the game going into half time which we did. They had a lot of control but without any real penetration, mainly due to our brilliant defending.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Everyone put an absolute shift in off the ball and the back five, which included Saiss who hasn’t exactly played in defence regularly on that side, were fantastic in dealing with Chelsea’s attack throughout.

A German commentator called Will Billy “König der luft” which stands for ‘King of the air’ – and he really was. Every aerial ball he came out on top, an absolute man mountain.

Neves, Dendoncker and Moutinho off the ball were all fantastic, intercepting the ball in key areas allowing us to break. The only negative was that when we did do it, sometimes we’d be too slow and allow Chelsea to get back into position, more so in the first half as in the second we were a lot more positive in committing players forward.

Patricio’s kicking was actually pretty good I thought, he hit Doherty more often than not from what I remember. That’s not his main aspect anyway, shot stopping is and he did make a few smart saves and claimed the ball a couple of times late in the second half to relieve pressure. Didn’t have any chance with Hazard’s strike.

Jota and Jimenez both full of running all afternoon and it paid off with them both combining again for the opening goal. Fantastic partnership and they bounce off each other so well.

Plenty of positives going into the quarter final FA Cup game against Man United next week and if we do manage to get through, Popworld is going to be heaving.