August 2008 Archives

TO put it mildly, Wolves' Carling Cup run ended in unglamorous fashion.

Against League Two opposition, inside the running track of a three-quarters deserted athletics stadium, Mick McCarthy's rejigged team was a shadow of the fluent attacking force that has adorned the Championship this season.

During 120 dreary minutes, it was impossible to distinguish aspiring Premiership side from League Two outfit.

Then came penalties - and Rotherham sealed the passage they deserved.

SYLVAN Ebanks-Blake scored his second goal of the season as Wolves' promising start continued with an impressive win at Ipswich.

Last season's top scorer in the Coca-Cola Championship headed home in the 21st minute from a cross by busy winger Matt Jarvis, before midfielder Dave Edwards made his second consecutive goalscoring appearance as a substitute.

He came off the bench to score the final goal in Wanderers' 4-1 defeat of Sheffield Wednesday last week, and was on the mark again as Mick McCarthy's men made the most of Town being reduced to 10 men midway through the second half when Alex Bruce was dismissed for a two-footed challenge.

NORTHAMPTON Town manager Stuart Gray is targeting Wolves defender Mark Little as a replacement for Gabor Gyepes, who has left the club to join Cardiff.

The 20-year-old made 17 league appearances during a loan spell with Town last season, and is yet to feature in Wolves' first team this season, so McCarthy may agree to a loan proposal from the Cobblers.

"Mark came in here and did very well," Gray said. "I see that Mark hasn't featured in the Wolves side so I know he will probably be getting a bit frustrated.

"The most important thing is if we bring a player in they've got to be better than the ones we've got."

KARL Henry is set to be handed the captain's armband and will lead Wolverhampton Wanderers in the absence of injured defender Jody Craddock tomorrow at Ipswich Town.

Wolverhampton-born Henry was given the job of captaining his home town club last season when former skipper Gary Breen was missing through injury and now his replacement Craddock will be absent for three months after breaking his foot against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend Henry will take on the responsibility once more.

"There's no reason why Karl won't be captain," said manager Mick McCarthy.

MICK McCarthy has called on Chris Iwelumo to help bring out the best in Sam Vokes.

Iwelumo, 30, has made an explosive start to his Molineux career since moving from Charlton in the summer.
The much-travelled striker, now with his 11th club, has scored four goals in his opening three games for the club.

And McCarthy is hoping he will help the deveopment of 18-year-old striker Vokes, who signed from Bournemouth during the summer.

"I've been trying to find someone of Chris' ilk for the last two seasons and never managed to do it," said the Wolves boss.