Wolves Fans' Verdict v Cardiff: Never seen anything like it

Rob Cartwright

What's your verdict on the match? It’s the season that just keeps on giving. I’ve never seen a match like this before, ever.

Step forward Nuno. Step forward Ruben Neves. Step forward John Ruddy; in fact, step forward the whole Wolves team and 3,000 fans who made this one special night.

Warnock? You can sit down and take Greg Harford and Danny Gabbidon with you.

We’ve seen some fantastic away games this season. Bristol City and Middlesbrough were right up there, but the drama at the end of this one tops them all.

Nuno sprang a surprise with four changes. Not once did I think we would not win this game. Well, apart from when the second penalty was given in the 96th minute!

We dominated this game until the 75th minute. The gulf in class between first and second was longer than the Severn Bridge.

It was the tactical genius of Nuno and his impact substitutions, against the prehistoric lump it forward and hope tactics of Warnock. Cardiff threw everything at us, but it was Colin who threw his dummy out at the final whistle.

Like a talisman, as Cavaleiro entered play on 76 minutes, I along with everyone packed in the corner of the stadium knew a Wolves goal was coming.

It was a premonition, that Neves was going to score and he didn’t let us down.

The game management from that point was exceptional. Wolves had a genius in the dugout and 11 leaders all on the pitch.

No problem with the first penalty. I knew Ruddy would save that.

I do have issue with the second penalty. The challenge appeared to be outside the area. There was also no need to jump in there...I thought I was going to pass out.

With 14 seconds left, Cardiff had a get out of jail card and they always score late in games, don’t they?

Cue the wild celebrations, the like we haven’t seen since Reading away in 2003.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Neves came back refreshed and put in a class performance. There were a number of 9/10 performances from the men in old gold. Ruddy, Coady, Boly, Bennett, Doherty and Afobe were all excellent.

Jota and Bonatini had an off day and surprisingly, so did Douglas.

The substitutions made by Nuno were excellent and ensured we won the game. I thought Costa and Cavaleiro did well, but I felt N’Diaye was excellent in the last 16 minutes.

Man of the match is again between Boly and Neves with Neves just shading it for his goal.

Message to Nuno – don’t change, we love your passion and tactical nous.

Warnock is a dinosaur and a bad loser. He was in 2003 and he still is today.

Natalie Wood

What's your verdict on the match? I’m not quite sure how to put that game into words.....but here we go.

Cardiff are without doubt a superb team and deserve to be right up there with us. Add in their physicality and Wolves' passion/lack of control at times I was expecting it to be one of the games of the season.

First half we were on the front foot, just about. Some great chances for both teams in the opening minutes really kick-started the game. Neves’ return made a huge difference to our play and brought back the element of control we were missing against Hull. Boly yet again was an absolute brick wall, he is becoming such a fantastic player for us. A very tight first half that really left the game in the balance in the second half.

Cardiff definitely came out fighting and were beginning to push Wolves further and further back. The defence yet again looked solid, all three played their part but credit has to be given to Bennett. He is pretty consistent and makes minimal errors but always seems to be forgotten about! He has been a great asset to us this year.

It only takes one stroke of genius this season to turn a game around, one perfect moment from one perfect man...Ruben Neves. Words can’t express the talent this man has, his free kick was, as normal, absolutely perfect. There is nothing else to say. The noise from the away end as it hit the back of the net was something else, pure ecstasy.

Throughout the first 50 minutes or so our front three were struggling, Bonatini in particular was pretty much non existent, other than his shot that hit the post from an impossible angle! Costa and Cav changed the game when they came on. Costa especially was very impressive, skills for days!

The last 20 minutes felt like an eternity while there were only a couple of heart-in-mouth moments there was no doubt Cardiff were starting to wind up the pressure. But we should have sealed it in the last few moments when Costa was through on goal but hit agonisingly wide. Superb bit of individual skill from him. But then came injury time...and it’s ok because not a lot happens in injury time...

Never in my 20 plus years watching Wolves have I seen such an ending to a game. With Mike Dean as the referee I was waiting for him to take his moment in the spotlight but really – two penalties in three minutes Mike?!

Penalty number one from Coady was the right decision for sure, bit of a silly mistake to make at that point in the game. Following a superb save from Ruddy the away end went absolutely mental...so much so I didn’t even really see the second penalty given! Watching on replays it seemed a bit clumsy from Cavaleiro but it did to me look just outside the box. My heart sank as he stepped up, I was fully prepared for Cardiff to score because we are Wolves and if we are all honest that is what we expect!! Never has the noise of a cross bar sounded so good!

As the final whistle went and the bench poured onto the pitch you really saw the passion and love this team have for our club. Fans were celebrating like we had just won the league (I don’t want to say it out loud but it feels last night may have been the moment). We have such a special team this season that we will be talking about for years to come and that final whistle will be the moment we all remember.

A certain Mr Warnock was always going to have a lot to say about Wolves and Nuno in particular, not that his opinion matters at all but it would have been interesting to see his reaction if Cardiff had scored those two penalties. His reaction to Nuno trying to shake his hand just about sums him up.

Who played well – and who didn't impress? How do you pick a man of the match from that team last night?! Out of a choice of about nine players I think it has to be John Ruddy. He's had a great season...on the whole he's been solid but last night was his moment to make his mark!

As the stadium emptied there was just a corner of around 3,000 Wolves fans staring into the distance trying to work out what the hell had just happened and having the realisation of this finally being our year.

Russ Cockburn

What's your verdict on the match? I’ve been waiting some time for the footballing gods to shine down on my team. Wolves fans of a certain vintage (30s) have become accustomed to mediocrity, constant disappointment and Dean Saunders. The latter an affliction no football supporter should ever have to deal with.

Well last night was payback and what a stage to do it on. The two top teams in the division, in front of a rare big crowd in Cardiff and the eyes of the world on how Nuno would pit his wits against Widow Twankey.

The style, elegance and pure footballing philosophy of the Portuguese maestro against the attrition, set-piece, percentage tactics of Colin. If there was any justice in the world then the good guys would win and win we did!

I thought I’d seen everything football had to offer, but then last night came along. I mean to see one penalty saved in the last minute is off the scale, to see a second hit the underside of the bar was simply not even in the imagination of the most eccentric of scriptwriters. The last time I had so much fun in three minutes I discovered Denise Van Outen on the Big Breakfast!

Celebrations were unbelievable and resulted in another pair of broken glasses, that’s my hat-trick for the season and one of the reasons why SpecSavers posted such impressive results recently.

The singing lasted long after the final whistle had blown, whilst most of the Cardiff fans were starting to consider which sheep to take it out on.

Those of us in the ground were oblivious to the altercation between Nuno and Warnock at the end of the game and it was only in the car on the way back that we caught up. As much as I admire Colin for putting lipstick on a pig, I don’t think he can talk about class and manners...the same guy who instructed a player to break an opponent’s leg and tried to get a game abandoned.

If he likes handshakes that much he can join the Masons or I’m sure most of the league will indulge him in a few ‘Nescafe’ ones. Does he really think a manager is not going to celebrate when his side have nearly sealed the league title and survived two missed penalties? He must really hate Wolves, that’s twice now we’ve spoilt his big day out in Cardiff.

Five more points to go until promotion is achieved and we can start to look forward to pitting our wits on the biggest of stages. After sticky fingers in Middlesbrough, crap clubs in Crawley and enduring ball-busting defeats at Bolton, Norwich and Palace, I think our time may finally have arrived.

Nuno has a dream and it might soon become a reality...

Who played well – and who didn't impress? John Ruddy. What a performance, what a save, what a presence. I’ll be the first to admit I’ve questioned some of his recent performances, but what a time to shove my criticisms where the sun doesn’t shine. A real match-winning performance.

The defence stood up against an aerial bombardment not seen since shock and awe, with our French colossus putting Zohore in his pocket and proving an absolute man mountain. Trump wants to erect a wall, but he’ll have to wait until the world’s biggest one retires. Rumour also has it that Ann Summers are looking to bring out the its biggest Willy yet...the Bolynator!

To a man we had 14 Gladiators out there, willing to do battle, put their bodies on the line and ensure that good football outshone the archaic brand served up by YouTube Blogger Morrison and Co.

At the heart of it was Neves, a man just at home dictating play in one of the biggest games of the season as he is having a stroll around West Park. He’s got all the ability in the world, but importantly he has brought into Nuno’s vision, the project and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

After enduring years of midfield dross, I have to pinch myself to believe we have this genius playing for us.

The final word must go to Scott Derbyshire, a 6ft 7in ball of driving expertise. After enduring a four-hour drive that was more frustrating than ten years of Super Dave, he managed to show us the delights of Ross-on-Wye and a rather charming boozer in Usk where we enjoyed a few pints with the locals and a band that was older than my Dad.

I’ll also never forget driving out of Cardiff City centre with the Liquidator blaring out. Away days, you just can’t beat them.

Clive Smith

What's your verdict on the match? Remember the 'good old days' when football was played for 90 minutes on a Saturday at 3pm? Who needs that, when you can have the 'good new days' with Wolves away on a Friday and added time. Two weeks running a Friday fright night has had a happy ending.

Nuno again surprised us and shuffled the front three, but we were back to our familiar back eight. With no sign of tiredness early on it was a positive start and we were on the front foot. Time to dwell on the ball was scarce though and with Cardiff covering our wingbacks we did not look at our fluent best. Too often we resorted to long balls, and with Cardiff also going long up the middle, the game was quite scrappy as possession frequently changed hands.

Although a draw would be more favourable to Wolves, there seemed little urgency or threat from Cardiff in our half. We only looked uneasy at set pieces, with one free kick well saved by Ruddy, although twice late on in the half they got behind us far too easily. Wolves had managed the half really well and looked the better side.

The second half could have had a perfect start as Bonatini rounded the keeper and as the whole world looked for the pass into the box he placed the ball inside the keeper onto the near post. If only if only if only.

The physical and cynical approach seen from Cardiff at Molineux did not show up tonight. Wolves started to circulate the ball better as the game became slightly more stretched, although a long range free kick from Neves would have been more at home at the Arms Park.

That proved just a sighter however. Despite it being in Douglas territory and long range Neves stood over another free kick. Get in! Wow, you beauty! Wild celebrations were confined to our corner of the stadium. Bodies on the floor like safe seating had never been invented.

Apparently Neves has only touched the ball in the opposition box three times ALL season... so why had he not scored three more goals then?

So then, let the backlash begin. Provided we keep 11 men what could possibly go wrong?

Nuno refreshed the team with fresh legs. Much needed after the eight days we had had. All three subs came on and hit the ground running.

Before the 90 minutes are up we had an aerial bombardment coming into our box as a worry, but also opportunities to seal it on the break. Neither side could score though.

Then along came added time. Almost an event in itself. Just when you need a ballboy to hide the ball in the dug out, he goes missing.

Yet another cross into our box saw a man on the floor, Coady in the vicinity and the dreaded finger pointing. Damn! But reprieve. Ruddy makes the save and the away following gets to celebrate wildly again.

Then damn again. That dreaded finger pointing yet again. Cavaleiro accused this time. How can this be happening? Only to Wolves can this happen! But OMG reprieve again. This does not happen to Wolves!

We survived the longest six added minutes a week ago and we survived the longest five added minutes this week. Cue the longest post-match celebrations for a while. You'd have thought we'd won the league.

We are in touching distance then. Shame on all you non-believers, put your script away for another time. Nuno is sharing his dream with us – right here right now right here right now. Enjoy!

Who played well – and who didn't impress? Ruddy has had some criticism of late but he stood up to the plate here. Confident catching throughout before a cameo in added time.

Doherty was far less adventurous down the wing that we wanted. When he cut inside he just brought the defender with him and made the channel too crowded.

Douglas was also more defensive but held firm with several challenges and headers.

For Boly / Coady / Bennett it was a night of mixed fortunes. Boly was very in and out. As at Boro he started poorly for 20 minutes then improved. Mostly he looked composed on the ball and won many headers although his distribution was still poor.

Coady too was careless with his passing. He had been covering well but.he nearly shot us in the foot in added time.

Bennett looked our stand-out man at the back. Never flash, he just looked controlled and consistent. Had it not been for our goalscorer he would have been man of the match.

Saiss covered the ground from box to box. Understandably weary at the end he was thankful for fresh legs around him so he could concentrate on protecting the back four.

Neves – he does not do tap ins does he!? Less dominant during the game when time and space were denied but there was always a decisive pass in his locker to open the game up. Defensively too, there was no headless chicken this time. MOTM.

We know Jota can dribble with pace and packs a good shot. That zip and energy has rarely been seen of late. He only looked in the game when he had the ball and the lack of confidence means an extra touch is taken and the chance gone. One good shot was straight at the keeper.

Bonatini does still offer things while not scoring but again it was barely enough. How good it would have been had his effort gone in.

Afobe – no sign of a sulk. Led the line in rotation with Bonatini, showing more movement than at times. Didn't really see as much of the ball close to goal, but was better when we didn't have the ball.

We are in a good place when we can bring on the three subs we had. All contributed.

Costa was clearly there for his pace, be available for the break and to keep the defence honest. He made one excellent chance, but just failed to hit the target and wrap the game up. Being goal side is not alien to him either when required. It is good to see he has worked hard on that side of his game. Reminiscent of how Sako developed his overall in a similar fashion.

Cavaleiro did his best holding the ball and chasing back. N'Diaye brought excellent energy on for the closing minutes.

Russ Evers (Hatherton Wolves)

What's your verdict on the match? Ruben Neves....CHAMPIONS...that is all.