We deserved to win

Wolves take a point from lively draw at Hillsborough

Paul Lambert tonight hailed a “fantastic’ Wolves performance as they somehow came away without a win from a dominant display at Sheffield Wednesday.

Wolves hit the post twice, Joe Mason fired over from close range, and they had two big penalty appeals turned down in a lively goalless draw at Hillsborough.

Carl Ikeme had done well to deny Vincent Sasso, Steven Fletcher and Fernando Forestieri in the first half but Wolves were overall the better side without being able to take full advantage.

“I think we were fantastic today and deserved to win the game,” said the Head Coach.

“If we had gone away from here with a 3-0 victory I don’t think anyone could have questioned it – everything was there but the win.

“It was definitely the best performance in my time here and I thought we should have won two or three.

“We never let Sheffield Wednesday play.

“They are a good side but we pressed them really well and then looked really good on the counter.

“We had some really good play – the passing and the tempo and what we did without the ball was excellent.

“Pricey was dominating things in the middle of the pitch and Connor Ronan’s debut was as good as any debut I have seen from a young player.

“Bodvarsson and Mason came in and we changed it up a little bit and I thought the whole performance was fantastic.

“Mason coming back from a long term injury is good news for us and both of those front lads did well like the whole team.

“Not many teams will come here and play like we did for the duration of the game.

“If you look at our first game against Sheffield Wednesday and then today you can see the progress that has been made.

“We are still a way from where we want to be but the inroads are there for all to see.

“It is about building and trying to get up that table.

“We are a young team but there is a lot of confidence in there and now we just need to keep that consistency going.

‘We have got a really good togetherness and we look a threat.”

The two big penalty shouts came when Mason appeared to be tackled from behind before Matt Doherty was upended by keeper Kieran Westwood having brought the ball inside to prepare for a shot.

“We should have had two penalties,” said Lambert.

“I thought Mason’s was a penalty – he had got the ball safe side and he came through the back of him.

 “And then the second one wouldn’t have looked out of place at Murrayfield.

“How that wasn’t given was incredible – it was a stonewaller.

“The referee calls it how he sees it and he said he thought the keeper got the ball.

“But I don’t think you will see one as blatant as that.”

Another among the big positives of the afternoon was the first start handed out to Connor Ronan, who was hugely impressive before having to come off with a knock in the second half.

“I trust him and I have no fear in playing him,” said Lambert.

“It took me a milli-second to see how good he is.

“With Enobakhare and a few others I can see a few in that group who can make the step up.

“Connor’s debut was one of the best I have seen in a long while.”

Wolves now have a break from league action with the Emirates FA Cup trip to Stoke City coming up on Saturday (3pm).