Not All over?

After the numbing pain of defeat last night, the calm reflection today that Wolves, who aren't the best team in The Championship, lost by a single goal to the team who patently are.

If there was anything positive to come out of the fifth defeat in Mick McCarthy's seven Black Country derbies, it's the fact that champions-elect Albion shouldn't be an obstacle to us if we dust ourselves down, collect the remaining 12 points, and find ourselves in the play-offs.

For an hour last night, Wolves competed well. We could, perhaps should, have beaten Dean Kiely. But Albion were never on the ropes. A brilliant save from Wayne Hennessey, and his woodwork twice, kept the visitors out.

And once Kevin Phillips and Zoltan Gera had simply combined to sickening effect, Wolves were left chasing what was ultimately a lost cause.

When Albion swarm forwards, their neat passing, their wonderful movement and potency in the penalty area is a joy to behold unless you're a Wolves fan.

Albion are better than Wolves. There, it's said. And I'm not ashamed to say it. And the main reason?

To use a motoring analogy, the admirable Tony Mowbray has mostly found top gear after taking control of a misfiring sports car with two previous owners.

When McCarthy arrived at Molineux, he was presented with a kit car that had no instructions in the box.

That's why McCarthy talked about pride last night. "It was a terrific match with both sides going for it. I am immensely proud of how we played the game.

"I am bullish because we have played well in the last few weeks."

And so we have. So we need to get over last night - right now.
It wasn't a classic performance, but there were highlights.

That's the best I've seen Darron Gibson play, Matt Jarvis was a decent threat and Michael Gray, a veteran left back playing on the right of midfield, could not have given any more.

But patrolling down the Albion right was the ever dangerous Gera. That probably sums up where the two clubs are.

Wolves aren't that far behind. Imagine this Wolves team containing Jonathan Greening, Phillips and Gera (assuming he could displace Michael Kightly!)

But one note of caution, aimed in particular at Messrs Morgan and Moxey. Could the Albion team that won at Molineux last night make a mark on the Premier League? You wouldn't bank on it.

So if McCarthy's redoubtable squad is inferior to Albion's, that highlights the finances that need to be in place to make Wolves anywhere near credible if the dream became reality.

But that's hypothetical. We need to get there first. The support last night was fantastic. It simply has to be at least as good over the last four games.

We need a bit more calmness in defence, especially from Neill Collins, than was on show last night, we need our big midfield man to be the big man, we need a fit Kightly, and we need SEB to repeat his Charlton heroics.

Losing to Albion hurt, because it was Albion. But the bigger picture remains bright.

Saturday is truly massive. A quirk of the Championship fixtures means third play fourth, fourth play fifth and sixth play seventh.

Ipswich haven't travelled well this season, but a one-nil with a 90th minute winner off someone's backside will do just fine.

It's an afternoon for calm heads and deafening support as we chase a repeat of May 26, 2003.

It is still there for us.


by John Bray and Gary Brookhouse http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A34697929