The Chelsea Social

Wolves 2-6 Chelsea: Cobham Commutes #1 – The Blues dazzle in Wolverhampton

Vikram Jajuha

In this series, I review my in-ground experiences throughout the season, this time for Wolves away.

It’s split into two sections, one for home games and the other for away games. I go through various topics from atmosphere to match review and what you didn’t hear or see on television, as well as giving my thoughts on the match-day experience at the stadium I visit.

The view outside a windy Molineux.
The view outside a windy Molineux.

Journey to the Molineux

First away game of the season and it was my first of hopefully many more away trips to come this season. Last game I attended was a disappointing 2-2 draw away at Sheffield United towards the end of 2023/24 season under Mauricio Pochettino.

It was a new stadium visit to tick off the list for myself, having never visited Wolverhampton before, let alone its football stadium. It involved a two and half hour journey from Leeds down, into the multi-storey Birch car park being just a eight minute walk from the stadium.

Having arrived at the ground just an hour before kick-off, there was not much time to have a walk around and get a feel for the stadium. Straight into the concourse and to the seats.

Stadium summary

A stadium that I was visiting for the first time ever and one that I certainly did not mind the look of aesthetically from the outside. It is a fairly traditional ground and anyone who has read my previous Cobham Commutes articles will know how much of a preference I have for the older and more ‘classic’ Premier League stadiums. The best away days I’ve had have come from trips to Villa Park, King Power and Old Trafford – stadiums that share that older touch and this one was not much different.

The concourse itself was fairly lively. Moreso than I expected considering the size and allocation of the away end at Wolves, (I believe it is the biggest away end allocation in the Premier League, or one of). New chants for Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke were heard.

Moving onto my seat, it was a view that I could never have any complaints about. Located in block JL3 – a proper view where I was able to clearly witness the action at both ends. Without doubt one of the best views I have had from my away day experiences.

The atmosphere itself was brilliant. Tweets were put out after the game crediting the away support and how consistent we have been in backing the team no matter what. I look back to Everton last season where we lost 2-0, although the noise we made was still incredible. Our home match-going support shows otherwise..

My view at Wolves (Block JL3, Row H)

Match Review

A match of two halves, quite literally in terms of the contrast between the two. The first was one where the fans endured what we have been accustomed to for a few years. Midfield getting overrun, struggling to control the game and defensive sloppiness from set pieces. The lineup hadn’t included Romeo Lavia for a reason still unknown (suspect due to match load), and we certainly missed the Belgian in the first half where we failed to win second balls and lacked physicality in central areas.

Goals still flowed though and the game started off with a Nicolas Jackson goal within the first minute. Sweet stuff. A corner which got a little flick on and Jackson converted, a beautiful start. But then came the pressure from Wolves – Matheus Cunha scored which was ruled offside. Then came their equaliser through Cunha, from a lovely bit of play by Lemina dancing through our midfield. Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo have always struggled as a pairing to get across the pitch. Are we still missing a profile of such as a Nemanja Matic?

Just approaching half-time, we took the lead again in what was a brilliant goal. One that won’t really receive its flowers because of the demolition we caused in the second half. But let’s applaud Robert Sanchez for not only the pass to Jackson, but the vision and confidence to pull it off at that moment in the game. Jackson did brilliantly well to play it into Cole Palmer who then dinked over Jose Sa with ease. He just makes everything look so easy.

It was only a couple minutes later though where Wolves got themselves back on equal terms. A silly foul conceded by Noni Madueke led to a set piece which we struggled to defend. A clear area of improvement for Chelsea’s coaching staff to sort out. But finally moving onto the second half – one where we really showed the blueprint of a Enzo Maresca side.

The second half was pure destruction from what looked like a Chelsea side really out there to prove a point. The chemistry of Palmer and Madueke was enough to put the game to bed with Madueke netting a hattrick. To think there’d been talk of Madueke leaving the club…

The midfield pairing of Enzo and Caicedo dominated in the second half too, winning aerial and ground duels. Levi Colwill was pinging passes and we had the luxury of bringing Joao Felix, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Christopher Nkunku and Neto off the bench. Wow.

Felix sealed off the battering with a lovely finish from a fine cutback by Neto. Then came the ole’s from the fans as Chelsea started to dominate in Wolves’ half. A dominant second half from a devastating attack. Every single attack had the look of being a goal – the rest of the Premier League need to prepare themselves. This is a side that is only going to get better and better for years to come.

Things you don’t see or hear on TV

Chants for Neto and Madueke were heard throughout the game, but it was Madueke’s which rang around the Molineux.

Frustration from the fans was visible in the first half – with sections of the away support urging the team to play at a quicker tempo shouting ‘pass it f*cking forward’. There was an annoyance from fans at Caicedo and Enzo in the first half as both struggled to play to their expected levels.

Most noticeably though, was the abuse Darren England was receiving from start to finish. Soft fouls which saw a number of our players receive bookings whilst he seemed to let some Wolves players off the hook with tackles that should’ve been awarded as fouls. Same old usual.

On a more positive note, the limbs for the fourth goal. So ecstatic that my phone had somehow fell out its pocket and travelled a dozen rows down. Lets just say it isn’t looking in great condition now, but well worth the performance and result we were surprised with.

Written by Vikram Jajuha (@CFCVik)

Edited by Harrison Burridge (@hburridge2)

Follow us on:

Exit mobile version