Wanderers find themselves consigned to the play-offs for the third successive season after their hopes of automatic promotion were dashed by Blackburn's victory at Preston writes Adrian Ford
But whatever fate awaits them in football's equivalent of Russian Roulette no-one could possibly dismiss Sam Allardyce and his players as failures. On the contrary, their efforts this season have been magnificent.
Despite the well publicised departures and the need to make short-term and loan signings together with a stream of injury problems, Sam welded together a squad whose talent, sense of togetherness and unquenchable spirit deserve the reward of finishing in second spot.
Proud
To have claimed a record 14 away wins is a tremendous achievement - one of which everyone connected with the club should be proud. Sadly too many points were dropped at the Reebok where last gasp goals from the likes of Palace, Gillingham and Wimbledon turned what should have been crucial wins into frustrating draws. Even the four away defeats were inflicted by goals scored punishingly late.
What about the penalties awarded - or lack of them. Just one so far on the opening day - and that given with the ball already in the net!
In striker Michael Ricketts Sam snapped up one of the bargains of the season - a composed finisher with the pace and power to frighten any defence. Losing Jussi Jaaskelainen was a cruel blow but Sam has shown he is capable of supplying the solution to any problem. Experienced professionals such as Dean Holdsworth, Gudni Bergsson and Colin Hendry have proved major influences but really if you mention one player you have to name them all. That's what being a unit is all about.
Qualities
Wanderers' qualities were summed up perfectly in the last away game at Molineux, where they worked hard for each other, defended as a team and attacked as a team.
It's a year since the tide of sympathy for "Unlucky Ipswich", along with other factors about which we hardly need reminding, engulfed Wanderers' Premiership dream in circumstances that still wrankle to this moment. But, just as every dog has its day, so does every football club. We the supporters can play our part by making the Reebok as uncomfortably noisy for our semi-final opponents as Burnden was for Wolves back in 1995. Then, hopefully, it's on to Cardiff for the promotion shindig to end them all.
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