Keeping the Wolves at bay

Rotherham United v Wolves, New York Stadium, Saturday 16th August 2014

Saturday again and the first home game of the championship season had arrived. The morning started with a little light relief from the intense nervousness with an episode that began with my App Store on my i-pad thinking I was in the USA. I tried turning it off and back on then, when that failed, looked on the internet and followed some long winded instructions. The little blighter then informed me that I had £11 to spend and it wouldn't let me change to the UK unless I spent it. So I had to rush and decide on something from iTunes, and it still wouldn't let me come home. By now I was very frustrated and ready to throw the thing at the wall. Ian calmly took it off me, closed the App Store, reopened it, and lp and behold I was English again! Oh how Ian laughed. 

We spent part of the morning watching Leeds v Middlesborough and deciding we were just as good as either of those, before ceremoniously retrieving the season ticket wallet from the Very Important Ticket file, deciding on coats (yes for Vicky, no for me), donning shoes and heading for the door. "Stop" said Ian, "where is my hat?". A panicked few minutes ensued before Vicky and I decided to set off, he could be a while yet. Round about the Brentwood we looked back to find him in hot pursuit, hatless. A bad omen? We had arranged to meet Wooly and James in the New York Tavern so headed down Alma road. The Tavern was packed as we arrived but we picked them out and Ian headed for the bar. Vicky was told by everyone what a great day out she missed at Wembley, and nodded politely while gritting her teeth. We discussed the fact that Kieran 'I want to play for Leeds but they won't pay me what I'm worth!' Agard had been dropped in favour of Paul 'I'm on loan to you from HM prison Wandsworth' Taylor. I also spotted Mr Nasal chatting by the bar, a good omen?

Then Vicky and I decided that we were too excited to wait any longer, supped up and left. The crowds heading down Don Street made us think we were in for a big crowd, although turnstyle number 10 was closed, maybe an Ian style problem had occurred. We decided to move down to numbers 11 and 12 as the queue was moving faster. I took 12 and Vicky 11. 

Ian and and the boys arrived just after with news of an exciting sighting. Mr Serial Killer had been spotted outside the ground wearing a nice red button up shirt, his usual slacks, and sporting, according to Ian, neatly trimmed eyebrows. Just before kick off the chairman, Tony Stuart was made a freeman of the borough, a richly deserved accolade. 

Left in our seats were red cards that we were to hold up as the players came out to show a wall of colour. In a nice touch by us, cos we are like that, the Wolves fans were given gold cards. 

All the seats around us were filled with the twitchers behind and a very large lady in front of me, goo for warmth in the winter months methinks. On the end, next to me, was the old guy who left early the other week. Must be his season ticket seat. Maybe I will try to engage him in conversation later in the season when we have bedded in. 

As I looked longingly across towards our old seats, on the other side of the wall there, I could see the Ginner still in place. On the row in front, in those two empty seats you can see, are our new homes equivalent of the sixteenth minute man. Always in and out for pies etc. These kind of people never get seats on the end of a row, preferring to disturb the whole section just before a free kick or goal scoring opportunity. 

The tones of Frank Sinatra rang around the stadium, the whole crowd joining in with, 'if we can make it there, we'll make it anywhere, it's up to you, New York, NEEEEEWWW YOOOOOORK' while kicking their  legs. Finally the referee, Mr Salisbury, blew his whistle, and our home campaign began at last.

The first half showed us just how difficult this season will be, with Wolves closing us down quickly, not allowing our best players to get into the game, and forcing us to keep booting the ball forward to Alex Revell. However, the Mr Salisbury did not help at all, making some baffling decisions, most of which penalised the Millers. Adam Colin, the goalkeeper, also did his best for the The Wolves cause, with a couple of mix ups that almost let former Miller, Nouha Dicko, in to score. Luckily he has been eating all the Molineux pies since he left and has lost some of his pace, and in both cases Colin got back to make great saves. Perhaps he just wanted to look good and keep his place ahead of Scott Loach. Meanwhile, at the other end, the jailbird tricked his way into the area and hit the bar. A good signing I think. Half time arrived and we were hanging in at 0-0. 

Doing the half time draw were the famous actor from Rotherham who Is in ashes to ashes, not sure of his name, and the famous ex-Miller who won us promotion once as a player and twice as a manager, who's name I do know. 

Steve Evans took of young John Swift and replaced him with Ryan Hall at half time. A good decision most if us thought as the young man had found the first half difficult. Ian was unimpressed as, of course, Ryan is this seasons Lionel, i.e he can do no right. The twitchers gave us the lowdown on a couple of players, and also called for a Foul Throw, much to Vickys delight, as that is one of Ian's stock yells. All we need now is a full blooded call to 'get him in the book'. Mr Salisbury continued to baffle us with his decisions, giving free kicks to Wolves whenever they fell down. Indeed, he gave them one just because their player asked for it. 

This half we were in the game much more without creating any clear cut chances until the 76th minute. A Ben Pringle corner was whipped in and headed toward goal by Craig Morgan, their keeper pushed the ball out to one of their defenders who chested it down and booted it away, straight on to the bottom of Ryan Halls foot. From there it flew into the back of the net to send us all wild. 

For the last fifteen minutes, despite Mr Salisburys best efforts, the Millers ran the clock down and eventually ran out 1-0 winners. The first three points of the season. 

We were all highly satisfied as we exited via Don Street due to the revised exit strategy, even when there was some posturing between rival fans across the barriers on New York Way. We called at Tesco for some fizzy wine to celebrate and raised a glass to Ryan Halls left boot. 

P.S. The hat was on the back of a chair under my coat.

Men of the match

Ian - Green

Jackie - Revelinho

Vicky -  Revell

Funniest moment - The Wolves fans singing ' can you ref us every week' 

Ian's award - So many of them, but not giving a penalty for handball in the first minute. 

The ipad