Wolverhampton Wanderers 4 Gillingham 0

Match 13/13/1040 - Saturday, 10th August 2013 - League One

Wolverhampton Wanderers (3) 4 Griffiths 5, 68 (pen), Evans 24,
Sako 31
Gillingham (0) 0
Att. 19,102

Entrance: £22
Programme: £3
Mileage: 416/960

Match Report

We arrived in our many hundreds; we admired the majestic two-tier Stan Cullis stand that towers over the rest of the Molineux stadium, a structure that has been completed since Gillingham's last visit. We cast our eyes to our left where the Jack Harris stand appears to have a dress code, wear the old gold or don't sit here. We respectfully played our part in the tribute to a Wolves legend, David Wagstaffe, who had died in the week previous and we waited patiently while the kick off was delayed in order to ease congestion at the home turnstiles. We did all this because we were essentially tourists, mere sightseers.

Prior to kick-off, Martin Allen took the relatively unusual course of conducting the warm-up, until he brought it to a halt and we watched on as he appeared to be telling his players to just to relax on the grass and soak up the atmosphere and take in the surroundings. This is what the slog through League Two was for, in fact for the next few minutes, be a tourist.

It set the tone for an opening half hour in which Wolverhampton Wanderers demolished Gillingham. Only four minutes had elapsed, when a long cross towards the edge of the box from Sam Ricketts was collected by Leigh Griffiths. The Gillingham central defenders stood off like visitors to the National Portrait Gallery, as the striker controlled and swept the ball into the bottom corner leaving Stuart Nelson no chance.

Amine Linganzi fired a shot into the side netting after a quarter hour to briefly raise the spirits of the visiting support before the home side doubled their advantage after 24 minutes of relentless pressure. Griffiths' shot was blocked but as the ball looped up, Lee Evans took a touch before coolly lobbing the ball into the bottom corner.

Stuart Nelson had long before been the only figure standing between Gillingham and total humiliation but on the half hour he could only look on in bewilderment as a cross from Zeli Ismail across the face of goal, found a totally unmarked Bakary Sako at the far post who, from 10 yards, made no mistake.

The defending had been only marginally less comical than the red trousers of Martin Allen which brought the chant of "Santa, Santa, what's the score" from the massed ranks of the north stand.

Danny Kedwell shot narrowly over before Nelson was asked for more heroics to deny Griffiths once more.

The second half was never going to be anything other than the restoration of some pride and, perhaps getting on the score sheet for the first time this season. Kedwell's goal-bound shot brought claims for a penalty after the ball appeared to strike the hand of Evans, but these were waived aside and Chris Whelpdale, at least brought a save out of Carl Ikeme.

A hideous challenge from Leon Legge on Evans after 68 minutes allowed Griffiths to convert a spot kick for Wolves' fourth goal. Thankfully the last 20 minutes were spent watching Wolves wastefully spurn to opportunity to heap further embarrassment on Gillingham and their suffering support.

There was obviously dismay among the Gillingham faithful and with good reason. We all knew there were deficiences in midfield, but had hoped that the back line that had been so resolute last season would be strong enough for this division. On this occasion they found wanting, but it is highly unlikely they will meet such quality many times during the course of the season. Even when Wolves visit Priestfield, they are likely to be significantly weaker with the expected departure of Kevin Doyle, rumoured to be on his way to Celtic for £1.5 million and Sako, with perhaps Fulham as his destination for a fee upwards of £2 million. It is reported that Wolves need to offload both, as individually their wages are £45,000 a week; I would imagine Gillingham's entire starting eleven would be hard pressed to earn that amount collectively.

Nevertheless, regardless of the opposition we are to face with budgets that dwarf our own and magnificent stadiums that are a reminder of where these clubs were positioned in the not too distant past, we have to arrive as competitors not just sightseers.