Kenny Jackett has acknowledged a “frustrating” afternoon against Ipswich with a solid Wolves performance in the goalless draw accompanied by a lack of creativity further forward.
In a game of few clear-cut chances, neither side were able to find a breakthrough prompting Wolves’ second successive home goalless draw.
Whilst pleased with the foundation provided by a strong defensive performance, the Head Coach will be looking for more from his team going forward between now and the end of the season.
“It was frustrating today, drawing 0-0 at home,” said Jackett.
“I felt it was difficult for us to get out and hard for us to get going in midfield.
“Ipswich were physically strong and aggressive and made it difficult for us.
“We defended very well, my back four and goalkeeper stood up firm.
“They looked cohesive and competitive and they needed to be otherwise Ipswich, at the start of the game, would have swept us away.
“There were two big moments in the second period – Pitman’s header when my keeper made a really good save and Doherty after some good play and a very good save from their keeper.
“Our most potent period was in the last quarter when James Henry was getting on the ball and we had two quick strikers on and did slide the ball down the side and got in behind them.
“At that stage we looked more like scoring goals but I wouldn’t say it was period when we necessarily did enough to win the game.
“But as an attacking threat we showed more intent and ability to be able to pass the ball.
“Overall though we didn’t get our passing game going through the midfield which we had done really well against Burnley two weeks ago.
“Today we didn’t get any flow and physically they were on top of us, closing us down, and we weren’t able to get the ball in behind those very good defenders until the final period.
“While we are pleased defensively we want more and we want to be able to pass the ball through midfield and create and score goals to give us a chance of progressing.”
Henry’s introduction at half time had the desired effect with Wolves producing more going forward in the second half.
“I felt we needed to get on the ball more and get up the pitch because Ipswich were penning us in,” Jackett explained.
“James got on the ball and the crowd responded to him well.
“Hopefully now he can get back and stay back and that will really help us.
“We have a number of players that have been out and hopefully now James can offer us the kind of creativity he has done previously.
“In the second period he did look a threat.”
There were some frustration from supporters in the second half, who were watching their fifth home goalless draw of the season.
And while Wolves have only now lost one game in the last six, Jackett acknowledges the need for more excitement, and goals.
“For the supporters they can see the effort and the way we defended,” he said.
“At home you want to play good football, create chances and score goals.
“There is that frustration which I share, and we have to find more.
“We have been looking solid and the goals against column has improved as the season has gone on and that is a good thing.
“We do need that but we want to play more constructive football than we did today.
“We have been a mid-table side this year – that has been where it is – and it is about finding a balance between being defensively good and competitive in games which is needed and then getting some football going.
“We need to get our forwards in one-v-one situations where they can take people on and take defenders out of the game with good skill and good play.
“For the remainder of the season we want to build and improve and show optimism for the future.
“We will only do that with good performances and good results and need to set our standards higher going forward and be more creative.”
