Ebanks-Blake secures crucial draw for Wolves
Posted Sunday, April 25, 2010 by YAHOO Sport
By MARK HENDRY STATS European Football Writer=
LONDON (SE) - Sylvan Ebanks-Blake scored only his second goal of the season to rescue a 1-1 draw at home to Blackburn and almost guarantee Wolverhampton would retain their Premier League status for a second year.
Last season Ebanks-Blake scored 25 goals to spearhead Wolves to the Championship title. But this injury-hit year his previous goal was a penalty against Aston Villa way back in October and little has gone right for the normally prolific former Manchester United striker.
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce blamed his own strikers for failing to finish off Wolves after taking a 28th minute lead.
Allardyce admits he will spend the summer months looking for a new forward because his three recognised front-runners Jason Roberts, Nikola Kalinic and Franco Di Santo have managed only 13 between them.
Allardyce said: “We are disappointed not to have clinched a big three points to finish as high as we could.
“I think our finishing is to blame for that again. It has been a frailty of ours away from home all season and we paid for not getting that second goal.”
Blackburn ended the match in eleventh place with 44 points and two matches to play.
As if to emphasise Allardyce’s point, it was defender Ryan Nelsen who got their goal midway through the first half.
Wolves goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann failed to deal with a corner from Morten Gamst Pedersen and Nelsen scrambled the ball over the line from close range.
Jody Craddock missed from eight yards for Wolves and Stephen Ward had a shot cleared from the Blackburn line by Phil Jones.
Pedersen blasted a shot straight at Hahnemann when it looked easier to score and Blackburn were made to pay for his wastefulness when they conceded a goal a minute later in the 81st.
David Jones sent Ward down the right and his cross was headed in at the far post by jubilant Ebanks-Blake via a post.
In the last minute Blackburn almost snatched a winner when Keith Andrews took a return pass before blasting a shot against a post with Hahnemann beaten.
At the final whistle delirious Wolves fans swarmed on to the Molineuz pitch to congratulate their players for achieving survival with two matches to spare.
Manager Mick McCarthy praised the fans for their tolerance and his players for their determination to survive.
McCarthy said: “It has not been pretty at times but we are nearly there. Burnley have got to win all their last three matches.
“I think we have learned a lot this season, about what is required to prosper in the Premier League and about ourselves.
“Some players have come forward and done well at this level and one or two others have struggled to adapt.
“Sylvan has been hit by injuries all season and has not started many games. I know he got frustrated at times so I am pleased he got a goal.
“Overall we had to battle for a point but we got it and now we have to try to end the season in style.”
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