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Neil Lennon has a full week to work with his players on the training ground and is certain to be focusing much of his attention on the back line.
Following Saturday’s 4-3 defeat to Watford, the Whites boss labelled his side’s defending as “tentative” and “nervy”.
And it is a worrying turnaround for the defensive unit that had improved under Lennon and his coaching team of Johan Mjallby and Garry Parker.
In the first 10 games of the Northern Irishman’s tenure, Wanderers shipped just seven goals and kept clean sheets in half of those matches –including a run of three successive shutouts against Huddersfield, Reading and Ipswich.
But in the nine Championship matches since the goalless draw at home to Ipswich on December 13, they have shipped 20 goals in nine matches – more than two per game – and failed to keep a single clean sheet apart from in the FA Cup against Wigan and Liverpool.
More alarmingly for Lennon, they have conceded four goals in three of their last five league outings against Rotherham, Derby and Watford and conceded an average three per game in the last five.
It is a worrying return to the early-season form that saw them concede 19 goals in the first 10 league matches and win just once – form that cost Lennon’s predecessor Dougie Freedman his job.
So what has gone wrong?
Injuries have played a part. While the squad has ample options at the centre of the defence, the absence of skipper Matt Mills has been evident. He has been a mainstay for Lennon and has led by example, chipping in with goals as well on occasion to draw level as the club’s top scorer with five goals alongside Darren Pratley, Craig Davies and Zach Clough.
When Mills is involved, Wanderers have a far better win ratio. In 16 games the former Manchester City and Reading defender has played under Lennon, he has been on the losing side just four times and a winner eight times. They have conceded 16 goals in as many matches when Mills has featured and picked up 28 points.
However, in his recent four-game Championship absence, Wanderers have won just once and conceded 11 goals.
Mills has struck up a good understanding with Frenchman Dorian Dervite and the pair were first-choice while David Wheater was recovering from injury.
Wheater has returned after a back problem and done little wrong. But consistency of results for any team is usually paired with very little need for selection changes in all departments and having to shuffle the backline has made life difficult for Lennon.
He has switched between 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 formations and keeps assessing which set-up best suits the players available to him.
Mills was close to a return against Watford and now Lennon must wait to see if he will make the weekend trip to Nottingham.
It is not just selection issues that may have brought about a new tendency to concede. You also have to take into account the opposition.
In four of the last five Championship clashes, Wanderers have faced teams at the top end of the division. Watford are second top scorers in the league with 63 goals while Derby are the fourth biggest hitters with 58 in 30 matches.
Wolves have actually scored two fewer than Wanderers’ total of 40 in 31 games but are still challenging on the fringes of the play-offs.
Maybe facing more potent opponents has been a factor. A lack of concentration late on certainly has with both Wolves and Watford netting in the dying stages.
Whatever the reasons, with tough trips to Forest and Middlesbrough to come next week, life is not about to get any easier for that nervy rearguard.
One thing is for sure – Lennon and defensive coach Mjallby will leave no stone unturned in getting to the root of the problem.
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Following Saturday’s 4-3 defeat to Watford, the Whites boss labelled his side’s defending as “tentative” and “nervy”.
And it is a worrying turnaround for the defensive unit that had improved under Lennon and his coaching team of Johan Mjallby and Garry Parker.
In the first 10 games of the Northern Irishman’s tenure, Wanderers shipped just seven goals and kept clean sheets in half of those matches –including a run of three successive shutouts against Huddersfield, Reading and Ipswich.
But in the nine Championship matches since the goalless draw at home to Ipswich on December 13, they have shipped 20 goals in nine matches – more than two per game – and failed to keep a single clean sheet apart from in the FA Cup against Wigan and Liverpool.
More alarmingly for Lennon, they have conceded four goals in three of their last five league outings against Rotherham, Derby and Watford and conceded an average three per game in the last five.
It is a worrying return to the early-season form that saw them concede 19 goals in the first 10 league matches and win just once – form that cost Lennon’s predecessor Dougie Freedman his job.
So what has gone wrong?
Injuries have played a part. While the squad has ample options at the centre of the defence, the absence of skipper Matt Mills has been evident. He has been a mainstay for Lennon and has led by example, chipping in with goals as well on occasion to draw level as the club’s top scorer with five goals alongside Darren Pratley, Craig Davies and Zach Clough.
When Mills is involved, Wanderers have a far better win ratio. In 16 games the former Manchester City and Reading defender has played under Lennon, he has been on the losing side just four times and a winner eight times. They have conceded 16 goals in as many matches when Mills has featured and picked up 28 points.
However, in his recent four-game Championship absence, Wanderers have won just once and conceded 11 goals.
Mills has struck up a good understanding with Frenchman Dorian Dervite and the pair were first-choice while David Wheater was recovering from injury.
Wheater has returned after a back problem and done little wrong. But consistency of results for any team is usually paired with very little need for selection changes in all departments and having to shuffle the backline has made life difficult for Lennon.
He has switched between 4-4-2 and 3-5-2 formations and keeps assessing which set-up best suits the players available to him.
Mills was close to a return against Watford and now Lennon must wait to see if he will make the weekend trip to Nottingham.
It is not just selection issues that may have brought about a new tendency to concede. You also have to take into account the opposition.
In four of the last five Championship clashes, Wanderers have faced teams at the top end of the division. Watford are second top scorers in the league with 63 goals while Derby are the fourth biggest hitters with 58 in 30 matches.
Wolves have actually scored two fewer than Wanderers’ total of 40 in 31 games but are still challenging on the fringes of the play-offs.
Maybe facing more potent opponents has been a factor. A lack of concentration late on certainly has with both Wolves and Watford netting in the dying stages.
Whatever the reasons, with tough trips to Forest and Middlesbrough to come next week, life is not about to get any easier for that nervy rearguard.
One thing is for sure – Lennon and defensive coach Mjallby will leave no stone unturned in getting to the root of the problem.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
