Stale Solbakken hails ice-cool keeper Carl Ikeme
Stale Solbakken today led the praise for super keeper Carl Ikeme after his heroics helped Wolves clinch a 2-1 win at Blackpool last night.
Ikeme pulled off four top-class saves to help Wolves to their third victory in four and end Michael Appleton's seven-match unbeaten start at the helm with the Tangerines.
"We must certainly praise Carl for the first 10 minutes of the second half which kept us in the lead and the lads have given him a pat on the back," said boss Solbakken.
"The speed of the wingers caused us problems and Carl made three or four good saves in the first 10 minutes. Carl has been solid the whole season but also one-on-one against Thomas Ince in the first half he was very good.
"And the two saves at the beginning of the second half were very good."
Solbakken also heaped praise on two-goal striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, who took his tally to nine this season but missed out on his first hat-trick since January 2009 when he ballooned over an open goal after rounding keeper Matthew Gilks when the ball bobbled.
Playing on the day on which it emerged that Ipswich are interested in him, Ebanks-Blake looked hungry for goals.
"I'm happy for Sylvan because he's worked hard for a long period of time but he's just struggled a little bit in front of goal," said the boss.
"But he's trained with a great attitude even when he was on the bench and I'm really pleased he got his two goals. He did well with the penalty but he could have whacked another one to get his hat-trick. But it took a bobble.
"If that went in we could have avoided those five heartbreaking minutes added on!"
Solbakken also paid tribute to the recalled Jermaine Pennant, who set up Ebanks-Blake's first goal and had his best game for Wolves, and substitute David Davis, whose composure and energy helped Wolves get back into the game after he replaced Tongo Doumbia in the 67th minute.
"Pennant's performance gives us something else to take with us," he said. "It was by far the best game he's played in a Wolves shirt.
"Dave Davis did very well when he came on and we started to get more grip of the game again."
Match report – Page 39
