By the end you simply felt sorry for Danny Ward. Booed and then mocked by the Leicester supporters, perhaps it would have been kinder to take him off after his incredible first-half clanger.
Because this game was done by the interval. A pathetic defensive display from the home side handed Vitor Pereira victory in his first game after replacing Gary O’Neil as Wolves manager.
It was only their third of the season and takes Wolves to within two points of safety. Given they play Manchester United, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest next, these were vital points, especially as star forward Matheus Cunha faces a ban for his altercation with an Ipswich staff member at Molineux last weekend.
But what about Leicester? This looked the ideal fixture for Ruud van Nistelrooy’s team to put distance between themselves and the bottom three.
Instead they blew it completely with a performance that raised all the old questions about the attitude and mental strength of this squad. There were swathes of empty blue seats long before full-time and those who stayed jeered.
Goncalo Guedes, Rodrigo Gomes and Cunha were the scorers and Leicester were culpable for all three. Ward’s error for the second was the worst as he slumped inexplicably to his haunches and watched Rodrigo Gomes’ toe-poke slide beyond him.
Wolves picked up a huge three points against fellow relegation battlers Leicester
The visiting side moved within two points of safety with a 3-0 victory at the King Power
Foxes goalkeeper Danny Ward had a day to forget as the home side suffered defeat
That was when the fans turned. First came the catcalls and then, even more cruelly, the widespread cheers when Ward performed the absolute minimum expected of a professional goalkeeper. Mads Hermansen has been Leicester’s best player this term and Van Nistelrooy desperately needs him back from a hip problem. Either way, it is hard to see Ward keeping his place for the game against Liverpool on Boxing Day.
Not even Jamie Vardy could pull this one round though he might have put the home side ahead in the eighth minute.
Bilal El Khannouss’ pass from deep caught Wolves napping and Vardy outpaced Santi Bueno but failed to lob Jose Sa, who had raced from his penalty area to narrow the angle.
Sa’s gamble had paid off and he did well to block the follow-up from Jordan Ayew. Luckily for Wolves, Leicester’s defence is just as flimsy, as the visitors’ opener proved.
A simple header would have dealt with Nelson Semedo’s long pass. For some reason, Jannik Vestergaard decided not to jump and when the ball passed over his head, Guedes did well to hook it beyond Ward.
The home side tried to respond and Sa was alert again to anticipate Stephy Mavididi’s curling effort. Their efforts to equalise were quickly ruined, however, by the sort of defending that would embarrass veteran pub players after a heavy night.
It was bad enough that James Justin should let Matt Doherty’s crossfield pass run across him, unaware that Rodrigo was lurking.
Imperfect though Rodrigo’s control was, it was sufficient to baffle Ward, who bizarrely sank to the ground as the ball slid past him. A mere prod from Rodrigo’s toe was enough to send the ball rolling into the net.
Wolves fans had been chanting against chairman Jeff Shi and now Leicester fans followed with choruses of their own, aimed first at director of football Jon Rudkin and then Ward.
Goncalo Guedes (right) opened the scoring for Wolves just 19 minutes into the game
Rodrigo Gomes then doubled the lead towards the latter stages of the first half
Matheus Cunha added a third to put any hopes of a comeback for the home side to bed
Wolves had conceded a league-high 40 goals this term so there was always the chance they would make life hard for themselves. Mavididi crossed from the left, Toti Gomes fluffed his clearance and Vardy shot on the turn – but Toti made it back in time to clear off the line.
It gave Wolves the platform to extend their lead, thanks to more desperate work at the back from Leicester. Under no pressure, Guedes collected another lofted pass from Semedo and found Cunha. With Ward’s confidence shattered, all Cunha needed to do was find the target and Wolves were three up.
Ward has shown time and again that he is not a competent goalkeeper at this level yet still you felt sorry for him. The Wales international was booed by his own fans when he received a backpass and there were mocking cheers when he made a routine claim.
Boss Ruud van Nistelrooy had headed down the tunnel after the third goal, only to reappear on the bench in first-half stoppage time. He must have been tempted to send on Daniel Iversen for Ward for the second half.
Ward kept his place and was still derided by his own supporters. Four changes had been made by the 54th minute and Foxes supporters cheered when Justin was replaced at right-back by Hamza Choudhury – a central midfielder.
Van Nistelrooy’s arrival in place of Steve Cooper gave Leicester a shot of enthusiasm – but these days it never takes long for the mood to turn ugly here.
