2012–13 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season

Wolverhampton Wanderers
2012–13 season
ChairmanSteve Morgan
ManagerStåle Solbakken
(until 5 January)
Dean Saunders
(from 7 January)
Championship23rd
(relegated)
FA Cup3rd round
League Cup3rd round
Top goalscorerLeague: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (14)
All: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (15)
Highest home attendance28,595 (vs Ipswich,
29 December 2012)
Lowest home attendance11,555 (vs Aldershot,
11 August 2012)
Average home league attendance21,662

The 2012–13 season was the 114th season of competitive league football in the history of English football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club competed in the second tier of the English football system, the Football League Championship. They had returned to the second level having been relegated from the Premier League after three seasons during the previous season.

Norwegian manager Ståle Solbakken was appointed to begin the season as the club's manager,[1] but he was sacked on 5 January with the team in 18th place and having been eliminated from the FA Cup by at that time non-league club Luton Town.[2] He was swiftly replaced by former Doncaster Rovers manager Dean Saunders who oversaw the remaining twenty games.[3]

After Saunders failed to bring any upturn, the club suffered relegation for a second successive season to drop into the third level for the first time since 1988–89.[4] This made them the only club to twice experience back-to-back relegations from the top flight, having already suffered this previously in the mid 1980s.[5] Three days after their relegation was confirmed, Saunders was fired having held the post for only four months.[6]

Season review[edit]

Former Norwegian international Ståle Solbakken began the season as Wolves' new manager.

Having been relegated from the Premier League after three seasons, the club sought to put a new playing style in place under new manager Ståle Solbakken[7] who officially became the permanent replacement for Mick McCarthy on 1 July.[1] In contrast to McCarthy's preference for British and Irish players, the Norwegian used the foreign market for all of his summer signings, with Bakary Sako,[8] Razak Boukari,[9] Björn Sigurðarson[10] and Georg Margreitter[11] signing permanent deals as well as the loan captures of Tongo Doumbia and Sławomir Peszko.[12][13] Despite these incomings, the transfer window saw the sale of several key players with leading goalscorer Steven Fletcher exiting for a club record £14 million fee,[14] and both Matt Jarvis and Michael Kightly also remaining in the Premier League with new clubs.[15][16]

The players began pre-season training on 9 July,[17] which featured a week at a training camp in Ireland.[18] After four pre-season matches, their first competitive game of the campaign saw the team narrowly win a League Cup tie against Aldershot after a penalty shootout.[19] League football began on 18 August with a 0–1 defeat at Leeds,[20] before the team registered their first victory at Molineux in nine months by beating Barnsley.[21]

After an inconsistent start September brought a run of four consecutive victories to lift the team up the table. Victory at fellow newly relegated club Blackburn in early October placed Wolves in third place, which was to be their highest position of the season. These results came at a price as their injury list grew with Razak Boukari, Stephen Hunt[22] and Sławomir Peszko[23] all sidelined with long-term problems. Winger Jermaine Pennant was therefore loaned to help but the team hit a poor run of form and failed to win any of their next ten fixtures.[24]

December began with a halting of this poor sequence as three wins were recorded from four games, but their three games over the festive period were all lost, leading Solbakken to declare that they were "in a crisis".[25] When the following game - a loss at Luton - brought their first exit from the FA Cup to a non-league side since 1986,[26] he was fired as manager after six months in the role.[2] He later expressed disappointment at owner Steve Morgan offering him such a limited period of time to oversee a reshaping of the club's playing culture and identity.[27]

In contrast to the club's "drawn-out" recruitment process after the dismissal of Mick McCarthy,[28] Solbakken's replacement was swiftly announced within two days as former Doncaster Rovers' manager Dean Saunders was unveiled on 7 January as Wolves' fourth different manager within twelve months.[3] Steve Morgan defended the changes and stated that he hoped Saunders would be with the club "for a long period of time".[29]

Dean Saunders became Wolves' second manager of the season.

At the time of Saunders' first game at the helm, the team sat in 18th position six points clear of the relegation zone and nine points from the play-off places.[30] He said that, while he believed promotion still remained possible, "the more likely scenario is we’re going to creep up the league."[31] He soon used the January transfer window to make two loan signings as defenders Kaspars Gorkšs and Jack Robinson were brought in from the top flight.[32][33] The manager's first game brought a 1–1 draw against Blackburn, which was to be the first of nine winless games under his command.[34]

Saunders' first win arrived at the start of March, by which time the team had slumped into the Championship relegation zone for the first time since October 1999.[35] An upturn in form brought four wins from five games but the form of the other relegation-battling sides meant that Wolves were never any more than a single point above the relegation zone. Injuries to both of their leading goalscorers, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Bakary Sako, further endangered their risk of losing their Championship status.[36][37]

Shorn of attacking options, their final six games brought five defeats which meant relegation for a second consecutive season.[38] A home loss to Burnley in their penultimate match effectively consigned the club to their fate, and led to some supporters storming the pitch at full-time to show their anger at the situation.[39] Only victory on the final day, coupled with defeats for both Barnsley and Peterborough and a five-goal swing in goal difference would have prevented relegation,[40] but in the event, Wolves lost their game at Brighton to become the first club to twice be relegated from the top division to the third level within two years.[41]

Although Saunders initially spoke of his hopes to be allowed to rebuild the team in League One,[42][43] three days later it was announced that he had become the fourth Wolves manager in fifteen months to leave his post.[6] The club announced it would be taking an indefinite time to seek a "head coach" rather than a manager as it sought to restructure in preparation for their first season outside the top two divisions since 1988–89.[44]

Results[edit]

Pre season[edit]

The final pre-season friendly was scheduled to be held on 11 August against Aston Villa, but was cancelled to allow Wolves to instead take up the option of playing their League Cup tie on this date.[45]

21 July 2012 Bray Wanderers 1–5 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bray, Ireland
15:00 BST Waters 32' Report Nouble 14'
Fletcher 56', 87'
Jarvis 60'
Doherty 81'		 Stadium: Carlisle Grounds
Referee: Derek Tomney
28 July 2012 Walsall 0–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Walsall
15:00 BST Report Nouble 23'
Hammill 37'
Doyle 68'		 Stadium: Banks's Stadium
Attendance: 4,219 (2,247 away)
Referee: Oliver Langford
31 July 2012 Shrewsbury Town 2–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Shrewsbury
19:00 BST Gornell 19'
Berra 41' (o.g.)		 Report Ebanks-Blake 51'
Doumbia 75'		 Stadium: Greenhous Meadow
Attendance: 4,105
Referee: Rob Lewis
4 August 2012 Southampton 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Southampton
15:00 BST Sharp 22'
Puncheon 69'		 Report Stadium: St Mary's
Attendance: 3,978
Referee: Andy Davies

"Wolves Development XI" pre season results: 0–2 vs Leyton Orient (25 July), 0–1 vs Kidderminster Harriers (27 July), 4–2 vs Birmingham (1 August), 2–0 vs Telford United (3 August), 3–1 vs Wigan (8 August)

Football League Championship[edit]

See also: 2012–13 Football League Championship

A total of 24 teams competed in the Football League Championship in the 2012–13 season. Each team played every other team twice, once at their stadium, and once at the opposition's. Three points were awarded to teams for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats.

The provisional fixture list was released on 18 June 2012, but was subject to change in the event of matches being selected for television coverage or police concerns.[46]

18 August 2012 1 Leeds United 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Leeds
12:45 BST Becchio 17' Report Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 23,745 (1,541 away fans)
Referee: Anthony Bates
21 August 2012 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Barnsley Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Ward 8'
Ebanks-Blake 61'
Edwards 70'		 Report Cywka 79' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,400 (475 away fans)
Referee: Phil Gibbs
25 August 2012 3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Derby County Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Doyle 35' Report Robinson 90+3' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,861 (1,480 away fans)
Referee: Jon Moss
2 September 2012 4 Cardiff City 3–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Cardiff
14:00 BST Whittingham 11' (pen.), 14', 65' Report Sako 10' Stadium: Cardiff City Stadium
Attendance: 22,020 (1,479 away fans)
Referee: Andy D'Urso
16 September 2012 5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Leicester City Wolverhampton
13:15 BST Ebanks-Blake 13'
Stearman 21'		 Report Konchesky 70' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,030 (1,375 away fans)
Referee: Stuart Attwell
19 September 2012 6 Ipswich Town 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Ipswich
19:45 BST Report Smith 69' (o.g.)
Doumbia 77'		 Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 16,540 (723 away fans)
Referee: Graham Scott
22 September 2012 7 Peterborough United 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Peterborough
15:00 BST Report Ebanks-Blake 33' (pen.)
Sigurðarson 82'		 Stadium: London Road
Attendance: 9,280 (2,758 away fans)
Referee: Andy Haines
29 September 2012 8 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Sako 43' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,591 (2,960 away fans)
Referee: Simon Hooper
2 October 2012 9 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Crystal Palace Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Ebanks-Blake 53' Report Zaha 67', 73' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 19,561 (321 away fans)
Referee: Graham Salisbury
6 October 2012 10 Blackburn Rovers 0–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Blackburn
15:00 BST Report Sako 78' Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 17,034 (1,297 away fans)
Referee: Nigel Miller
20 October 2012 11 Huddersfield Town 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Huddersfield
15:00 BST Vaughan 10'
Beckford 27'		 Report Ebanks-Blake 63' Stadium: John Smith's Stadium
Attendance: 18,012 (2,521 away fans)
Referee: James Adcock
23 October 2012 12 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–2 Bolton Wanderers Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Doyle 27', 30' Report Afobe 21'
Davies 90'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,915 (826 away fans)
Referee: Lee Probert
27 October 2012 13 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Charlton Athletic Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Sako 12' Report Wilson 58' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,198 (1,055 away fans)
Referee: Craig Pawson
3 November 2012 14 Burnley 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Burnley
15:00 GMT Paterson 18'
Austin 53'		 Report Stadium: Turf Moor
Attendance: 12,295 (1,096 away fans)
Referee: Mark Heywood
6 November 2012 15 Hull City 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Kingston upon Hull
19:45 GMT Aluko 29'
Simpson 51'		 Report Chester 67' (o.g.) Stadium: KC Stadium
Attendance: 14,768 (501 away fans)
Referee: David Webb
10 November 2012 16 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–3 Brighton & Hove Albion Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Sako 22'
Doumbia 61'
Johnson 90+2'		 Report Mackail-Smith 43'
Buckley 72'
Dobbie 89' (pen.)		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,203 (1,869 away fans)
Referee: Scott Mathieson
17 November 2012 17 Watford 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Watford
15:00 GMT Chalobah 35'
Deeney 68'		 Report Sako 54' Stadium: Vicarage Road
Attendance: 13,588 (1,825 away fans)
Referee: Graham Scott
24 November 2012 18 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Nottingham Forest Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Sigurðarson 5' Report Sharp 16'
Guedioura 57'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 22,527 (2,568 away fans)
Referee: Roger East
27 November 2012 19 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–1 Millwall Wolverhampton
19:45 GMT Report Keogh 79' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 18,174 (280 away fans)
Referee: Michael Naylor
1 December 2012 20 Bristol City 1–4 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bristol
15:00 GMT Danns 85' Report Ebanks-Blake 20'
Doyle 25', 41'
Sigurðarson 44'		 Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 13,892 (1,724 away fans)
Referee: Keith Stroud
8 December 2012 21 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Birmingham City Wolverhampton
17:20 GMT King 34' (o.g.) Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,339 (2,063 away fans)
Referee: Anthony Taylor
15 December 2012 22 Middlesbrough 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Middlesbrough
15:00 GMT Emnes 89' (pen.)
McDonald 90+4'		 Report Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 15,662 (699 away fans)
Referee: Robert Madley
21 December 2012 23 Blackpool 1–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers Blackpool
19:45 GMT Baptiste 89' Report Ebanks-Blake 3', 72' (pen.) Stadium: Bloomfield Road
Attendance: 14,556 (975 away fans)
Referee: David Coote
26 December 2012 24 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–3 Peterborough United Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Report Tomlin 17'
Rowe 43'
Gayle 69'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,033 (532 away fans)
Referee: Mark Heywood
29 December 2012 25 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0–2 Ipswich Town Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Report Cresswell 33'
Campbell 64'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 28,595 (913 away fans)
Referee: Darren Drysdale
1 January 2013 26 Crystal Palace 3–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
15:00 GMT Moritz 31', 52'
Bolasie 40'		 Report Ebanks-Blake 75' Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 17,453 (1,033 away fans)
Referee: David Phillips
11 January 2013 27 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Blackburn Rovers Wolverhampton
19:45 GMT Johnson 74' Report Rhodes 26' (pen.) Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,264 (494 away fans)
Referee: Dean Whitestone
19 January 2013 28 Sheffield Wednesday 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Sheffield
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 21,142 (1,531 away fans)
Referee: Robert Madley
26 January 2013 29 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Blackpool Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Ebanks-Blake 15' Report Ince 45', 78' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,100 (520 away fans)
Referee: Scott Mathieson
31 January 2013 30 Leicester City 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Leicester
19:45 GMT Knockaert 24'
Nugent 73'		 Report Sako 51' Stadium: King Power Stadium
Attendance: 21,677 (772 away fans)
Referee: Robert Madley
9 February 2013 31 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–2 Leeds United Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT Peltier 57' (o.g.)
Batth 90+2'		 Report Varney 64'
McCormack 78' (pen.)		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,463 (2,570 away fans)
Referee: Roger East
16 February 2013 32 Derby County 0–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Derby
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Pride Park
Attendance: 23,036 (1,953 away fans)
Referee: Graham Salisbury
19 February 2013 33 Barnsley 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Barnsley
19:45 GMT Dagnall 49'
Mellis 73'		 Report Sigurðarson 7' Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 10,972 (999 away fans)
Referee: Darren Sheldrake
24 February 2013 34 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Cardiff City Wolverhampton
14:00 GMT Sako 70' Report Campbell 20', 67' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 20,930 (2,516 away fans)
Referee: Stuart Attwell
1 March 2013 35 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 Watford Wolverhampton
19:45 GMT Sako 90+3' Report Abdi 41' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 18,571 (725 away fans)
Referee: Paul Tierney
4 March 2013 36 Millwall 0–2 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
19:45 GMT Report Edwards 9'
Ebanks-Blake 61'		 Stadium: The Den
Attendance: 8,727 (626 away fans)
Referee: Mick Russell
9 March 2013 37 Nottingham Forest 3–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers Nottingham
19:45 GMT Lansbury 31', 67'
McGugan 90'		 Report Doherty 65' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 23,350 (2,267 away fans)
Referee: Michael Naylor
16 March 2013 38 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 Bristol City Wolverhampton
19:45 GMT Ebanks-Blake 76'
Doyle 78'		 Report Davis 25' (o.g.) Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,711 (1,865 away fans)
Referee: Geoff Eltringham
30 March 2013 39 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–2 Middlesbrough Wolverhampton
15:00 GMT McManus 17' (o.g.)
Sigurðarson 48'
Doyle 70'		 Report Leadbitter 25', 52' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 21,277 (606 away fans)
Referee: Anthony Bates
1 April 2013 40 Birmingham City 2–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Birmingham
15:00 BST Elliott 55' (pen.) soccer ball with red X 90+6' 90+6' Report Hunt 20'
Ebanks-Blake 27', 37' (pen.)		 Stadium: St Andrew's
Attendance: 19,630 (1,623 away fans)
Referee: Carl Boyeson
6 April 2013 41 Bolton Wanderers 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Bolton
15:00 BST N'Gog 3'
Alonso 10'		 Report Stadium: Reebok Stadium
Attendance: 18,432 (1,385 away fans)
Referee: Andy D'Urso
13 April 2013 42 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–3 Huddersfield Town Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Ward 4' Report Scannell 27'
Beckford 69', 70'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 23,185 (1,890 away fans)
Referee: Keith Stroud
16 April 2013 43 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 Hull City Wolverhampton
19:45 BST Doyle 55' Report Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 19,641 (1,454 away fans)
Referee: Andy Woolmer
20 April 2013 44 Charlton Athletic 2–1 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
15:00 BST Dervite 63'
Obika 90'		 Report Doyle 66' Stadium: The Valley
Attendance: 19,023 (1,968 away fans)
Referee: Roger East
27 April 2013 45 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–2 Burnley Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Dicko 88' Report Ings 8'
Paterson 53'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,199 (949 away fans)
Referee: Darren Sheldrake
4 May 2013 46 Brighton & Hove Albion 2–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Brighton
12:45 BST LuaLua 5', 39' Report Stadium: Falmer Stadium
Attendance: 30,003 (1,994 away fans)
Referee: Simon Hooper
Final table
Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
21 Barnsley 46 14 13 19 56 70 −14 55
22 Peterborough United (R) 46 15 9 22 66 75 −9 54 Relegation to Football League One
23 Wolverhampton Wanderers (R) 46 14 9 23 55 69 −14 51
24 Bristol City (R) 46 11 8 27 59 84 −25 41
Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2013. Source: BBC Sport
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated
Results summary
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
46 14 9 23 55 69  −14 51 7 7 9 30 35  −5 7 2 14 25 34  −9

Source: Statto.com

Results by round
Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546
ResultLWDLWWWWLWLDDLLDLLLWWLWLLLDDLLDDLLDWLWWWLLWLLL
Position1791119107535355891315161718171618131517181717181921212222222121232218192321222323
Source: Statto.com
W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

FA Cup[edit]

See also: 2012–13 FA Cup
5 January 2013 3rd Round Luton Town 1–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers Luton
15:00 GMT Lawless 46' Report Stadium: Kenilworth Road
Attendance: 9,638 (1,450 away fans)
Referee: Geoff Eltrigham

League Cup[edit]

See also: 2012–13 Football League Cup
11 August 2012 1st Round Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(7–6 p)		 Aldershot Town Wolverhampton
15:00 BST Ebanks-Blake 53' Report Rankine 62' Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 11,555 (607 away fans)
Referee: James Adcock
Penalties
30 August 2012 2nd Round Northampton Town 1–3 Wolverhampton Wanderers Northampton
19:45 BST Platt 40' Report Batth 16'
Nouble 45+1'
Sako 90+1'		 Stadium: Sixfields
Attendance: 3,758 (671 away fans)
Referee: Darren Deadman
25 September 2012 3rd Round Chelsea 6–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers London
19:45 BST Cahill 4'
Bertrand 8'
Mata 17'
Romeu 53' (pen.)
Torres 58'
Moses 71'		 Report Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 32,569 (989 away fans)
Referee: Neil Swarbrick

Players[edit]

Statistics[edit]

Key:
  ‡ On loan from another club   * First appearance(s) for the club

Correct as of end of season. Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances in parentheses where applicable.

No.PosNamePGPGPGPG A yellow card A red card Notes
League FA CupLeague CupTotalDiscipline
1 GK Wales Wayne Hennessey 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3 DF Cameroon George Elokobi ¤ 1(1) 0 0 0 1 0 2(1) 0 0 0
4 MF Wales David Edwards 14(10) 2 0 0 1 0 15(10) 2 1 0
5 DF England Richard Stearman ¤ 8(4) 1 0 0 3 0 11(4) 1 1 0
6 DF England Jody Craddock 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 MF England Michael Kightly † 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 MF Poland Sławomir Peszko ‡ 7(6) 0 0(1) 0 1(1) 0 8(8) 0 3 0
8 MF England Karl Henry (c) 36(3) 0 1 0 1 0 38(3) 0 8 1
9 FW England Sylvan Ebanks-Blake 31(9) 14 1 0 1 1 33(9) 15 6 0
10 FW Scotland Steven Fletcher † 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
10 MF France Bakary Sako 36(1) 9 1 0 0(1) 1 37(2) 10 3 0
11 DF Republic of Ireland Stephen Ward 37(2) 2 1 0 1 0 39(2) 2 2 1
12 MF Republic of Ireland Stephen Hunt 8(4) 1 0 0 1(1) 0 9(5) 1 1 0
13 GK Nigeria Carl Ikeme 38 0 1 0 2 0 41 0 0 0
14 DF England Roger Johnson 42 2 1 0 1 0 44 2 7 1
15 FW Iceland Björn Sigurðarson 22(15) 5 0 0 2 0 24(15) 5 2 0
16 DF Scotland Christophe Berra 30 0 1 0 0(1) 0 31(1) 0 1 1
17 MF England Matt Jarvis † 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0
17 MF Togo Razak Boukari 2(2) 0 0 0 2 0 4(2) 0 2 0
18 FW England Frank Nouble † 0(2) 0 0 0 1(2) 1 1(4) 1 0 0
18 GK Slovakia Marián Kello 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
19 MF England Adam Hammill ¤ 0(4) 0 0 0 0 0 0(4) 0 0 0
20 MF Serbia Nenad Milijaš † 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
20 MF England Jermaine Pennant ‡ 10(5) 0 0 0 0 0 10(5) 0 2 0
20 DF England Jack Robinson ‡ 11 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 1 0
21 DF France Steven Mouyokolo † 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
21 DF Latvia Kaspars Gorkšs ‡ 15 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 2 0
22 MF Iceland Eggert Jónsson ¤ 0(1) 0 0 0 1 0 1(1) 0 1 0
23 DF Guadeloupe Ronald Zubar † 7(1) 0 0 0 2 0 9(1) 0 0 0
23 MF France Nouha Dicko ‡ 1(3) 1 0 0 0 0 1(3) 1 1 0
24 MF England Jamie O'Hara 15(5) 0 1 0 0 0 16(5) 0 5 1
25 DF England Danny Batth 5(7) 1 0 0 2 1 7(7) 2 0 0
26 MF England David Davis 12(16) 0 0(1) 0 3 0 15(17) 0 4 0
27 MF Republic of Ireland Anthony Forde ¤ 1(11) 0 1 0 2(1) 0 4(12) 0 0 0
28 MF Mali Tongo Doumbia ‡ 27(6) 2 0 0 1(1) 0 28(7) 2 2 0
29 FW Republic of Ireland Kevin Doyle 40(2) 9 1 0 1 0 42(2) 9 2 0
30 DF Republic of Ireland Matt Doherty ¤ 13 1 0 0 0 0 13 1 5 0
31 GK Netherlands Dorus de Vries 8(2) 0 0 0 1 0 9(2) 0 0 0
32 DF Republic of Ireland Kevin Foley 24(2) 0 1 0 0 0 25(2) 0 1 0
33 DF England Jamie Reckord ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
34 DF Austria Georg Margreitter 0(1) 0 0 0 2 0 2(1) 0 0 0
35 FW Wales Jake Cassidy ¤ 3(3) 0 0(1) 0 0 0 3(4) 0 0 0
36 GK Republic of Ireland Aaron McCarey ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
37 FW England Sam Winnall ¤ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
39 DF England Michael Ihiekwe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
41 MF England Jack Price 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
42 MF Sweden Tim Jakobsson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
43 GK Slovenia Aljaž Cotman 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
44 DF Slovakia Kristián Koštrna 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
45 DF Wales Jordan Cranston 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
46 MF England Sam Whittall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
47 MF England Zeli Ismail ¤ 0 0 0 0 0(1) 0 0(1) 0 0 0
48 FW England Jake Kempton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
49 FW Northern Ireland Liam McAlinden 0(1) 0 0 0 0 0 0(1) 0 0 0
50 DF England Jamie Tank 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Awards[edit]

Award Winner[47]
Fans' Player of the Season Bakary Sako

Transfers[edit]

In[edit]

Date Player From Fee
22 June 2012 England Frank Nouble West Ham United Free[48]
17 July 2012 Iceland Björn Sigurðarson Norway Lillestrøm £2.4 million[10]
24 August 2012 Austria Georg Margreitter Austria Austria Vienna £500,000[11]
27 August 2012 Togo Razak Boukari France Rennes Undisclosed[9]
29 August 2012 France Bakary Sako France Saint-Étienne £2.7 million[8]
30 August 2012 Sweden Tim Jakobsson Sweden IK Frej Free
30 August 2012 England Regan Upton Burton Albion Free
13 November 2012 Mali Tongo Doumbia France Rennes £2 million[49]
28 March 2013 Slovakia Marián Kello Unattached Free[50]

Out[edit]

Date Player To Fee
June 2012 England Oliver Bashford Released Free
June 2012 England Ashley Hemmings Released Free[51]
June 2012 England Josh Shepherd Released Free
June 2012 England James Spray Released Free[51]
11 June 2012 England Louis Harris AFC Wimbledon Free[52]
6 July 2012 England Nathaniel Mendez-Laing Peterborough United Undisclosed[53]
23 July 2012 Algeria Adlène Guedioura Nottingham Forest Undisclosed[54]
31 July 2012 Wales Sam Vokes Burnley £350,000[55]
8 August 2012 England Michael Kightly Stoke City Undisclosed[16]
24 August 2012 England Matt Jarvis West Ham United £10.75 million[15]
24 August 2012 Scotland Steven Fletcher Sunderland £14 million[14]
30 August 2012 Serbia Nenad Milijaš Released Free[56]
8 January 2013 England Frank Nouble Ipswich Town Undisclosed[57]
30 January 2013 France Steven Mouyokolo Released Free[58]
30 January 2013 Guadeloupe Ronald Zubar France Ajaccio Free[59]

Loans in[edit]

Date Player From End Date
30 July 2012 Mali Tongo Doumbia France Rennes 13 November 2012[12]
9 August 2012 Poland Sławomir Peszko Germany Köln End of season[13]
12 October 2012 England Jermaine Pennant Stoke City 12 January 2013[24]
12 February 2013 Latvia Kaspars Gorkšs Reading End of season[32]
18 February 2013 England Jack Robinson Liverpool End of season[33]
28 March 2013 France Nouha Dicko Wigan Athletic End of season[50]

Loans out[edit]

Date Player To End Date
21 July 2012 Scotland Leigh Griffiths Scotland Hibernian 20 January 2013[60]
2 August 2012 Wales Jake Cassidy Tranmere Rovers 1 January 2013[61]
6 August 2012 Northern Ireland Johnny Gorman Plymouth Argyle 6 January 2013[62]
31 August 2012 England Adam Hammill Huddersfield Town 13 January 2013[63]
21 September 2012 England Jamie Reckord Coventry City 30 November 2012[64]
26 September 2012 Cameroon George Elokobi Bristol City 27 December 2012[65]
28 September 2012 England Sam Winnall Shrewsbury Town 28 October 2012[66]
4 October 2012 Republic of Ireland Matt Doherty Bury 3 January 2013[67]
9 November 2012 England Ethan Ebanks-Landell Bury 3 January 2013[68]
9 November 2012 Iceland Eggert Jónsson Charlton Athletic 6 December 2013[69]
16 November 2012 Republic of Ireland Aaron McCarey Walsall 31 December 2012[70]
22 November 2012 England Zeli Ismail Milton Keynes Dons 2 January 2013[71]
4 January 2013 England Zeli Ismail Milton Keynes Dons 8 February 2013[72][73]
10 January 2013 England Ethan Ebanks-Landell Bury End of season[74]
29 January 2013 England Richard Stearman Ipswich Town End of season[75]
31 January 2013 Northern Ireland Johnny Gorman Macclesfield Town 1 March 2013[76]
21 February 2013 Republic of Ireland Aaron McCarey Walsall End of season[77]
14 March 2013 Republic of Ireland Anthony Forde Scunthorpe United End of season[78]
15 March 2013 Northern Ireland Johnny Gorman Cambridge United End of season[79]

Management and coaching staff[edit]

Position Name
Manager Ståle Solbakken (until 5 January), then Dean Saunders
Assistant manager Terry Connor (until 3 September), then Johan Lange (19 October–5 January), Brian Carey (8 January onward)
First Team coach Johan Lange (until 19 October), then Patrick Weiser (19 October–5 January) before role ended
Development coach Steve Weaver
First Team Fitness and Conditioning coach Tony Daley
Goalkeeping coach Pat Mountain
Academy Manager Kevin Thelwell
Assistant Academy Manager / Under-18's coach Mick Halsall
Club Doctor Dr Matthew Perry
Club Physio Phil Hayward

Kit[edit]

The season brought both new home and away kits manufactured, for the final year of their contract, by BURRDA. The new home kit featured the club's traditional gold and black colours, with the shirt having a gold collar. The away kit was a teal kit, reviving the colours used in their 1996–97 change strip. Both shirts featured the internet gambling company Sportingbet.com as sponsor for the final time.[80]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Wolves appoint Norwegian Stale Solbakken as new manager". BBC Sport. 11 May 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Wolves sack manager Stale Solbakken after FA Cup exit". BBC Sport. 5 January 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Dean Saunders: Wolves appoint Doncaster Rovers boss". BBC Sport. 7 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Wolves chairman Steve Morgan says club have failed their city". BBC Sport. 4 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Wolves relegated to League One". Express & Star. 6 May 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Dean Saunders sacked after relegation to League One". BBC Sport. 7 May 2013.
  7. ^ "Identity born". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 19 July 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Wolves sign Bakary Sako from St Etienne on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 29 August 2012.
  9. ^ a b "Wolves sign winger Razak Boukari from Rennes". BBC Sport. 27 August 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Wolves confirm Sigurdarson deal". Sky Sports. 17 July 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Wolves sign Austrian defender Georg Margreitter". BBC Sport. 24 August 2012.
  12. ^ a b "Wolverhampton Wanderers sign Tongo Doumbia". BBC Sport. 30 July 2012.
  13. ^ a b "Wolves sign Cologne's Poland winger Slawomir Peszko on loan". BBC Sport. 9 August 2012.
  14. ^ a b "Steven Fletcher: Sunderland complete £14m deal for Wolves striker". BBC Sport. 24 August 2012.
  15. ^ a b "West Ham agree £10.75m deal for Wolves winger Matt Jarvis". BBC Sport. 24 August 2012.
  16. ^ a b "Michael Kightly: Stoke City sign Wolves winger". BBC Sport. 8 August 2012.
  17. ^ "Back to work!". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 10 July 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  18. ^ "Squad for Ireland". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 16 July 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  19. ^ "Wolves 1–1 Aldershot". BBC Sport. 11 August 2012.
  20. ^ "Leeds 1–0 Wolves". BBC Sport. 18 August 2012.
  21. ^ "Wolves 3–1 Barnsley". BBC Sport. 21 August 2012.
  22. ^ "Boukari update/Hunt set for surgery". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 1 October 2012. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  23. ^ "Peszko set to be out for three months". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 5 October 2012. Archived from the original on 12 January 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  24. ^ a b "Wolves sign winger Jermaine Pennant from Stoke City on loan". BBC Sport. 12 October 2012.
  25. ^ "Boss admits it's crisis time". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 1 January 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  26. ^ "Woeful Wolverhampton Wanderers broken by Luton Town's Alex Lawless". The Independent. 5 January 2013. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
  27. ^ "Stale Solbakken is blaming Steve Morgan". Express & Star. 29 April 2013.
  28. ^ James, Stuart (23 February 2012). "Wolves left embarrassed as Walter Smith rejects short-term contract". The Guardian2. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  29. ^ "My great pride". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 7 January 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  30. ^ "English League Championship 2012-2013: Table (01.01.2013)". Statto. 1 January 2013.
  31. ^ "Safety first for Wolves boss Dean Saunders". Express & Star. 25 January 2013.
  32. ^ a b "Wolves: Reading defender Kaspars Gorkss signs on loan". BBC Sport. 12 February 2013.
  33. ^ a b "Wolves: Liverpool defender Jack Robinson joins on loan". BBC Sport. 19 February 2013.
  34. ^ "Wolves 1–1 Blackburn". BBC Sport. 11 January 2013.
  35. ^ "Wolves fans furious as Dean Saunders faces up to relegation fight". Shropshire Star. 20 February 2013.
  36. ^ "Wolves lose injured striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake for relegation run-in". Sky Sports. 3 April 2013.
  37. ^ "Wolves trio Carl Ikeme, Bakary Sako and Dave Edwards ruled out for the season". Express & Star. 25 March 2013.
  38. ^ "Brighton 2–0 Wolves". BBC Sport. 4 May 2013.
  39. ^ "Wolves fans invade pitch after Burnley defeat". Sky News. 27 April 2013.
  40. ^ "Unlikely but possible". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 3 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  41. ^ "Wolves remain in turmoil and face second successive relegation". The Guardian. 15 March 2013.
  42. ^ "Dean Saunders: "Our fans have had three years of pain. I'll be delighted to try and change it for them."". Birmingham Mail. 4 May 2013.
  43. ^ "Dean Saunders battles to stay after Wolves are relegated again". The Guardian. 5 May 2013.
  44. ^ "Recruitment process underway". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 9 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  45. ^ "Aldershot fixture update". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 29 June 2012. Archived from the original on 2 July 2012.
  46. ^ "Championship fixtures: Blackburn begin away at Ipswich". BBC Sport. 18 June 2012.
  47. ^ "Sako Player Of The Year". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 26 April 2013. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
  48. ^ "Wolverhampton Wanderers sign West Ham's Frank Nouble". BBC Sport. 22 June 2012.
  49. ^ "Doumbia a done deal". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 13 November 2012. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  50. ^ a b "Nouha Dicko: Wolves sign Wigan winger on loan". BBC Sport. 28 March 2013.
  51. ^ a b "Craddock invited back". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 18 May 2012. Archived from the original on 20 May 2012.
  52. ^ "Louis Harris joins AFC Wimbledon from Wolves". BBC Sport. 11 June 2012.
  53. ^ "Mendez-Laing makes Peterborough United move". BBC Sport. 6 July 2012.
  54. ^ "Nottingham Forest sign Wolves midfielder Adlene Guedioura". BBC Sport. 23 July 2012.
  55. ^ "Burnley sign Wales international Sam Vokes from Wolves". BBC Sport. 31 July 2012.
  56. ^ "Wolves cancel Nenad Milijas contract by mutual consent". BBC Sport. 30 August 2012.
  57. ^ "Ipswich Town sign Frank Nouble from Wolves". BBC Sport. 8 January 2013.
  58. ^ "Steven Mouyokolo is latest to leave Wolves". Express & Star. 30 January 2013.
  59. ^ "Wolves: Ronald Zubar to leave for French club AC Ajaccio". BBC Sport. 30 January 2013.
  60. ^ "Wolves striker Leigh Griffiths will return to Hibs on loan". BBC Sport. 21 July 2012.
  61. ^ "Tranmere Rovers sign Jake Cassidy and Joe Thompson". BBC Sport. 2 August 2012.
  62. ^ "Plymouth Argyle sign Johnny Gorman and Rhys Griffiths". BBC Sport. 6 August 2012.
  63. ^ "Huddersfield sign Wolves winger Adam Hammill on loan". BBC Sport. 31 August 2012.
  64. ^ "Coventry City sign Henderson, Reckord and Moussa". BBC Sport. 21 September 2012.
  65. ^ "Bristol City sign George Elokobi on loan from Wolves". BBC Sport. 26 September 2012.
  66. ^ "Shrewsbury Town sign Lee Collins and Sam Winnall on loan". BBC Sport. 28 September 2012.
  67. ^ "Wolves defender Matt Doherty joins Bury on loan". BBC Sport. 4 October 2012.
  68. ^ "Bury sign Ethan Ebanks-Landell on loan from Wolves". BBC Sport. 9 November 2012.
  69. ^ "Charlton Athletic sign Eggert Jonsson and Dan Seaborne on loan". BBC Sport. 9 November 2012.
  70. ^ "Wolves loan Aaron McCarey to Walsall for a month". BBC Sport. 16 November 2012.
  71. ^ "Zeli Ismail joins MK Dons from Wolves on loan". BBC Sport. 23 November 2012.
  72. ^ "MK Dons re-sign Zeli Ismail from Wolves". BBC Sport. 4 January 2013.
  73. ^ "Ismail returns to Wolves". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 8 February 2013. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2013.
  74. ^ "Wolves defender Ethan Ebanks-Landell returns to Bury". BBC Sport. 10 January 2013.
  75. ^ "Richard Stearman: Ipswich Town sign Wolves defender on loan". BBC Sport. 29 January 2013.
  76. ^ "Murphy, Gorman, Evans & Taylor join Macclesfield Town". BBC Sport. 31 January 2013.
  77. ^ "Aaron McCarey: Walsall re-sign Wolves goalkeeper on loan". BBC Sport. 21 February 2013.
  78. ^ "Scunthorpe: Wolves winger Anthony Forde joins on loan until May". BBC Sport. 14 March 2013.
  79. ^ "Wolves winger Johnny Gorman joins Cambridge United". BBC Sport. 15 March 2013.
  80. ^ "Sportingbet.com extends Wolves sponsorship deal". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 4 May 2010. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2012–13_Wolverhampton_Wanderers_F.C._season&oldid=1155593998"