Never before have I experienced such a dismal succession of last minute goals that have cost valuable points. The situation gets worse and worse.

This season has been a real emotional slog but it could be so different. If games lasted 87 minutes instead of 90, Wolves would have SEVEN more points and sit 12th in the table. Everyone would be saying how impressive it was that we had managed to progress from last season and we would all be looking forward to another year in the top flight.

I had hoped to be writing this post about a magnificent victory in a fierce local derby – a relegation six pointer. I thought there might be red cards to discuss, contentious decisions or masterful tactics.

When Jamie O’Hara scored that brilliant goal, I was looking forward to waxing lyrical about it. Then came the 92nd minute and the grim realisation that I needed to talk about the same damn thing again.

So now the roll of shame includes Fulham (90+1), Spurs (87, 90), Villa (88), Man U (90+3), Bolton (90+2) and Albion (90+2). It’s just not acceptable but I don’t know what can be done.

Tactics, substitutions, training ground drills and motivation only count so far unless you can answer the following questions:

• How do you make sure Jarvis puts away his golden chance to make it 2-0 instead of dragging it wide?

• How do you ensure every shot is closed down when your defenders are dead on their feet?

• How do you guarantee your goalkeeper won’t spill a shot to their striker in the final minute?

Vela’s equaliser in the 92nd minute was terrible to watch but Mick McCarthy’s post-match comment was sensible.

“Would I have taken a point beforehand? Yes. Do I feel bitter about ending up with one? Yes. Do I think it’s still a good point? Yes,” he said. He’s right that there’s no point dwelling on what might have been against Albion. We just have to pick ourselves up and beat Blackpool.

The fixture list is the one thing giving me consolation today so if you’re still smarting from yesterday’s result, take a look at this and keep thinking positively.

Wolves: Blackpool, Spurs, Villa, Newcastle, Everton, Stoke, Fulham, Birmingham, West Brom, Sunderland Blackburn.

Would you take any of the following fixture lists ahead of our own?

West Brom: Stoke, Birmingham, Arsenal , Liverpool, Sunderland, Chelsea, Tottenham, Villa, Wolves, Everton, Newcastle.

West Ham: Liverpool, Stoke, Spurs, Man U, Bolton, Villa, Chelsea, Man City, Blackburn, Wigan, Sunderland.

Blackpool: Spurs, Wolves, Chelsea, Blackburn, Fulham, Arsenal, Wigan, Newcastle, Stoke, Spurs, Bolton, Man U.

We can still do this.

Tweet

Follow ESPNsoccernet's Football Correspondents on Twitter and Facebook