JACKETT: SAKO’S NOT FOR SALE
ANY Premier League scouts at Molineux mulling over a deadline day bid for Rovers striker Jordan Rhodes might have left with a different target in mind – but Kenny Jackett is adamant he is in no mood to sell.
Wolves’s Bakary Sako stole the show as he ran Rovers ragged, playing a key role in Nouha Dicko’s opener before bagging a fine double himself.
And with Blackburn putting a ‘Not For Sale’ tag on hot-shot Rhodes – the subject of a rejected £12m bid from top-flight Hull – Wolves might be forced to do the same with their Mali international flyer.
Wanderers boss Kenny Jackett admitted:“He’s not somebody we are looking to try to sell and to do business at this time is really unrealistic.
“Over the last couple of seasons there have been different periods where there have been different rumours, but selling him is not something we are looking to entertain.”
Wolves released Jamie O’Hara this week and still want to unload big earners like Roger Johnson and Kevin Doyle, but Sako is one of the previous regime Jackett has been happy to keep.
He added: “He’s been really good in my time here. He’s a very good player, a very good character, he’s popular with the crowd.
“I didn’t think when I came in, going back 12-14 months, he was one of those who needed a fresh start. In the season where they went down he had a good year in the Championship.”
This win put Wolves third in the league going into the international break and Jackett added:“I will have a glimpse at the table. I’ve got two weeks to peek at it and dream.”
Rhodes won and scored the penalty that brought Rovers back in the game, but looked a shadow of his usual self without injured strike partner Rudy Gestede.
The Frenchman – Rovers’ top scorer with three goals in four games – injured his knee in training and Rovers boss Gary Bowyer said:“You always miss someone of Rudy’s physical presence and ability.
“We had to change the way we play a little bit and the players took the challenge on very well. We had a lot of the ball but goals change matches and we’ve conceded three soft goals.
“We’re stretched with numbers and we’ve only got four missing which shows the need to get one or two more bodies in.”
Bowyer, who is on the verge of clinching the signing of centrehalf Shane Duffy from Everton, added:“Gone are the days where we can spend millions of pounds on players so we’ll have to try to get a couple in on loan.”
The Sako show began on 13 minutes as he robbed dawdling Rovers midfielder Lee Williamson and fed Kevin McDonald, whose cross was beautifully glanced into the top corner by Dicko’s head.
Rovers responded well as Wolves stopper Carl Ikeme twice superbly denied Ben Marshall, first from a lucky ricochet that almost flew over the keeper and then a 30-yard free-kick.
But Wolves were the better team and moments after Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson spilled a Lee Evans rocket, he was beaten by Sako’s 33rd-minute wide free-kick that flew through a crowded box. It could have been 3-0 early in the second half. Dicko’s exquisite backheel set up Matt Doherty but he was foiled by a smart Robinson save and poked the rebound wide.
Rhodes brought Rovers back into it just prior to the hour mark, sending Ikeme the wrong way from the spot after being felled by Danny Batth’s clumsy challenge.
But it was no precursor to a Blackburn comeback as Wolves sealed the points nine minutes later, Dicko teeing up Sako to find the bottom corner from 12 yards.