ART OF ZEN SEES WOLVES FIGHT BACK
WALTER Zenga could have been forgiven for wondering what he let himself in for 20 minutes into his reign as Wolves manager.
His first foray into English football following his appointment as Kenny Jackett’s replacement this week could not have got off to a worse start as Rotherham raced into a two-goal lead.
Wolves barley knew what was happening and a hammering looked on the cards. But Zenga used his tactical nous, made changes and an impressive comeback followed, despite Dominic Iorfa’s second-half dismissal for a professional foul.
Zenga reflected on an “emotional” day and praised his side’s resilience.
“We were 20 down and the players did great things and didn’t give up,” he said. “Even in the second half when we had 10, we refused to lose.
“That is the most important thing. I think we deserved to draw. There were many emotional moments, especially the welcome the fans gave me.
“I wasn’t worried at 2-0, I had to change something. I changed the system and gave them chance to believe in something.
“I said simple things to them: we were too deep, let them play too easily. I changed the system at 2-0 because I had to do something. But I told them to believe and do it.”
On his first experience of English football, the former Italy goalkeeper added: “We take a point, it is very important for us, for our experience and our future.
“It’s very nice, sometimes you win, sometimes you learn: today I learn!
“The stadium was full, it was a nice game. It’s amazing. If we’d have lost it might have been different!”
It could quite easily have been different had the Millers built on their superb start.
Stubbs, also in his first match in charge, was on course for a dream start after Danny Ward and Will Vaulks’ goals.
Ward headed home Anthony Forde’s corner in the ninth minute and new signing Vaulks introduced himself in stunning style with a 25-yard dipping volley.
However, George Saville gave Wolves hope when he capitalised on a defensive error to round Lee Camp.
Then 12 minutes after Iorfa saw red, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson completed the comeback with a fine finish from an acute angle.
Stubbs, taking over from Neil Warnock after joining from Hibernian, knew it was two points dropped.
“There were a lot of positives to take but tight now it feels like it is two points dropped rather than a point gained,” he said. “The two goals were sloppy and ones we should have prevented.
“I thought we looked a real threat, when we went 2-0 up I thought we made one or two wrong decisions, which didn’t reflect those of the first 25 minutes which got us a lot of joy.
“It was mixed, I was pleased with certain elements and a part of me was frustrated as we didn’t get a reward for the position we put ourselves in.
“I am pleased with certain aspects, but I am disappointed because we should have taken three points today.
“I am not happy with the goals we conceded, I thought for both of them they were pretty basic defending.
“It’s a point to where we want to go, it should have been three, but it’s one.”