Wolves remain unbeaten in five games of Premier League football with a 2-0 victory over Southampton with goals from Ivan Cavaleiro and Jonny Castro.
Unsurprising Nuno kept with the same starting eleven for the seventh game in a row, with the only change being Morgan Gibbs White dropped from the bench to be replaced by Ivan Cavaleiro who returned from two months out with a back injury.
The Saints have had a well documented difficult start to the season with only one win in their six opening games. Their first eleven however boasted an impressive forward line which included Danny Ings and Charlie Austin.
The first half of this match will not go down in the history books as a classic. Wolves started the game brightly with the majority of possession but found it difficult to sustain throughout the half. Southampton broke play up through regular fouls, interceptions and physical play, giving Wolves very little room to build up momentum in possession.
Wolves had their chances however in the first half most notably when Doherty cut back for Jonny Castro whose shot brought a good save to his left from Southampton’s goalkeeper Alex McCarthy.
Southampton had chances in both halves of the game without creating any clear cut goal scoring opportunities. Their best chance of the game came when Danny Ings was released one on one with Rui Patricio at a tight angle but the Portuguese number one was equal to the shot blocking the shot with his shoulder.
In the second half the visitors looked the better team with several attacks on Wolves goal however they lacked conviction in front of goal with their final ball and shooting.
Substitutions are made in every football match, in every weekend in every league in the world but rarely do they make as much of an impact as Ivan Cavaleiro and Adama Traore did in this match.
Wolves eventually took the lead in the 79th minute when Traore showed electric pace and magic feet down the right hand side. He pulled the ball back to Raul Jimenez who was able to control the ball and turn in the same motion, to then unselfishly lay it off to Ivan Cavaleiro who rifled the ball into the roof of the net. This goal not only was his first of the season, but his first touch in the premier league.
Alex McCarthy pulled off a fantastic save in the second half from a Jimenez header, who ran his heart out all game chasing defenders. This chance came from a Moutinho cross where Jimenez glanced his header to the near post almost certain to score when McCarthy showed great agility to palm the ball wide.
Wolves sealed victory in the last three minutes of the game with a first goal for Wolves from Jonny Castro with a neat finish through the legs of Alex McCarthy. Matt Doherty set the goal up with persistence, fitness and determination to get the by-line and pull the ball back.
Doherty was at the centre of most of the good attacking play for Wolves and is one of the most consistently high performing players in Wolves squad.
Wolves are now ahead of Manchester United in the table and ten points clear of the relegation zone. They do not look like a team that has spent more time in League one than the Premier League in the last five years. Wolves are looking up the table as they take every challenge this league has to offer in their stride.
Leave a Comment