Elegant Wolves dominate West Midlands derby
Wolves 2 v Aston Villa 0
When in May Wolves ended their season with a 1-0 win over Preston North End, I suggested that Paul Lambert had done enough to be given an extension to his contract – at least until Christmas 2017. My reasoning was that it would give him time to build a settled team and create a method of play. But I also said that if by then he had achieved neither it was unlikely that he ever would.
We will never know whether that prophecy was correct because, before May was out, so too was Lambert, replaced by the Portuguese coach Nuno Espirito Santo. My immediate reaction was one of Gallic shrug resignation. He we go again. A new regime embarking on the discredited merry go round strategy to managerial appointments. “What” I thought “does this bloke possess that the previous dozen didn’t?”.
The answer, quite simply, is quite a lot. In the short time Nuno has been at the helm not only has he assembled a team of highly talented individuals they are also well organized around a 3-5-2 formation. And as the season enters its third month I, along with many others, am somewhat stunned by the quality of the football now on offer. For the first time since the days of Munro, Bailey, Wagstaffe and Dougan one actually goes to a game looking forward to it because you know Wolves possess the wherewithal to dominate the opposition playing elegant football.
And nobody encapsulates that elegance more than Diogo Jota, currently Wolves star man both in his creative skill allied to an eye for goal. But he is not alone. In midfield Matt Doherty and Ruben Neves combine solidity with comfort on the ball and up front Ivan Cavaleiro, Leo Bonatini and the not yet fully fit Helda Costa possess yet more pace and guile. Even the bench containing Alfred N’Daiye, Bright Enobakhare and Ruben Vinagre offers a myriad alternative options. The result is a potent mix of skill, pace and organizational nous which is why Wolves dominated this sell out derby v Aston Villa. Indeed though Aston Villa arrived at the Molineux on the back of a confidence boosting run of four straight wins they were made to look ordinary. But for all the home side’s first half dominance they failed to make it pay the teams going in at half time on level terms.
However it took only ten minutes following the restart for Wolves to break the deadlock Ivan Cavaleiro’s right wing cross eventually reaching Diogo Jota beyond the far post. The on loan midfielder rounded two Villa defenders before riffling a low left footed shot into the net. Any thought of taking the proverbial foot off the pedal was dispelled as Wolves moved into a spell of total dominance denying Villa any opportunity to get hold of the ball. In minute 71 Jota’s fine run through the Villa defence ended with a half strike at goal. The ball rebounded to Leo Bonatini, who from an acute angle, fired home. Five minutes later Jota had an opportunity to make it three but his double attempt was kept out by keeper Sam Johnson. Thereafter in the eighty third minute Robert Snodgrass hit the bar with a curling free kick. But it was to prove Villa’s one and only attempt of note as Wolves cruised to victory.
In his post match summation coach Nuno said “It was the kind of performance that puts you really close to achieving what you want”.
Amen to that.
Wolves: Ruddy 6, Batth 6, Coady 7, Miranda 7, Doherty 7, Saiss 7, Neves 8 Sub N’Daiye, Jota 9, Douglas 7, Cavaliero 8 Sub Marshall, Costa 6 Sub Miranda 7
Aston Villa: Johnstone 7, Elmohamedy 6, Chester 6, Terry 6, Hutton 6, Whelan 6, Snodgrass 7, Hourihane 6, Adomah 6 Sub Onomah, Kodjia 6 Sub O’Hare, Davis 6 Sub Hogan
Attendance: 30,239
Referee: Andy Davies 7
©Mark Brennand