Wolves coast to comfortable win

Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 v Norwich City 0

Seven goals for, none against. A place in the last sixteen of the Europa League beckoning. A place in the top six of the Premier League beckoning. The progress that has been apparent ever since Nuno Espiroto Santo became Wolves Manager continues unabated. And if ever a game demonstrated the extent of that progress it was this encounter against recently promoted Norwich. The chasm between the two sides was Grand Canyon like in size, as Wolves coasted to a comfortable win to keep them in touching distance of a Champions League place.

Not that the opening exchanges reflected that. The game had barely got started when in minute 5 Teemu Pukki was put free on goal only to fire tamely at Rui Patricio from six yards out. Then on ten minutes a good Norwich move ended with a fine strike from Kenny McLean only for Patricio to deal with it comfortably. Four minutes later Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez had their wires crossed when they squandered a good opportunity but in minute 19 Wolves opened their account following a flowing move. It began with Matt Doherty who cut inside from the right before feeding Jimenez. The Mexican laid the ball off first time to Leander Dendoncker whose cross picked out Doherty now on the penalty spot. Cushioning the ball and turning he laid it to Jota who turned and shot in one movement, his strike going through Tim Krul and into the net.

Ten minutes later the Old Gold were adding to their tally when a looping cross from the left was volleyed back across the box by Romain Saiss. Willy Boly’s attempt to make contact failed but following up behind him Jota made no mistake from the edge of the six yard box. 2-0 Wolves and before the half was out Ruben Neves had a curling free kick well saved by Krul.

“Keep doing what you’re doing” was probably the depth of the half time team talk and within four minutes of the restart Wolves demonstrated that they had clearly been listening. Stealing the ball on the half way line Dendoncker fed Jimenez who advanced on goal his jinking run creating space for Jota whose instinctive strike hit an upright. The ball rebounded into the middle of the six yard box where Jimenez, who had continued his run, was on hand to coax it into an empty net.

Despite the deficit Norwich refused to let heads drop. But they had neither the personnel nor the confidence to create any threat and on this form the trap door to the Championship is well and truly ajar. As for Wolves, just keep doing what you’re doing.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Patricio 7, Boly 6, Coady 6, Saiss 7, Doherty 8, Castro Otto 7 Sub Vinagre, Dendoncker 6, Neves 8, Moutinho 7, Jota 8 Sub Neto, Jimenez 7 Sub Traore

Norwich City: Krul 8, Aarons 6, Godfrey 6, Hanley 6, Lewis 6, Tettey 6, McLean 6, Rupp 5 Sub Buendia, Duda 5 Sub Drmic, Cantwell 6 Sub Stiepermann, Puki 6

Attendance: 31,046

Referee: Chris Kavanagh 8

©Mark Brennand