Wolves dogged by inconsistency

Burnley 2 v Wolverhampton Wanderers 1

Is it just me or am I alone in thinking that where Wolves are concerned this is the strangest of seasons. On the one hand the phrase ”this is Wolves’ best start to a premier league season” is oft trotted out. Yet on the other a record of occasional wins interspersed with defeats both heavy and to sides we should beat, makes it feel anything but. And where once consistency in selection was Nuno’s modus operandi, of late that template appears to have been abandoned. We know that the side is in transition but at the moment team selection is more Walter Zenger than the vintage that went from July 2019 – August 2020 with barely a change.

Last night’s dispiriting defeat also smacked of the claim made a few years ago that when winter arrives Wolves wouldn’t be very good. In terms of reputation and pure skill if you were to compare the eleven from Burnley with those from Wolves not one from the former would outdo the latter. Yet in terms of discipline and muscle they did, and on a cold wet night in the foothills of the Pennines that proved to be more than enough.

Post-match one can understand Nuno’s frustration at another poor defeat. But in blaming referee Lee Mason for the outcome, rather than his charges, it smacked of a golfer blaming his clubs. If he was protecting them publicly then fine. But a large dose of self-examination wouldn’t go amiss.

Burnley FC: Pope 6, Lowton 6, Tarkowski 7, Mee 7, Taylor 7, Brady 6 Sub Pieters, Westwood 6, Brownhill 7, McNeill 6 Sub Benson, Wood 7, Barnes 7 Sub Rodriguez

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Patricio 6, Semedo 5, Kilman 5, Coady 5, Saiss 5, Ait-Nouri 5 Sub Traore 6, Neves 6 Sub Vitinha 5, Otasowie 5 Sub Silva 6, Moutinho 6, Podence 5, Neto 6

Attendance: Nil (Covid 19)

Referee: Lee Mason 8