If there was ever a game that summed up following Wolverhampton Wanderers this season, this was it. We were far from terrible, but still nowhere near good enough to convincingly win matches at this level. A chance to hit the lofty heights of 19th (!!) against 10-man Sunderland… Wolves failed to take said opportunity and came away two points short of the much needed three.
After going behind to a predictably avoidable set-piece, Wolves did at least respond through Santiago Bueno and spent long periods knocking on the door against a Sunderland side reduced to ten men following Dan Ballard’s red card. The problem? Actually kicking the door down proved far more difficult.
Some of the passing on display wouldn’t have looked out of place in a park kickabout, while a couple of substitutions raised more than a few eyebrows in the stands. Control was there, chances came and went, but the cutting edge never quite followed. With plenty to unpack, for better and worse, here are our player ratings.
Dan Bentley – 6
A respectable showing. Didn’t have all too much to do after the sending off as Wolves dominated possession for long periods. One of his tidier performances.
Santi Bueno – 8
Composed, calm & comfortable playing out from the back. Consistently looked annoyed at his teammates for not showing the same commitment he does. Showed great strength and took his goal well, always offering a threat on corners.
Of all our centre backs, the only one I’d really love to keep and for that reason, will predictably be one of the first out the door. I will miss him and his calming presence.
Toti – 7
Bambi on ice with the ball at his feet but grew into the second half and made some solid blocks and a fantastic last ditch interception to stop another Sunderland goal. His commitment can’t be questioned, even if at times the quality may not always be there. I do think he could be a solid centre back in the Championship next season, we have far bigger issues to worry about than our defensive personnel.
Yerson Mosquera – 6
He is a funny one isn’t he? Madder than a box of frogs. One minute he’s making a last ditch slide tackle that Franco Baresi would be proud of, next minute he’s darting forward and blasting one wayward into the South Bank. As much as he frustrates at times I can’t help but enjoy his madness. The game needs more characters and he’s certainly one of them. Personally, I will miss him when he’s gone, even if our heart rates will all be a little calmer…
Pedro Lima – 4
Beaten far too easily by Mukiele for the first Sunderland goal. Continued to look nervous for a period after this and rightly subbed at half time. Concerning signs with respect to his physicality in English football, but he is technically good so the jury’s still out with Pedro. A season in the second tier will either be the making or the breaking of him. Must remember he’s still only 19.
Hugo Bueno – 8
Along with his namesake Santi, he continued to be one of the only shining lights of this truly terrible season. In a team consisting largely of statues, he always looked to be direct and drive the ball forward with tenacity. Fantastic corner for Santi’s goal and another assist for the Spaniard. I think he gets a move to a decent Premier League club in the summer and you can’t say he doesn’t deserve it. He’s outgrown us as it stands.
Joao Gomes – 4
Loose pass… Misplaced pass… Wayward pass… I’m still not convinced the lad is actually Brazilian. Where is the creativity? A bit of samba magic?
We were SO, so spoilt with Neves & Moutinho. Whisper it quietly – overrated. Shake hands & cash in.
Andre – 7
Largely anonymous first half. Second half his defensive class shone through and he tracked back deep into his own half to break down multiple Sunderland counter attacks, with a 97% passing accuracy next to his name to boot. By far the better of the Brazilian midfield duo today.
Mateus Mane – 6
You can see the pressure is on him way too much for an 18 year old. In a better team where there is less pressure to solo carry, he would absolutely thrive. The quality is clearly there, but he struggled at times with his final ball, lacking that simple pass after doing all the hard work.
I still think we’ll be lucky to keep him next season and the closer we get to life in the Championship, I have doubts that we do. Somebody will take a punt on him for big money and Wolves will likely cash in.
Tolu Arokodare – 5
His presence was definitely noticeable, and in my humblest of opinions, we DO look more likely to score when he’s on the pitch. I think it’s a little unfair to expect him to win every header, and he does offer far more physical presence than Armstrong and Mane, for obvious reasons. He still won 9 aerial duels, but with only 33% passing accuracy, you can understand the frustration.
His long hair seems to be a bit of a secret weapon in getting opposition players sent off. If only his composure in front of goal gave us the same advantage as his fantastic dreadlocks.
Adam Armstrong – 6
His effort and commitment is second to none and it’s too hard to judge him with zero real service. Unfortunately, he’s just not getting the drop of the ball. I hope fans stick with him because he’s a proven goalscorer, especially in the second tier. Needs a full season to really get going. Unlucky to not get an assist in injury time with a lovely flick on header that Tolu unfortunately couldn’t finish.
Rodrigo Gomes – 5
Work rate, great. Passion, fantastic. Smile, flawless. Unfortunately, those things do not necessarily make a Premier League footballer. As with Lima, a season in the Championship will either make or break the young lad. He clearly cares, which you can’t say for every player in this Wolves squad, and he is extremely likeable – I just don’t know what his best position is, and I don’t think he knows either.
Angel Gomes – 5
Physicality is practically non-existent, but he almost pulled off a match winning pass with a perfectly weighted through ball over the top for Armstrong in the dying minutes. There’s a very good technical player in there, clearly – I just don’t think he’s suited to English football.
