Now that’s more like it! After salvaging a point against Blackburn in their season debut, Wolves left little to chance in a comprehensive away victory against Preston North End. A stoppage-time consolation goal from Jordan Thompson was the only real blemish in an otherwise professional performance from Cesar Piexoto’s men. Fer Lopez netted a brace, the backline held their own without Kieran Trippier and Yerson Mosquera, and Wolves won their first competitive away match since that cold, grimy Sunday morning FA Cup tie against Grimsby last February.
Good: Fer Lopez, our newest magician
What/who else could it be? The 22-year-old Spaniard was in his own class this afternoon. Fer opened the scoring early after a quick turn in the build-up left his defender in the dust. As reinforcements began to encroach the box, he took matters into his own hands (or left foot, rather) and smashed it past the keeper’s near post. It was an excellent goal, but the budding starboy was far from finished. With the game basically already in hand up 2-0 late, Fer pounced on a timely flick from Tommy Doyle and put us up 3-0. Good morning, good afternoon, good evening.
Good: Having two legitimate Number 9s
For the first time since many of us were tricked into believing in Fabio Silva, Wolves don’t just have options at CF; they have answers. In a 46-match season, it’s imperative to be able to deploy different lineups and formations against your opponents. The chemistry between Raul Jimenez and Adam Armstrong today was palpable, with the latter netting our second goal of the day off of a beautiful pass from the former. Knowing that the two veterans can coexist on the pitch together will be a luxury in games we’re forced to play from behind.
Bad: The let-off at the end of the game
Preston didn’t get a shot on goal for 90 minutes, which, I mean, credit to the defenders for making things difficult for the home side. That kind of slip-up cannot happen against better competition. I don’t fault Jose Sa for not being able to stop the goal (it was a really nice shot), but this does nothing to ease the nervousness around the goalkeeper situation. Still, it’s difficult not to be at least mostly delighted with 3-1.
Bad: Matheus Mane’s fading shine
I’m not going to spend too much time harping on Mane, because he didn’t have an awful game. It’s just been a stretch of ordinary games for the teenager, which I think the fanbase is honestly not used to after he was virtually the only bright spot from last year’s disastrous campaign. If Mane can be one of the best players on the pitch of a Premier League match, I have little doubt that he can do the same in more than a few Championship matches.
