It was a tale of two halves at Villa Park for Wolves as they failed to capitalise on an excellent first-half display and conceded a late equaliser at the hands of their West Midlands rivals. Wolves started the better side and their early dominance was rewarded after only 12 minutes when Daniel Podence’s left-footed strike rounded off an excellent move to break the deadlock. Wolves could consider themselves unlucky to not be ahead by more at the break but their lack of end-product was ultimately punished as Villa were the better side in the second half and eventually broke down a stubborn Wolves defence.

José Sá

An uncharacteristically erratic performance from Wolves’ number one. The Portuguese international commanded his area in predictably dominant fashion but his distribution left a lot to be desired. His unfortunate slip also meant that Danny Ings was met with little to no resistance as the Villa forward slotted home the equaliser.

5

Nélson Semedo

A steady performance from the full-back who has yet to find any real consistency in his performances this season. He limited Emiliano Buendia’s involvement down the right-hand side and provided the width early on as Wolves dominated proceedings in the first half. His contribution dwindled in the second half as Wolves lost control of the game, but he remained reliable defensively.

6

Nathan Collins

One of his better performances in a Wolves shirt. Collins dealt with the aerial onslaught in the second half with ease and was composed on the ball when in possession. The 21-year-old has received some warranted criticism since his £20.5 million transfer in the summer but his performances in the last week have only reinforced the notion that Collins is an excellent young centre-half waiting to be unleashed given the right guidance.

8

Maximilian Kilman

An all-round top centre-back display was typified by an incredible headed goal-line clearance that denied Ludwig Augustinsson’s left-footed volley which seemed destined for the back of the net. According to SofaScore, the 25-year-old made 11 clearances, the most of anyone on the pitch.

8

Hugo Bueno

Bueno continues to buck the trend that youngsters need ample first-team experience in order to provide consistent performances. The 20-year-old Spaniard has arguably been Wolves’ most consistent performer since his debut back in October and another solid performance against Villa will have done his chances of cementing his spot as the starting left back no harm at all.

7

Matheus Nunes

It has been a difficult start to life at Molineux for the dynamic midfielder but in recent weeks the Portuguese international has started to show exactly why Wolves spent a then-club record fee to acquire his services. Under caretaker boss Steve Davis, Matheus was consistently played out of position and used almost as another forward option which made his press-resistant drives from deep completely redundant. There are few better sites in football than watching Nunes receiving the ball on the half turn before skipping past a few challenges and turning defence into attack in a heartbeat. He should have potentially added a second first-half goal but was denied by the onrushing Emi Martinez. Another fine performance.

8

Rúben Neves

A decent performance from the Wolves captain. A fantastic passer of the ball but his ability to stop and disrupt others often goes unnoticed. The Portuguese international did an excellent job of suffocating the Villa midfield in the first half as Wolves won the ball high up the pitch numerous times.

7

João Moutinho

Moutinho has played some of his best football of the season in recent weeks and his fine form continued as he added another assist to his tally. It was the same combination of Moutinho and Podence that provided Wolves’ last goal away at Everton and the pair linked up again tonight to break the deadlock.

7

Hwang Hee-chan

Provided an abundance of energy and dynamism on and off the ball. But, he did not take enough risks in the final third and even on the few occasions when he did, a lack of end product let him down.

5

Diego Costa

There is no questioning Costa’s commitment to the cause. He has been, by all accounts, a welcome addition to the squad but as these games continue to pass him by without any real involvement, it is clear to see the Costa of yesteryear is simply not there anymore and I would expect the former Chelsea striker to drop out of the starting line-up once Cunha is fully integrated into the squad.

4

Daniel Podence

It is no secret that Podence is Wolves’ most dangerous attacking outlet, but the little maestro is as equally capable of frustrating as he is of producing a moment of magic. Fortunately for Wolves, it was the latter on this occasion and for the second time in three matches, Podence combined beautifully with his compatriot, Moutinho, to open the scoring. Wolves really struggled to replicate their build-up patterns once he has withdrawn at half time and the drop-off in quality in the final third was noticeable. Hopefully, it was only a precaution to take him off and he will be back available for the next round of fixtures.

8

SUBSTITUTES

Adama Traoré 45′ (Podence)

Simply could not replicate the work Podence had done in the first half and there was a clear drop-off in Wolves’ ability to play out from the back without Podence coming deep to link play. There is no doubt that Traore can be a real nuisance for opposition defenders, but he did not do anywhere enough tonight to warrant a place in the starting eleven moving forward.

4

Rayan Aït-Nouri 60′ (Hwang Hee-chan)

Another excellent cameo for the left-back. He almost won it for Wolves at the death with an incredible solo effort, but Emi Martinez denied him what would have been his third goal in four games.

7

Joe Hodge 60′ (Moutinho)

Lacked a bit of composure on the ball and Wolves lost a bit of control in the midfield once Moutinho went off but Hodge did provide plenty of energy to harry and close down.

5

Matheus Cunha 65′ (Costa)

The much-anticipated debut for Cunha did not quite live up to the lofty expectations as the versatile forward was introduced into the game at a point where Wolves had little to no control but the Brazilian international did win the ball back on multiple occasions which created a few near chances. A lot of positives to take from a short cameo appearance from the bench.

6

Wolves showed progress but were ultimately overwhelmed by Manchester United at Molineux. In a game which entertained despite a lack of goals, Marcus Rashford came off the bench at half time to score the winner with a quarter of an hour to go, with Wolves coming particularly close either side of it through a Neves free kick and a late Jiménez header, both saved by David De Gea.

Here are how the players rated:

José Sá

The keeper ended a year in which he picked up two player of the season awards in impressive style again. He came out smartly to deny Garnacho early in the first half and was alert to smother a close-range effort from Antony, while he could be forgiven from conceding the goal with his view blocked by his defence. If Wolves are to stay in the Premier League, the man just back from his first major tournament with Portugal will certainly have made his contribution.

7/10

Nélson Semedo

Semedo remains an enigma, having struggled massively at times this season. Against United he got forward gamely, although his slack back pass almost gifted Garnacho an opener in the first half. Harshly booked, he had to walk a tightrope and made a couple of clumsy challenges early in the second half, before being withdrawn for Jonny. Aside from those uncomfortable moments it was a decent performance, and there is still the suspicion that he can continue to offer more.

6/10

Nathan Collins

Collins had what was possibly his best game for Wolves. While his stats didn’t necessarily flatter him, he looked must more assured than at times, while excelling to deny Martial in the first half and winning the ball well. Wolves looked relatively solid as a defensive unit, and he stepped out of defence and rode a couple of tackles impressively before being fouled, showing off his technical ability. Much improved today.

7/10

Maximilian Kilman

Kilman also looked better, helping Wolves to pass out of the press and play higher up at times. He made a couple of key interventions on the ground, but only won 1 of 6 aerial duels and lost possession 11 times (SofaScore) as Wolves struggled to get the ball to the forwards in the second half. As with Collins, there was more solidity and he showed glimpses of his excellent form last season.

6/10

Hugo Bueno

Bueno joined Semedo in getting forward early in the game and has looked to be a crucial part of Wolves’ press resistance since he broke into the first team in October. Bueno linked up well with Podence in another respectable outing but was brought off early-ish for Aït-Nouri. Their battle for the left back position still has plenty of legs.

6/10

Matheus Nunes

Matheus was excellent, showing the well-rounded athleticism and technical ability which meant Wolves were so lauded for securing his signature in the summer. Matheus’ ability to keep possession under pressure adds another dimension to Wolves’ midfield, and his ability to carry the ball is something Wolves have been crying out for. He drew three fouls including a couple of poor challenges and bravely continued to play on after a painful looking injury to the knee area. He deserves to be given his flowers for a brilliant performance despite the loss.

8/10

João Moutinho

Wolves’ midfield faced a tough assignment in dominating the midfield against Casemiro and Moutinho rarely controls the tempo of games like he has done in the past. The experienced Portuguese wasn’t at his best while consistently losing the ball, but he did a lot of dirty work competing and getting forward to support the attackers on the edge of the final third.

5/10

Rúben Neves

Neves came as close as anyone for Wolves, forcing David De Gea to extended two handed to push away a free kick. He wasn’t at his vintage best, only completing two thirds of his passes, but a driven half volleyed through ball to Rayan Aït Nouri got Molineux on its feet. The captain got stuck in defensively however, winning three of four ground duels (SofaScore) and contributing to a decent midfield performance from the hosts.

6/10

Hwang Hee-chan

Hwang is beginning to tempt Wolves fans into believing that he can be reclaimed after some rough outings in 2022. He looks to have picked up confidence from his World Cup achievements with South Korea and was willing to link with Semedo early, while also committing himself defensively across the pitch. He had a quiet second half as Wolves found their front three isolated, but for the third straight game there are signs that he deserves patience.

5/10

Diego Costa

Costa is a square peg in a round hole, but his commitment cannot be questioned. He presses as much as possible but isn’t the right physical or technical profile to be easily successful in the Wolves system. Removed at half time, the team attack became less effective in his absence which pays testament to the difficulty of his role. Hopefully Matheus Cunha is the answer to the central striker problem for Wolves and Julen Lopetegui.

4/10

Daniel Podence

Podence did what he always does, attempting to create and get involved. Not at his best, he was unable to link with Hwang and Costa/Traoré when half opportunities appeared, although he did find space for a shot early. Probably the most active of the original front three, he also suffered from a collective inability from Wolves to get the ball out of defence accurately in the second 45 minutes.

6/10

Substitutes

Adama Traoré (Costa 46’)

Adama had one sensational run but might have been expected to have more of an impact. In 45 minutes he did his best to provide an outlet but with limited benefit, and couldn’t show the sparkle which Wolves fans have come to expect.

6/10

Jonny Castro Otto (Semedo 65’)

Jonny was brought on to protect Semedo but his two knee injuries in two years are clearly impacting his contributions. Provided a sensational cross for a Wolves half chance late in the game.

5/10

Rayan Aït-Nouri (Moutinho 72’)

Aït-Nouri couldn’t repeat his late game heroics from Goodison Park on Boxing Day, and had limited impact bar a promising break forward.

6/10

Toti Gomes (Bueno 72’)

Toti’s introduction saw Wolves immediately concede but by chance more than his error. He didn’t see much of the ball in 17 minutes.

5/10

Raúl Jiménez (Podence 82’)

Rumours about his departure continue to swirl, but he almost grabbed Wolves a point at the death when a powerful header was saved by De Gea. While Cunha gets up to speed, he may deserve one more chance to be a Wolves hero at Villa Park on January 4^th.

N/A

And breathe. Yes, you didn’t dream it – Wolves really scored two goals in a Premier League match! A sensational last minute win that lifts us off the bottom of the table and provides the perfect start to the Lopetegui era. A scrappy win but a win nevertheless.

Here are the ratings:

José Sá

Another solid performance from Wolves’ number one. Had a couple of shaky-looking moments in the first half (although who didn’t) but pulled off a magnificent save to deny Anthony Gordon and kept Wolves in the match. No real chance with Everton’s goal.

7/10

Nelson Semedo

Of all the players in the squad, Nelson Semedo is perhaps one of the most confusing. His heart didn’t really look in the match during the first 45 minutes but perked up a bit in the second half and linked up nicely with Traore and Neves. Kept good care of Dwight McNeil to the extent I didn’t realise he was actually on the pitch. Still not entirely justifying his price tag though.

6/10

Nathan Collins

A similar performance to Sa – caused a couple of heart in mouth moments in the first half but was a mostly-solid presence at the back. Needs to really kick on for the rest of the season to ensure mistakes are kept to a minimum.

6/10

Max Kilman

Not the best performance from Kilman all things considered. A couple of sloppy passes in the first half raised eyebrows and the less said about his high boot on Gueye the better. With a few crucial games coming up, he needs to find the form (and discipline) that has made him a mainstay in defence.

5/10

Hugo Bueno

With Jonny injured (again) and Ait-Nouri seemingly not up to Lopetegui’s standards (although the events of the 95th minute might have swayed him round), it was another start for youngster Bueno. Certainly not the best game for Wolves; his passing accuracy was the worst of any Wolves player (56% according to Sofascore) and it was surely no coincidence Everton had their better chances down his side of the pitch. Arguably left back is now the biggest selection dilemma for the manager.

5/10

Rúben Neves

A quieter game for Neves truth be told but where would we be without him. Often held back in the first half and almost seemed to be playing as part of a back three at times. Crucial clearance off the line in the second half and generally accurate with his passes despite the conditions on the pitch. Whatever happens in the January window, we cannot afford to lose our captain.

7/10

Joe Hodge

Like his fellow youngster Bueno, not Hodge’s best game for Wolves as was often outmuscled by Everton’s stronger midfield three. Never gave up and kept chasing every ball that came his way – if the rest of his teammates had the energy and graft that Hodge clearly possesses we’d be out of the relegation zone in no time.

5/10

João Moutinho

Showed his experience and class in a team that is especially crying out for the former. Like Neves, he remains a key cog in the Wolves midfield and will be vital to grinding out exactly these types of results. Beautiful assist for Podence’s goal.

6/10

Daniel Podence

The scorer of the first goal was easily Wolves’ Man of the Match. His finish from a beautiful Moutinho cross was sublime and he looked a constant threat down the Everton flank. So far Podence has been the brightest spark for Wolves this season and hopefully will link up well with Cunha when he signs in January.

8/10

Hwang Hee-chan

The good news is that Hwang is clearly a more confidence player than before the World Cup – although I suppose scoring the winner in a World Cup match against Portugal would do that to anymore. The bad news is that he was once again a passenger in a Wolves side that cannot afford to be carrying passengers. Was a bit unlucky with some of his crosses and admittedly didn’t receive as many balls as he would have surely liked. Needs to improve if he wants to stay in the starting lineup.

5/10

Diego Costa

When Costa signed for Wolves there was no denying it was a shrewd move. Wolves, at this point having no fit first team strikers, needed someone to grab a few goals and hold up play at the top of the pitch. A few months and zero goals later however, it’s clear that Costa is being carried by the rest of the team and is posing little-to-no threat to opposition defence. Was slightly concerned he might have received his second red card of his Wolves career towards the end of the game. Surely the newly-arrived Matheus Cunha is a shoo-in to start up front when he formally arrives in January.

2/10

Subs:

Matheus Nunes (Hodge 59’)

Entered the field of play and immediately made a difference. A fantastic ball to Adama set up the eventual winner and staked a claim to a starting spot against Man United. A Neves/Nunes duo has the potential to be something frightening.

7/10

Rayan Ait-Nouri (Bueno 59’)

Scorer of an absolutely vital goal which could be seen (rest of the season pending) as one of the most important scored under Fosun. Provided a breath of fresh air down the left hand side and has now caused Lopetegui to think very carefully about who he picks at left back on Saturday.

7/10

Adama Traoré (Hwang 59’)

Looked dangerous when he came on. Would have liked to have seen him get a bit more of the ball but pulled off a great assist at the end of the game to help clinch a winner. Lopetegui mentioned last week he’d like Traore to stay at Wolves beyond the summer and, after today, you can certainly see why.

6/10

Gonçalo Guedes (Podence 73′)

Didn’t really get into the game and struggled to make his mark. Vital few months to prove he’s worth the fee we paid for him.

5/10

Toti Gomes (Moutinho 78′)

Final change for Wolves and there were more than a few eyebrows raised when Jimenez was told to sit back down. Was imperious in the box and provided some much needed security during the period of heavy Everton pressure at the end of the match. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him get some more minutes this season.

6/10

Wolves may take heart from their performance against an impressive Brighton team but it was an opportunity due to individual errors. Brighton started strongly as Adam Lallana curled home, but Wolves responded almost immediately with an incisive break from Guedes. A lengthy VAR delay then led to a Neves penalty but not long after Kaoru Mitoma beat Semedo at the back post to equalise. Minutes later Semedo was sent off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, and a balanced and committed second half performance was undone by a Pascal Groß winner after 83 minutes.

José Sá

It might be harsh on Sá who made a couple of big saves and couldn’t do much for any of the three well-taken Brighton finishes. He came out well to take a couple of corners and set off at least one counterattack with a trademark long kick, but it’s hard to offer a much higher rating after three goals conceded.

6.5

Nelson Semedo

Semedo looked lost, struggling from the start when both fullbacks were exposed but unlike Bueno, he couldn’t wise up to the changes. He was out of position for the break for the first goal, got towered over by Mitoma for the second and recklessly got sent off, effectively giving the game away for Wolves. Really poor from a player who is experienced enough to know better.

3

 Nathan Collins

Collins and Kilman are naturally exposed by Wolves’ current approach, and especially so by Brighton’s desire to attack the inside channels on approach to the box early on. Collins made a vital early block, won a crucial 1 on 1 challenge and doing his best to step up out of defence when the game opened up in the last 25 minutes. He was sadly stood up for the third goal, a crucial black mark on an otherwise solid day for the Irishman.

5

Max Kilman

Kilman’s performances last season set high expectations, meaning that the onus is on him for defensive stability for Wolves. He did reasonably well, winning plenty in the air and blocking a number of crosses when Brighton threatened early. He will hope to for higher defensive standards for a group in which he should be a real leader.

6

Hugo Bueno

Bueno continues to look at home in the Premier League. Initially left on an island as Brighton looked to outman Wolves on the flanks, he adjusted once Podence dropped in slightly to add more protection and his positioning improved. He linked well with Podence going forward, and had a penalty shout on an early burst into the Brighton box, but a knock would be that he was beaten too often one on one.

6

Boubacar Traoré

Traoré was the best player in a Wolves shirt, offering energy in midfield and covering plenty of ground to help out in attack and defence. He set up Wolves’ equaliser with a sensational first time pass to Guedes and his defensive positioning was almost vital as Wolves were able to hold Brighton out for most of the second half.

8

João Moutinho

An imperfect game from the legendary Portuguese, he did help Wolves tick over in possession and worked hard to help them try to maintain something of a press when down to ten men. Him and Neves no longer have the luxury of controlling midfields like they once did and Moutinho often looks scrappy as a result, but he can offer better than he did today.

5

Rúben Neves

Neves as always has high expectations for Wolves and sees a high amount of the ball on an ideal day. The midfield battle didn’t suit his relative lack of athleticism perfectly (losing half of his defensive duels) and he wasn’t as flawless in possession as he is on his best (77% passing, 4/6 long passes successful per SofaScore). He did however slot his penalty away nervelessly, and as captain gets some credit for a team performance which appeared to show a lot more spirit than has been the case of late.

6.5

Gonçalo Guedes

Wolves and Guedes will hope that today kick starts the Portugese attacker’s career in the Premier League. He looked threatening throughout, going past players and keeping his head to finish well for an excellent solo goal, his first of the season. His ability to carry the ball directly and finish might make him the long-needed replacement for Diogo Jota.

7.5

Daniel Podence

Unlucky to be hooked at half time so Wolves could replace Semedo, Podence linked well with Bueno and worked to help the Spaniard defensively too after a shaky first ten minutes. He appeared on the opposite side of the pitch to swing a cross in and win the penalty and that fluidity and willingness to drift across the pitch is something that could unlock some of his better qualities if he can continue to do so.

6

Hwang Hee-chan

Hwang’s role through the middle today was typically low on service for a Wolves team who have struggled to find a functional attacking system. Thrust in Diego Costa’s absence, the South Korean did what could be asked of him, working hard to win free kicks, avoiding giving away possession and making a couple of tidy runs with the ball. He deserved the good ovation when he was replaced.

6

Substitutes

Jonny Otto

Jonny played the second half but struggled again after a series of tough games. Regularly out of position, his defensive absence let Brighton in for their winning goal and he has lost his sharpness on the ball. 2 ACL injuries appear to have taken their toll on a man who has been an excellent Wolves servant.

4

Adama Traoré

Traore’s introduction got the crowd going but the reality didn’t meet the hype. He forced a smart save from Sanchez but other than that he couldn’t spark much.

5

Rayan Aït-Nouri

Brought on in an unconventional role to support Bueno and use his attacking skills. Didn’t have much of an opportunity to influence the game but got on the ball when he could in attack.

5

Conor Ronan

N/A

On their fourth trip to the capital this month, Wolves finally came home with a point after a more encouraging display against Brentford. Ben Mee’s acrobatic finish early in the second half was soon cancelled out by a trademark long range strike from Ruben Neves. Wolves fans should be somewhat encouraged by the team’s effort and fight following the previous weekend’s humiliation, and in particular by some much needed defensive stability. However, injury to Matheus Nunes and a late red card for Diego Costa will have created new concerns.

Jose Sa

The Wolves goalkeeper did not have a great deal to do, although he had a couple of erratic moments coming off of his line for crosses. However, he redeemed himself by showing fantastic awareness by going down injured while Kilman was off the pitch receiving treatment for a cut to the head.

6

Nelson Semedo

Considering the implications of a booking in the first minute – which looked unfortunate on his part – it was an extremely disciplined and composed display from the right-back, whose defensive work and positioning was much better than it has been. He also assisted the equaliser, however he does appear to be slightly lacking in confidence going forward, rarely overlapping Adama Traore.

7

Max Kilman

After a horror show last week, Kilman was more like his normal self aside from giving the ball a way a few times. He generally dealt with long balls with ease, and won several headers even after his injury. A late charge forward with the ball caused particular excitement.

7

Nathan Collins

An impressive display from the summer signing, who was imperious in the air and provided some crucial clearances and blocks in the second half. Like last week, Collins spent far more time than any of his teammates applauding the fans after game.

7.5

Hugo Bueno

The youngster put in another promising display in the capital. He illustrated impressive defensive nous, while his crossing ability might be the best in the team. His overall confidence and skill has certainly improved the team, and he has made the position his own for now.

7.5

Ruben Neves

There is very little to say about the captain that has not been said already. Throughout the game he reminded fans that both in and out of possession, Wolves would be lost without him.

8

Boubacar Traore

The Malian midfielder certainly adds a different dimension to Wolves’ midfield, displaying physicality and athleticism that Neves and Moutinho are less renowned for. His commitment to constantly fly into tackles is both admirable and disconcerting, and he was very fortunate not to receive a yellow card. His first touch let him down a few times, however. There are certainly similarities between Traore and Leander Dendoncker.

6

Matheus Nunes

The club’s record signing had not had any significant impact on the game before picking up a shoulder injury.

5.5

Adama Traore

It was a fairly standard Adama performance in that he was the largest threat to Brentford’s defence, but without much to show for it – perhaps through little fault of his own today. He also provided more help with defensive duties than last week.

6.5

Daniel Podence

Like most of Podence’s recent performances, today’s showed glimmers of exceptional skill and talent but provided plenty of frustration. He tried several cute flicks with limited success, and wasted a very promising attack early in the second half by dribbling out of play before he had made his up mind regarding who to pass to.

5.5

Diego Costa

After struggling to get involved in the first half, Costa showed a lot more promise and danger in the second half, and had a couple of shots saved by David Raya. However, the red card was completely reckless and entirely unnecessary, and a moment of madness now means that Wolves fans will not see him again this side of the world cup.

5

Substitutes:

Joao Moutinho

The veteran midfielder influenced the game far more than Nunes, and Wolves were better off for his experience and passing range. His set pieces were largely underwhelming, however.

6.5

Goncalo Guedes

The Portuguese international did well to get so involved despite only having a short cameo. However, his decision not to shoot when given a sight of goal late on was deeply frustrating. Like others, he is clearly lacking in confidence in the final third.

6

Wolves continued their highly disappointing start to the season with a catastrophic 4-0 home loss to struggling Leicester. A screamer from Youri Tielemans saw the Foxes take an early lead, before further strikes from Harvey Barnes, James Maddison and Jamie Vardy saw the game become an embarrassment for the home side. The Molineux crowd eventually began to vent their frustration with the team and particularly technical director Scott Sellars.

Jose Sa

The Portuguese shot-stopper had little chance against any of Leicester’s goals but conceding four from five shots is never a great look for a goalkeeper. Sa was mostly let down by his defence today though.

6.5

Hugo Bueno

A second straight start for the Spanish youngster, and he can once again leave with his head held high. Although he wasn’t outstanding his defensive work rate was impressive, and he was a constant threat in attack. Bueno looks to have a bright career ahead of him.

6.5

Max Kilman

Since the departure of Bruno Lage, Kilman has not looked the same. Against Leicester he had another shaky defensive performance, combined with an uncharacteristic lack of composure on the ball. Gave the ball away on multiple occasions in dangerous positions, putting Wolves on the back foot – most notably passing the ball straight to Dennis Praet which led directly to Leicester’s fourth goal.

4.5

Nathan Collins

The Irishman certainly had a better game than his partner at the back, but it’s hard to justify giving a decent rating to a centre-back in a 4-0 loss. Looked more comfortable on the ball than Kilman.

5.5

Jonny Otto

The unfortunate truth is that as good as Jonny once was for Wolves, he is no longer physically or technically capable of starting at this level. Unsurprisingly, two ACL injuries have robbed him of the reliable engine and work rate that made him so beloved at his peak. The Spaniard was unable to offer any resistance to the rapid Harvey Barnes, as well as looking consistently flustered in possession. At this point, Nelson Semedo looks like the clear choice to start at right back.

3

Ruben Neves

One of the few players on the pitch who continued to put in 100% effort for the full 90 minutes. Neves’ quality in midfield helped Wolves dominate possession for large periods but couldn’t stop Leicester breaking through at crucial moments. One of the team’s better players on the day.

6.5

Joao Moutinho

Some typically nice passes from the veteran weren’t enough to unlock Leicester’s defence, but he did his utmost to get a stale attack flowing (unsuccessfully). The lack of protection he offers to the defence is unfortunately becoming a consistent issue whenever he starts.

6

Matheus Nunes

Wolves’ record signing seems to be criminally misused in Steve Davis’s system. Asking him to play as an attacking midfielder negates his most impactful skills – his ball-winning and physicality, and his ability to drive with the ball from deep. From such an advanced position, he can’t influence games in the way Wolves bought him to do. His passing could certainly be improved. He’s been underwhelming in recent weeks, but this feels just as much down to tactics as it is down to him.

5

Daniel Podence

The diminutive winger often seems to be one of the few Wolves players consistently trying to make things happen, but this quite regularly is negated by his poor decision making. Found himself leading the attack in good positions multiple times against Leicester but wasted many of these opportunities.

5

Adama Traore

Showed flashes of his dribbling ability early on but created very little and his lack of effort was a notable concern. In a game where he was Wolves’ preferred attacking outlet for most of the 90 minutes, Adama didn’t do nearly enough with the amount of possession he had.

4.5

Diego Costa

Showed an ability to win headers that Wolves have missed for much of this season and held the ball up well. His movement in the box continues to cause problems and it seems only a matter of time before he gets on the scoresheet. Lack of mobility and pressing is an issue though.

6.5

Substitutes

Nelson Semedo

Semedo should have come on a lot earlier, considering how poor Jonny was. His presence shored up the right-hand side of the defence somewhat, but it was too little too late.

6.0

Chem Campbell

Coming on at 3-0 down, the youngster couldn’t really make any impact on the game. However, his effort on and off the ball was respectable.

5.5

Boubacar Traore and Hwang Hee-chan

Coming off the bench at 4-0 down with the game completely over, neither player had enough time to make any impression.

N/A

Wolves 11th premier league game of the 2022/23 campaign ended in a narrow defeat in the capital at the hands of Patrick Viera’s Crystal Palace. Hugo Bueno was the stand out performer on his full league debut for Steve Davis’ side who once again looked short of ideas in front of the opposition goal. Adama Traore opened the scoring in the 31st minute thanks to a brilliant cross from Bueno but a fragile-looking Wolves conceded early in the second half and subsequently failed to secure any points on the road.

Jose Sa

Somewhat wayward with his distribution, Sa made a few simple saves but was powerless to save either of Palace’s second half goals. Playing through his injury cannot be easy, however the Wolves keeper is still struggling pick up the rich vein of form he was in throughout last season.

6

Nelson Semedo

Semedo started the game well against Palace and had a robust first half. However, defensive frailties crept in from the outset of the second 45 minutes as he was at fault for both goals that Wolves conceded.

5

Nathan Collins

Collins struggled in his first game back after his recent suspension, the Irishman looked slow in possession and struggled defensively to deal with Palace’s attack, particularly in the second half. However, Collins did find himself with a chance towards the latter stages of the game but could only poke the ball wide from a few yards out.

4

Max Kilman

Max was the better of Wolves two centre halves but still showed signs of weakness, particularly in the second half. He covered space well within the Wolves back line but showed little progression with the ball.

5.5

Hugo Bueno

The 20 year-old Spaniard had a stellar debut for Wolves, he looked tidy in possession and dealt with his defensive duties well. The full-back played with composure beyond his years and provided an excellent assist for Wolves only goal of the game.

8

Ruben Neves

The Portuguese midfielder put in another strong performance for Wolves, showing the passion and fight that is needed with the captain’s armband. Neves covered a lot of defensive work throughout the 90 minutes, but also rattled the post with a free-kick and forced Guaita into a good save with a well-struck effort in the second half.

7

Matheus Nunes

Playing in a more advanced role than the other two central midfielders, Nunes struggled to get into the game at times but did show flashes of promise in the transition. Subbed off rather prematurely in the second half due to concerns over a head injury, Nunes didn’t get to impact the game as much as a player of his quality would’ve liked to.

6.5

Boubacar Traore

On his first full debut, Traore battled hard in the heart of the Wolves midfield. The loanee won the ball back on a number of occasions but struggled to retain the ball at times. Traore gave away a number of free kicks in the first half and subsequently received a yellow card.

6

Adama Traore

The main attacking threat for Wolves in the first half, Adama scored his much-deserved first league goal of the season with a bullet header from Bueno’s cross. Traore was subbed off 13 minutes into the second half, preventing him from creating any further attacking opportunities for Wolves. After returning from his loan last season, Traore is quickly adapting back to life in the Premier League and is becoming one of the first names on the team sheet.

7.5

Daniel Podence

Podence struggled to impose himself on the game during the first half, having a minimal contribution to the team. Daniel was more involved during the second half, however he gave the ball away much too easily on a number of occasions and provided little attacking threat.

5

Diego Costa

Despite his best efforts, Costa failed to make a significant impression on the game. An early chance saw Costa one-on-one with the Palace keeper, however he failed to find the back of the net. The rest of the game left Costa with little chances to feed off and he was subbed off in the 75th minute.

5

Substitutes:

Goncalo Guedes (Replaced Adama Traore 58′)

After coming off the bench, Guedes failed to impress the travelling Wolves fans as his lack of quality in the final third shone through, failing to retain possession on a number of occasions.

5

Joao Moutinho (Replaced Boubacar Traore 58′)

After not being named in the starting XI, Moutinho put in a solid perform in the centre of the park for Wolves, retaining possession and offering a solid level of composure, although struggling to progress the ball further up the field at times.

6

Joe Hodge (Replaced Matheus Nunes 58′)

Hodge showed some of the passion and desire that Wolves were lacking previously, however his isolation in the number 10 role meant he struggled to impact the game heavily during his time on the field.

6

Hwang Hee Chan (Replaced Diego Costa 75′)

Hwang only managed a handful of touches after taking to the field and had very little impact from the bench.

5

Steve Davis’ Wolves side just about held on for a crucial second win of the season against 20th-place Nottingham Forest, thanks to a penalty from returning captain Ruben Neves. Despite dominating possession for much of the 90 minutes, the home side once again struggled to create significant chances. However, the three points and particularly Jose Sa’s huge penalty save will hopefully provide the side with a major morale boost. With a new managerial appointment surely not far away, fans will be hoping the team can take some momentum from this result and push themselves away from the relegation zone in the coming weeks.

Jose Sa

Apologies to the rest of the game, but Sa’s rating here is based almost entirely on one instance. His save against Brennan Johnson’s penalty felt like a mightily important moment for Wolves’ season. It will also give Sa a big confidence boost after his form has not quite matched what he showed in 21/22, and with the keeper recently revealed to have been playing with a fractured wrist fans will be heartened to see last season’s breakout star make such a crucial stop.

8.5

Rayan Ait-Nouri

The young Frenchman certainly showed off more of his undisputed talent than we have seen for much of this season with a dangerous attacking display. Despite wasting a couple of decent goal-scoring opportunities, Ait-Nouri was arguably Wolves’ most consistent attacking threat for most of the game, while being solid defensively when called upon.

7.5

Toti Gomes

Gomes’ second successive start was an extremely mixed bag. Although he made a few important defensive players and was able to physically dominate Forest’s diminutive front three, his on-the-ball quality left a lot to be desired. On multiple occasions his wayward passing gave the ball away in dangerous situations, and he often looked panicked in possession. At times it felt like Forest’s best chance of scoring would come through being handed the ball in the attacking third.

5.5

Max Kilman

Wolves’ defensive stalwart has looked more uncomfortable without Nathan Collins next to him, and once again did not turn in his most standout display in the black and gold. However, while he wasn’t spectacular he was still solid and made no notable errors.

6.5

Jonny Otto

The decision to start Jonny over Nelson Semedo was questioned by many when the line-up was released, and the pre-game concerns proved to be valid. The Spaniard was uncomfortable in possession, giving the ball away in dangerous positions on several occasions, and offered very little going forward. As long as Semedo is fit, he must surely hold the starting right-back spot from now on.

5.0

Ruben Neves

It was not the club captain’s most vintage Wolves’ performance on his return from suspension, but Neves stepped up when it mattered most – burying his penalty with precision, power and composure to give his team the lead. And it is very much his team right now. Even when not at his best Neves’ presence alone gives a huge boost whenever he’s on the pitch, lifting the team like no one else can. It is impossible to overstate his importance to the club, his teammates and the fans during a period of such turmoil. Plus, he gets bonus points for his outstanding Instagram post after the match.

7.5

Joao Moutinho

His influence is clearly waning, but Moutinho is still a smooth operator on the ball. Unfortunately, his tidiness in possession does not make up for a lack of real creativity or defensive presence, and the veteran at times felt like a passenger in the game.

6.5

Matheus Nunes

Wolves’ record signing did not produce his most eye-catching display, but not for lack of trying. Nunes is constantly looking to move the ball forward, whether through his exceptional dribbling ability or by passing it – it was the latter which let him down against Forest. Far too wasteful in possession, Matheus tried a lot but not much came off this time round. Considering what he’s already shown this season however, one below-standard performance is not much to complain about.

6.0

Daniel Podence

A similar performance to Moutinho in many ways from the diminutive winger. Podence was tidy on the ball but offered little real incisiveness or creativity and failed to have a major impact on the game.

6.5

Adama Traore

Simultaneously the most exciting and most frustrating player on the pitch, Adama turned it a thoroughly familiar performance. He had much joy on the right-hand side and took advantage on a couple of occasions – most notably with an inch-perfect cross to Max Kilman, who hit the post with a header. However, far too often his crosses ended up in the stands behind the goal and his one major scoring chance was blazed over the bar. On a positive note, his constant threat stretched Forest’s backline to no end, and it was his shot which hit Harry Toffolo’s arm and earned Wolves’ game-winning penalty.

7.0

Diego Costa

To no-one’s shock, Costa’s off-ball antics have made him an immediate fan favourite at the Molineux. What has proven to be more of a pleasant surprise is that he’s actually still pretty good on the ball too. His movement in the box caused a multitude of problems for the Forest defence, and his link-up play was outstanding. Looks like the old dog’s still got a few tricks.

7.5

Substitutes: N/A

All coming on after the 80th minute, none of Boubacar Traore, Hwang Hee-chan, Nelson Semedo, Joe Hodge or Hugo Bueno had enough time to make a real impression. Traore showed flashes of his dribbling ability but also put Wolves in a couple of awkward positions with some wayward passing. Academy starlet Hodge earned the approval of the Molineux crowd with a take-one-for-the-team foul late on to stop a Forest counterattack.

Wolves endured another frustrating afternoon as they lost 3-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. James Collins and Steve Davis, the latter a boyhood Wolves fan, were in the managerial dugout following the departure of Bruno Lage. Despite a positive start, Wolves rode their luck for much of the first half and Chelsea eventually broke the deadlock on the stroke of halftime thanks to a Kai Havertz header. Second-half goals from Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja condemned Wolves to their third successive Premier League defeat.

Jose Sa

Not at his best. The Portuguese goalkeeper made an uncharacteristic mistake for the opening goal and seemed perplexed when Havertz’s header lopped under his crossbar. It looked like Sa had initially decided to come and claim the cross before quickly realising it was not his ball to win but by that point, it was too late.

5

Nelson Semedo

On the rare occasion that Wolves ventured into the final third, Semedo often found himself in promising positions but lacked the composure or directness to make an impact. Defensively, Christian Pulisic bested him on a few occasions, most notably for the second goal.

4

Max Kilman

An unusual performance from one of Wolves’ most reliable defenders. Kilman was often indecisive and erratic on the ball and lacked his trademark composure. The absence of Neves, a true number six and a competent Chelsea press may explain some of that.

5

Toti Gomes

His exclusion from last weekend’s line-up was, for many, the final nail in the coffin for Bruno Lage. His decision to deploy Ruben Neves and Jonny as makeshift centre-backs left many fans baffled. Toti, although sometimes uncomfortable on the ball with fewer passing lanes than he is used to when previously playing in a back five, did provide some defensive stability. According to Sofa Score, he won 5/5 of his ground and aerial duels.

6

Jonny Otto

His defensive strengths were made largely redundant due to Conor Gallagher often drifting inside and looking to link up rather than facing up the full-back for a 1-1, a scenario where Jonny excels. Consistently wasteful in the final third but was often pinned back under sustained Chelsea pressure.

4

Matheus Nunes

His best performance in a Wolves shirt thus far. The 23-year-old was at his press resistant best in the first half and provided the dynamic run that led to Wolves’ best chance. Nunes’ effect on the game understandably dwindled in the second half with the game out of sight but he showed more than a few flashes of what is to come.

7

Joao Moutinho

At 36, his ability to dominate midfield battles has diminished. As much as he provided his typical elegance on the ball, without it he was often run over by the youthfulness of Mount, Gallagher and Loftus-Cheek.

6

Goncalo Guedes

The Portuguese International was hooked at halftime and deservedly so. Guedes has not been able to showcase his undoubted talent since his £27.5 million move from Valencia this summer. And as much as the current predicament the club finds itself in can’t be helping, he simply must do more.

3

Adama Traore

Adama is Adama. Equally capable of sheer brilliance and frustrating mediocrity, often in the same sequence. His presence still causes chaos for opposition defenders, but his lacklustre final product and defensive effort leave a lot to be desired. Despite that, the Spaniard was still Wolves’ most dangerous attacking outlet.

6

Daniel Podence

A consistent theme of Wolves’ attacks this season has been a lack of quality in the final third. Podence, today deployed as a number ten, was tasked with linking the midfield and attack. The service into his feet was limited but when he did receive the ball in dangerous areas, he was wasteful.

5

Diego Costa

It was a first Wolves start for the former Chelsea star back at Stamford Bridge. It was surely written in the stars for Costa to grab the headlines. Well, not quite. He had little to no service and according to Sofa Score, was limited to only 9 touches. His work rate off the ball was to be admired but was simply not involved for the most part.

6

SUBS

Joe Hodge

A much-deserved first-team debut for the Ireland youth international. The 20-year-old has been one of Wolves Academy’s best performers this season and he did his first-team prospects no harm with a composed second-half display.

7

Hwang Hee-Chan

Costa made way for Hwang on the hour mark and the South Korean did provide some more mobility and was able to run the channels, but a lack of quality let him down on the few occasions where he got on the ball.

4

Chem Campbell

Replaced Adama after 72 minutes. Campbell has become a fixture of the first team set-up in recent weeks and hopefully, his steady progress continues under whoever the new manager is.

5

Rayan Ait-Nouri

Replaced Jonny after 72 minutes. The left-back position remains up for debate as both men continue to put in underwhelming performances.

N/A

In a result that could be the nail in the coffin for Bruno Lage, Wolves sputtered to a 2-0 loss to struggling West Ham and could fall as low as 19th in the table should Nottingham Forest beat rock-bottom Leicester on Monday. Gianluca Scamacca’s first Premier League goal was a major blow to Wolves who had been on top up to that point, and despite continuing to dominate possession the away side conceded less that 10 minutes into the second half and never looked like getting back into the game. Yet another toothless showing has many fans up in arms, and it may not be long before serious changes are made.

Jose Sa

Had a pretty unremarkable game. There was nothing he could do to keep out Scamacca’s superb finish, but he may be disappointed by letting in the second goal. Although the shot was hit with excellent power and accuracy by Jarrod Bowen, conceding at the near post is never a good look for a goalkeeper. Can’t really take much blame for the loss, overall, but certainly not his best display.

6/10

Rayan Ait-Nouri

Another underwhelming performance by the Frenchman. Considering the talent all Wolves fans know he possesses, Ait-Nouri needs to be more consistent. He offered very little creatively against West Ham and was indecisive in possession, which has become a common problem for him. Lacklustre defending allowed Bowen far too much space to shoot on his preferred left foot for the second goal.

5/10

Max Kilman

With increased defensive responsibility as the only natural centre-back in Wolves’ back three, Kilman was solid. He’s been one of the team’s most reliable performers this season and once again rarely put a foot wrong. Although not quite as remarkable as his heroic display against Newcastle for example, Kilman was once again one of the few positives for Wolves.

7/10

Ruben Neves

Played out of position in the middle of a back three, the Wolves captain was as usual in a class of his own on the ball – his passing from deep was one of the few ways Wolves found to move the ball forward consistently. However, his lack of comfort in an unfamiliar role was obvious. On multiple occasions he found himself out of position with West Ham on the attack, in one situation committing a silly foul with resulted in a yellow card and a one-game suspension. Fans will hope to see him back in midfield when he returns against Nottingham Forest.

6.5/10

Jonny Otto

The main talking point when the line-up was released was Lage’s choice to use full-back Jonny as a centre-back rather than opting for a pure CB like Toti Gomes or Yerson Mosquera. Most were skeptical of the decision and were proved right by the Spaniard’s performance. It’s hard to blame Jonny himself for the display, but he struggled mightily against the 6ft 5 Scamacca and offered little on the ball, other than testing West Ham keeper Lukasz Fabianski with a long-range shot early on.

5/10

Nelson Semedo

Another rare bright spark for Wolves this season, Nelson Semedo has consistently shown his quality and did again in this game. Comfortable in possession and making dangerous runs on the right flank, the wing-back regularly found himself in dangerous crossing positions with no-one in the box to pick out. He was also as defensively solid as always, as he proves week in week out that he is one of the league’s top one-on-one defenders.

7.5/10

Joao Moutinho

It is clear now that a 36-year-old Moutinho is less and less able to compete with Premier League midfielders with each passing game, at least physically. Although composed and skilled as ever with the ball at his feet, the veteran no longer brings the tenacious tackling that once endeared him to Wolves fans and offered little resistance to West Ham’s dynamic midfield. It may not be too long before Boubacar Traore begins seeing regular minutes in his place.

5.5/10

Matheus Nunes

Wolves’ record signing is everything fans had hoped for – an energetic, physical, technically excellent midfielder capable of driving the team forward and being a big defensive presence. However, the toothless nature of the squad around him has meant he hasn’t quite unlocked his full potential just yet and is sometimes forced into attempting reckless plays to make up for the team’s lack of dynamism. Was Wolves’ best player on the night along with compatriot Semedo.

7.5/10

Pedro Neto

Sadly, the young winger suffered a potentially serious injury just 24 minutes into the game. He initially played on (much to the chagrin of Wolves fans) before being forced off and replaced by Adama Traore. We can only hope he isn’t kept out for a similar amount of time as his last injury.

N/A

Goncalo Guedes

The new signing has continued to be used as a sort-of striker due to Wolves’ injury crisis at the position and is clearly not able to reach top form in this uncomfortable position. Although he has played as a striker in the past, it was in a much different role within a heavily counter attacking system, where his primary objective was running in behind rather than holding the ball up. He was mostly ineffective today although he did have some decent touches – hopefully the acquisition of Diego Costa will allow Guedes to occupy a more natural role in future.

5.5/10

Daniel Podence

Not for the first time this season, Podence offered the majority of the team’s attacking spark in this game – which isn’t saying too much. The winger at least attempted to score on occasion, testing Fabianski with some dangerous long-range efforts, but ultimately created next to nothing in terms of real chances. He gets a few extra points for ambition though.

6.5/10

SUBS:

Adama Traore

In probably his best showing of the season, Adama provided some life to the stagnant Wolves attack whenever he touched the ball – however this was still not very often. His most notable moments included a slightly miscued volley which went just wide of the post, and a fantastic cross which was headed just wide by Diego Costa, by far Wolves’ best chance of the game.

7/10

Diego Costa

In what was undoubtedly the most anticipated moment of the game for Wolves fans, new signing Costa suited up and took to the pitch in the 58th minute, replacing Guedes, and the team instantly looked more dangerous. The striker was sharper than many anticipated, linking up well with teammates and causing problems with his movement. Although he missed a major chance, he provided enough to make fans cautiously optimistic to see what more he can offer.

7/10

Chem Campbell

Campbell has long been highly rated by Wolves staff, and fans have spent a long time anticipating the time he would finally begin to display his talent at the senior level. This was his best game yet. He provided one of the team’s most electric moments by beating two defenders before cutting in on his right and lashing a shot just wide. Hopefully we will see more of him in the next few weeks.

6.5/10

Boubacar Traore

With the game already over, Traore was unable to have much impact on the game. He looks good in possession though and made a couple of notable defensive plays.

6/10