A game that we all knew was never going to be easy, we didn’t do ourselves any favours though as we went a goal down while the clock hadn’t even ticked over for one minute. A game that was uphill from the very beginning, went from bad to worse when Erling Haaland scored and later on when Nathan Collins got sent off leaving the team in ten with a whole second half to play. Despite this, Wolves didn’t hold back and continued to play out from the back and arguably played better with ten men on the field.

Jose Sa

Not so much he could have done for the three goals conceded today, although there is some room for debate on the second goal as Erling Haaland’s shot slowly rolled into the back of the net. No saves of note to report for him, one sloppy pass in the second half that was almost intercepted and could have easily led to a goal, he did do well to control a slow and short back pass from Jonny but that is it from him.

5/10

Rayan Ait-Nouri

Hot and cold performance could have released the ball or crossed on certain occasions instead of dribbling, although he did have some good touches and dribbles that led to him being fouled and drawing freekicks in interesting areas. Clearly wasn’t expecting Foden’s backheel pass which saw him left dead by De Bruyne as he crossed the ball in the path of Grealish.

5.5/10

Jonny Otto

Hard to figure out how he is starting in front of the likes of Nelson Semedo. Jonny lost Grealish for the first goal, made a very short back pass that could have led to another goal in the second half and seems to be limited going forward while also being vulnerable when defending.

4.5/10

Max Kilman

A difficult game for Kilman and the rest of the Wolves backline. One on One against Haaland saw the Norwegian dispose of the ball in the net for City’s second of the game. Did okay in the second half paired with Neves as they managed to keep the score line down and play out from the back.

5.5/10

Nathan Collins

33 minutes, two goals conceded, a kung fu tackle on Grealish and a red card for Collins. Definitely not a game to remember for the young Irish defender but one he can reflect on and learn from. Wolves now hold the dilemma of choosing the right player to substitute him for the upcoming fixtures.

2/10

Matheus Nunes

His misplaced pass led to Wolves losing possession and City pushing forward and grabbing their first goal of the game. Obviously, the blame can’t be placed on him for the goal as there were other mistakes in the build-up, it is just something worth noting. Drove Wolves forward well without any problems and did well with the ball at his feet without any hesitation.

6/10

Ruben Neves

Quiet in midfield and struggled like his midfield partners. Once Wolves went down to ten men in the 33^rd minute he dropped deeper and took up Collins role which he did pretty well-considering everything. Managed to dictate our play and made some good long passes although he was caught out for Phil Foden’s goal and could have avoided the booking.

6/10

Joao Moutinho

Understandably struggled to contain City’s midfield, the intensity was just too high to handle, his work rate and the yards covered were high as usual. Could have done better with some of the freekicks and set pieces but not much else could be faulted as he constantly tried to push the team forward.

5.5/10

Pedro Neto

A quiet first half, an improved second half but quite clearly, he is still yet to reach the form from before his injury. He often persisted to cut inside the field which in my opinion made himself predictable and on one occasion could have released the ball to one of his teammates in front of the goal instead of keeping it and losing possession.

5.5/10

Daniel Podence

Had some good touches and managed to create some stuff out of nothing as he wasn’t served enough balls and often when served they were high balls against some of the best and most physical defenders in the Premier League, where he had virtually no chance at all. He was taken off along with Guedes at 68 minutes presumably to be rested as the game was already over anyway.

6/10

Goncalo Guedes

A quiet game for him, he fluffed Wolves best chance of the game and was taken off after 68 minutes. He is still yet to settle and find the ground running, which we hope he will be able to do so soon. All you can say is you could have hoped either he or Neto could’ve got a consolation goal to boast their morale and spirits.

5/10

SUBS:

Boubacar Traore

A 20-minute cameo debut for Boubacar Traore, with some good touches and passes from him.

6/10

Hwang Hee-Chan

Nothing of note was done or produced by the Korean international.

N.A.

Nelson Semedo

Had some good touches and his first action of the game was a good one-two with Pedro Neto.

Surely and hopefully he should be ready to make the starting XI after this international break.

6/10

Chem Campbell

Slowly getting more appearances from the bench and being trusted by Lage, his time will come, in the meantime, he battled it out with the city defence for what was around five minutes.

N.A.

And we’re off the mark! Wolves’ first win of the season against a lacklustre Southampton won’t win any ‘Match of the Season’ awards. But having three points on the board will lead to a huge sigh of relief from Bruno Lage and his players, some of who looked rejuvenated following the full time whistle.

Here are the ratings:

José Sá

Truth be told, there wasn’t much for Sa to do during yesterday’s match. According to sofascore, he was forced into making just the one save and spent most of his game playing the ball out. A return to the long balls out that strangely went missing against Bournemouth was mostly successful although he was possibly fortunate Che Adams made such a mess of the disallowed goal.

6/10

Jonny

Jonny switched back over to right back for Southampton and was much improved on last week. Solid defensively and an occasional menace going forward, it was a decent display from the Spaniard.

7/10

Nathan Collins

A few stray passes caused one or two sharp intakes of breath but, on the whole, it was much of the same from the former Burnley man. Southampton’s forwards looked toothless for most of the game and that was largely down to the defensive work of Collins and Kilman.

7/10

Max Kilman

Speaking of Kilman, he looks more and more comfortable as part of a back four with every passing week. Imperious in the air and largely unflustered on the ball, it was another very solid performance. Yes, he lost possession a few times but more often than not was the first to win the ball back. With Mings and Maguire frozen out of their respective club line-ups, could there be a late push for an England call up?

7/10

Rayan Aït-Nouri

A return to the starting line-up was rewarded by his best performance so far this season. In the first half, his link up play with Podence down the left side of the pitch caused the Saints defensive palpitations. He also looked mostly solid at the back.

8/10

Rúben Neves

A quieter game for Neves – although with a man of his talents, this still means a very good performance. Comfortable on the ball and mostly playing deeper than his two midfield partners, he didn’t offer another spectacular moment like his goal against Newcastle. Still when he’s this good, he can afford a low-profile game once in a while.

7/10

Mattheus Nunes

Those at the Southampton match got a first real glimpse at what Nunes brings to this team. A fantastic assist in the first half was followed by some of those now-infamous dribbles forward in the second. A real shame Wolves played strikerless in the second half as the team went more defensively minded.

8/10

João Moutinho

I was a bit surprised to see him start against Southampton and it certainly didn’t lead to a vintage Moutinho performance. He didn’t do anything wrong per se, but there’s a small part of me wondering if starting Podence in a central attacking midfield role might be the missing piece this Wolves team needs.

5/10

Daniel Podence

The goal scorer made a real statement of intent yesterday afternoon. Wolves look more exciting and frankly better with him on the pitch. Lost a bit of momentum in the second half when required to essentially play up front but, overall, a great game for Podence.

8/10

Pedro Neto

There’s a small part of me that thinks Pedro Neto is trying a bit too hard. Wolves perhaps don’t have a better player at carrying the ball forward down the wing but yesterday saw some poor decision making from the Portuguese international. Too often than not, he tried taking on one too many players or made the wrong pass.

5/10

Sasa Kalajdzic

A surprising start for our new striker was ruined slightly by his withdrawal at half time. It was clear the Southampton defence didn’t know how to handle the two metre man and, from what we did see, his positioning and link up play look promising. His recently announced ACL injury is a terrible shame.

6/10

Subs:

Gonçalo Guedes (Kalajdzic 45’)

Guedes was brought on at half time and moved into the left-hand side of the Wolves attack. Similar to Neto, there’s sometimes a sense of frustration with Guedes’ play. Not much to report but the work ethic is there.

5/10

Hwang Hee-chan (Podence 82’)

I shall subtitle this section ‘In Defence of Hwang Hee-chan’. Look, he’s had a couple of howlers in the last few weeks, but if you boo a player before he even enters the field it’s going to do nothing for his confidence or his performances. Hwang came on and chased down players and got stuck in which is all you can ask from an 80^th minute substitute. Fans might not rate him (this author included) but to boo one of our own players leaves a real sour taste in the mouth

5/10

Adama Traoré (Neto 81’)

In fact if there was a player who I felt had little interest being on the pitch, it was Adama Traore. We all know his contract situation and, in fairness, coming on for ten minutes week after week must be a hard thing to stomach. But there was little of the old Traore on display and that’s a crying shame.

4/10

Disappointing is the sole word to explain Wolves’ midweek match versus Bournemouth. Wolves were looking for their first win of the season against a side that conceded nine goals on Saturday but walked away with a scoreless draw instead.

José Sá

Sá was not asked to do much during the match tonight, with Bournemouth only providing two chances on target. Wolves attempted to play out of the back with Sá only attempting three long passes compared to the 12 he attempted versus Newcastle on Sunday, according to sofascore. It was overall a very conservative performance in possession and he was not challenged defensively.

5/10

Nélson Semedo

Semedo played very advanced and looked impressive at times in the first half. He made smart plays, moved well and did not make many mistakes, but he struggled to add to the attack in a meaningful way. He received the ball in advanced areas but failed to play the ball into dangerous areas with any consistency. He was taken off early in the second half after appearing to pick up an injury.

6/10

Nathan Collins

It was a relatively quiet performance from Collins. He did not make many mistakes, but he struggled to progress the ball as Wolves played out of the back. Bournemouth aggressively pressed the Wolves’ back line and Collins played the ball side to side more often than up the pitch. 

6/10

Max Kilman

In the first half, Kilman’s passing ability was on full display, offering multiple long passes into dangerous areas. Kilman has established himself as a very consistent player with a relatively high ceiling. Tonight was not an excellent performance but he continuously delivers on what is expected of him. 

7/10

Jonny

It was a quiet game from Jonny. He began on the left side, but after Semedo’s injury, he switched to the right, where he struggled to get a hold of the game. In attack, he did not offer much and struggled to find a rhythm with Gonçalo Guedes or Pedro Neto.

4/10

Rúben Neves

Neves spent the better part of his night playing in the middle of a back three. He was dropped very deep to aid with the Bournemouth press and his ability to pluck out runners down the pitch was relatively neutralized. He was still tasked with being a focal point of Wolves in possession, leading the team with 109 touches (per sofascore). Despite the large volume of touches, the deeper role hindered his ability to help create chances.

5/10

Mattheus Nunes

In the first half Nunes, positioned on the right wing, did an excellent job sending the ball into the box with crosses. The problem with Nunes attempting a high volume of crosses was the lack of Wolves players in central areas due to his wide positioning. Nunes was attempting to put the ball into danger, but too often there was no one there to receive the ball.

5/10

João Moutinho

Moutinho was one of the better performers tonight, but that is not saying much. Moutinho, with Neves, dropped deep and Nunes in an advanced role, was completely isolated in the midfield at times. The 35-year-old midfielder was very active the entire match and at times had to carry the midfield alone.

6.5/10

Gonçalo Guedes

Guedes struggled to get into space on the attack, moving side to side rather than exploring vertical runs. He is a player that prefers to create his own opportunities rather than sending the ball into the box, attempting zero crosses, according to sofascore. Overall, he was held very quiet and was a nonfactor before being subbed off.

4/10

Raúl Jiménez

Tonight was a very rough match for Jimenez. His most notable moment was a missed sending a shot wide of the goal in a one-on-one with the keeper. The missed opportunity on top of many passes where Jimenez was nowhere to be found made tonight’s performance dreadful. 

3/10

Pedro Neto

It was not a good night for the usually exciting Neto. Midway through the first half, he seemed to be cementing himself into the match with an ambitious attempt from outside the box, but the second half was a very quiet one for the winger. 

4/10

Subs:

Rayan Aït-Nouri

Ait Nouri entered the match and immediately showed why he should have started. He is confident and skilled on the ball but was unable to make much of an impact. 

5/10

Daniel Podence

Today he was not at his best, but his intent and creativity made the stagnant Wolves’ attack look slightly energized. The two best opportunities of the match came once Podence was inserted into the match, with one being his header that was cleared off the line. 

7/10

Adama Traoré

Traore has struggled coming on this season due to a lack of effort and tonight was more of the same. 

4/10

It was another frustrating afternoon for Wolves fans as a spectacular late volley from Allan Saint-Maximin ensured a share of the spoils at Molineux.

Wolves had led since the 38th minute through a powerful long range effort from Ruben Neves. Raul Jimenez had the ball in the net in the second half, only for VAR to chalk it off due to a foul by Pedro Neto in the build up.

Bruno Lage’s men remain without a win in their last eleven league matches. The player ratings are below:

Jose Sa

There was absolutely nothing the Portuguese shot-stopper could have done to stop the equaliser. During the first half especially, Sa commanded his area brilliantly, claiming several dangerous crosses and free kicks. A smart low reflex save late-on was also much needed to deny Newcastle a winner in stoppage time. The only criticism of his display would be a couple of sloppy throws out that cost Wolves possession. 7.5

Nelson Semedo

Semedo put in an impressive all-round performance on his first league start since returning from injury, in which he continued where he left off. Semedo thwarted several counter attacks and generally handled the dangerous Saint-Maximin with relative comfort. 8 

Nathan Collins

It was a commanding display from the new signing for the most part, winning several crucial headers during the second half. His distribution will no doubt improve in this system, but a couple of loose touches could have been punished. Overall however, he can be fairly pleased with how Collins has started his Wolves career. 8

Max Kilman

It was a regular day at the office for Kilman, who continues to shine. As ever he made things look easy, dealing with any threats with his accustomed calmness and quality. He certainly did not deserve to lose a clean sheet at the death. 8

Jonny

This was undoubtedly the best performance of the season to date for Jonny, who rarely put a foot wrong. Like Semedo, he defended astutely and was never caught out of position. One would assume that these two fullbacks will keep their spots in the team for the foreseeable future. 7

Ruben Neves

Perhaps the most frustrating part of the result is that it overshadows what should have been the main headline: just how special the captain’s performance was. From very early on Neves was Wolves’ main creative outlet, and he was consistently flying into challenges and mopping up second balls when Wolves did not have possession. He also added to his long catalogue of wonder goals. It is no exaggeration to say that he was the best player on the pitch by some distance. 9

Joao Moutinho

It was a standard display from Moutinho, who recycled possession well and he made several inviting balls into the box throughout the first half. However, his influence waned as the game went on. Several players in Wolves’ relatively disjointed attack could learn a lot from his quick decision making and his ability to release the ball quickly. 6.5

Matheus Nunes

The club’s record signing certainly showed promise, illustrating the energy, strength and speed that Wolves have been lacking at times in recent seasons. However, a few poor through balls in the second half may been indicative of a tiredness that led to his authority in midfield diminishing in the final half hour. 6

Pedro Neto

It was not the easiest afternoon for the 22 year old, whose touch was missing at times and he did not take on players with his normal levels of confidence. Perhaps more than anyone else he needs a goal to really get going this season. 5

Goncalo Guedes

Guedes can be happy with his performance against Newcastle, in which is work rate and tracking back was admirable. He was involved in most of Wolves’ attacks and he claimed his first assist in old gold. Better understanding between him and his teammates will surely come with more hours on the training pitch. 7

Raul Jimenez

The Wolves number nine was a far cry from his best, and seemed ponderous at times, albeit through no lack of effort. He was unlucky to have a goal ruled out through no fault of his own, however. 5

Subs:

Hwang Hee Chan

Some of the criticism of Hwang has been over the top, but the Korean’s miscued clearance did directly set up the volley for the equaliser whichever way you look at it. However unlucky this was, it was not the impact Bruno Lage would have hoped Hwang would have after opting to bring him on instead of Adama Traore. 3

Daniel Podence

Podence came on in the 83rd minute and did not get a chance to make an impact, with Wolves out of possession for most of this period. 5

Leander Dendoncker

The Belgian replaced Moutinho in the dying seconds to help defend a set piece. N/A

A tale of two halves that sees Wolves play their best football of the season so far and dominate Spurs in the first half, with the debuts of Matheus Nunes and Goncalo Guedes. The only thing missing was a goal that you could say was the least we deserved as the two went close to firing home. The same cannot be said for the second half as the tide turned and momentum shifted into Tottenham’s hands and Wolves never really got going and conceded far too many chances with their mistakes and sloppy play which led to Harry Kane’s winner.

Let’s move on and take a look at the player ratings for Wolves first game in the capital:

Jose Sa

Not much to do in the entirety of the game, made a good save on arguably Spurs only chance in the first half which was a Kane header. He did what was expected from him and had no fault in the goal. The only thing you can blame him for was in the dying moments of the game and he rushed to boot the ball up and gave away Wolves last chance to grab a late equaliser.

6/10

Rayan Ait-Nouri

Much better than his previous two outings. Could have done more in the final third, especially with one of Wolves only clear chances in the 2^nd half which saw him cross it into the hands of Lloris. He often found himself chasing his man, although he did okay, there is room for improvement, the yellow card was most likely the reason why he was taken off and not Jonny.

6/10

Max Kilman

An overall good performance from Kilman, was good in the first half along with Collins as they passed the ball well, were calm in possession and they held a highline very well. He didn’t make any major mistakes in the second half unlike Collins and the rest of the defence.

6.5/10

Nathan Collins

One of the best players on the pitch if you focus solely on the first half, composed and good in possession just like Kilman, and not afraid of charging forwards either.  A very good back-pairing to be honest. A shame the same can’t be said for the second half made a lot of blocks but was beaten a few times as he looked fatigued and at fault for the goal as he lost his man on the corner.

5.5/10

Jonny Otto

Nothing special or of note to report for Jonny. He did well in possession and to defend Perisic and Son in the first half with help of Neto when he dropped deep. Was often found exposed and beaten by Perisic in the second half and was limited going forward as we know.

5.5/10

Joao Moutinho

First match back from injury, as usual, he produced a balanced performance as he broke up play, got the team ticking and the ball rolling forwards. 58 minutes was probably all he had in his tank for today. Tottenham’s change in play and his substitution could be one of the reasons why we drastically dropped off in the second half.

6.5/10

Ruben Neves

Controlled the midfield very well and played some very good long balls to change the play. One of the only ones that didn’t drop off in the second half. He went close to scoring with a freekick in the second half and continued to drag and will the team on when a goal down.

7/10

Matheus Nunes

As far as Premier League debuts go, we have seen much worse. Matheus completes the midfield three so well, he did not show any signs of pressure and fit in without any problems. He has been the box-to-box midfielder we have been dying for. He was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet with his header that flashed just wide of the post.

6.5/10

Pedro Neto

Definitely not his day, dropped deep in the first half to cover and help Jonny when defending, on the attacking front he was rather quiet and didn’t create much. In the second half his performance got worse as he was often dispossessed when he attempted to dribble his opponents. He could have been taken off earlier.

5/10

Daniel Podence

A rather quiet performance from Podence. He linked up with his teammates a few times, fluffed a chance in front of goal and that was about it, he was kept at bay by the Spurs defence.

The substitution was warranted, could he be on the bench for the upcoming match?

5/10

Goncalo Guedes

A very exciting start for the former Valencia winger, my pick out of the front three.

Very rapid, direct and not scared to take his man on. Very good movement and awareness that lead to him having a few shots on target. Without a doubt, he has to be starting in our upcoming games if we want to grab our first three points. It won’t be long until he starts getting on the scoresheet.

7/10

 SUBS:

Leander Dendoncker

He showed why he shouldn’t be starting and how much of an upgrade Matheus Nunes is compared to him.

5/10

 Raul Jimenez

Came on around the 60-minute mark and you hoped he would be able to turn the game around, instead, he often found himself hopelessly chasing the ball around the pitch. He created a good chance on the break but nothing else of note.

5.5/10

 Adama Traore

Could have been brought on earlier to have more effect. Did the usual and wasn’t as bad as people are making his performance out to be, only on one occasion he was “frustrating” as he passed the ball backwards when he could have attacked the Spurs box.

5.5/10

 Nelson Semedo

A second cameo appearance for Semedo from the bench but not enough to give a rating. Promising signs that he will be able to start soon though.

N/A

 Hwang Hee-Chan

My pick out of the 5 subs, although he only featured for 10 minutes, he looked lively, had some good touches, and created some chances compared to his counterparts.

6/10

Wolves started off their home campaign with a frustrating 0-0 draw to Fulham, in a game where they could have (any maybe should have) scored.

The home side missed key chances with Pedro Neto, Daniel Podence and Morgan Gibbs-White all missing proverbial sitters before Jose Sa saved a penalty from Aleksandar Mitrovic to spare Wolves’ blushes.

The result means Wolves have one defeat and one draw from their opening two games, only scoring a solitary goal.

Let’s take a look at the player ratings from the first home game of the season:

Jose Sa

An all-round solid performance from Sa. Whilst he didn’t have too much to do over the course of the match, he looked comfortable in his shot stopping and much better on the ball. There were some shaky moments when coming to collect crosses but the penalty save more than makes up for it. Won Wolves a point today and that will get him some bonus points.

8/10

Rayan Aït-Nouri

A decent performance from the Frenchman. Looked okay going forward with some bright runs and certainly offered WOlves a good outlet from the back. He was shaky at times defensively but didn’t get beaten too often to be considered a liability. The challenge for the penalty was yet another rash decision though, and it almost cost Wolves another game through individual errors for the second week in a row. Needs to improve his defensive intelligence if he is to play in a four at the back.

6/10

Max Kilman

One positive that can be said about this match was the performance of Kilman and Collins. The Englishman looked composed on and off the ball and was excellent at nullifying Fulham’s threats. Produced some marvellous passes out from the back to switch the play and get Wolves going. His intelligence in his tackle selection is second to none and his aerial presence makes the world of difference. Certainly a lot of potential for him in a centre-back pairing.

8/10

Nathan Collins

100% tackles won. 100% ground duels won. 93% pass accuracy. Similarly to his partner at the back, Collins was coolness personified for the entire game. He made difficult challenges and passes look easy and showed why Wolves forked out so much money on him. His build along with his finesse on the ball is a wonderful blend for a centre-back and him and Kilman kept a close eye on Mitrovic and Pereria all game. It is hard to believe he is still only 21 years of age. A very solid foundation to build off.

8/10

Jonny

A very off-colour performance from a usually consistent player. He was beaten almost every time by Neeskans Kebano and for the most part, looked leggy. Was not able to contribute anything of note going forward and was the pathway to most of Fulham’s breaks towards the Wolves goal. The return of Nelson Semedo may be a welcome one if Jonny can return to the left-hand side.

5/10

Leander Dendoncker

One of Dendoncker’s better performances in a Wolves shirt. Won the ball back consistently and kept Wolves ticking in possession. There were times when he could have been a bit more forward-thinking with his passing, rather than opting to play the ball sideways or back to Kilman or Collins. It was interesting to see him pushing on to join the front four in attack, but he was not able to forge anything in terms of a goalscoring chance. A solid game from the Belgian.

7/10

Ruben Neves

Not vintage Neves by any means, but still a well-rounded performance. His passing range and inventiveness created chances out of nothing at times and he was again intelligent in winning the ball back for the side. Made a very timely block on the line in the first half to keep the score at 0-0. A particular moment for the collectors’ box with a horribly mishit free-kick in the first half.

8/10

Morgan Gibbs-White

Played in the 10 role although drifted out wide several times. This was a frustrating performance for Gibbs-White, whilst his off the ball pressing and work rate was impressive, his productivity on the ball was muted. Produced some fantastic turns to get away from the Fulham midfield but tried the flicks and tricks too often for my liking. Needs to improve his decision-making at this level. His afternoon was not helped when he missed an open goal from around 7 yards out. Whilst the cross for the chance was powerful, you would expect a player of his supposed quality to convert the opportunity. Did not happen for him today but he will improve.

6/10

Pedro Neto

A lot of energy shown from Neto in this game but his lack of end product was very telling. Missed a sitter in the first half after a mistake by Fulham goalkeeper Rodak, but was instrumental in all things positive going forward. Was the only winger in the second half looking to create with some fantastic direct running, but ultimately his crossing was unable to produce any tangible results. You could argue a lack of a striker is the cause, but there are no excuses for that first-half miss. Needs to learn to pull the trigger.

7/10

Hwang Hee-Chan

A very muted game from the South Korean again. Very similar pattern to his performance at Leeds last week in which he started brightly with some good pace and runs, but then faded out of the game fairly quickly. Had a great chance to score early in the first half but hit his effort straight at Rodak. By the end of the first half, you could be forgiven for forgetting he was on the pitch. Unfortunately for Hwang, this shows why Wolves need a striker.

5/10

Daniel Podence

A poor showing from Podence in this one. Showed glimpses of magic, but was far too individualistic and tried too hard on the ball to create the spectacular. There were moments where a cross should have been put in but he tried to beat his man with some skill instead. Sometimes less is more and he, like others, need to stick to the fundamental basics before trying to walk the ball in.

5/10

SUBS

Goncalo Guedes

Brought on from the bench around the 57th minute for his first outing in Wolves colours. Unfortunately for him, Fulham were set on taking the pace out of the game and were constantly hacking down Wolves players anytime they went on a break. He was one of the players targeted and, as such, could not get a foothold in the match. When he was allowed, he showed some great pace and direct play – not too dissimilarly to Pedro Neto. Still plenty of time to show what he can do, this was a tricky scenario to be thrown into.

6/10

Adama Traore

Was brought on with 15 minutes to go but in that time, the ball was barely in play and he was not able to really get involved. Would feel harsh giving a rating for him, but good to see him back in a Wolves shirt.

N/A

Nelson Semedo

Came on at the same time as Adama and had more to do. Looked comfortable defensively and an improvement on Jonny, but again, he did not have the chance to really showcase his talents going forward. When he is fully fit you would imagine he will come in for Jonny at right-back, his improvement under Lage has been impressive and this cameo showed how Wolves miss his energy. Still did enough to be given a special mention but for me, 15 minutes isn’t enough to judge for a match rating.

N/A

Wolves fell to defeat on the opening day of the season to Leeds at Elland Road. Wolves opened the scoring with Daniel Podence’s goal in the 6^th minute, however, goals from Rodrigo just before halftime and a Rayan Ait Nouri own goal, gave the home side all three points.

Jose Sa

Poor goalkeeping for the first goal, shouldn’t be beaten at the near post. Almost had a howler before halftime with him almost dribbling it into his own goal following the high Leeds press. Sa also had a lucky call when colliding with a Leeds player in the box that arguably should have been a penalty. However, in the second half, he made some great saves that kept Wolves alive in the game.

5/10

Jonny Otto

Struggled throughout the game and looked a couple of yards off the pace. Hopefully, he can blow the cobwebs off before next Saturday.

5/10

Max Kilman

For the most part of the game, he was fairly average but made some good interceptions. Demonstrated some of his futsal abilities with some dangerous dribbling on the edge of his own box.

6/10

Nathan Collins

Overall, seemed like a solid debut for the Irishman, got caught out a few times from Bamford, with one leading to Leeds’ second goal. Feels like the Kilman and Collins partnership needs some work, as the pair did struggle against the Leeds attack.

6/10

Rayan Ait Nouri

Silly play from him led to Leeds’ first goal with a failure to clear his lines. Unlucky to put the ball in his own net for Leeds’ second goal.  In the second half he looked positive going forward, with some good understanding with Neto on that left side.

4.5/10

Ruben Neves

Great ball into the lead-up of Wolves’ goal with a nice pass to Neto. Played superb passes all game and was great defensively too. Felt like he was Wolves’ man of the match today.

7.5/10

Leander Dendoncker

Huge chance missed by him at the end of the first half which would have put us ahead. For the majority of the first half he wasn’t too involved, however, in the second half he looked much better with retrieving the ball in midfield and being an effective midfield partner for Neves.

6/10

Morgan Gibbs-White

Very inactive for most parts of the first half struggling to get involved in the game. Brightened up in the second half and when he got on the ball showed promise of being dangerous.

6/10

Pedro Neto

Looked like the Neto of old and gave Leeds’ defence so many problems with his trickery and pace. Played a key role for the Wolves goal bullying Kristensen before delivering a great ball into the box. Just needed to see him on the ball more often as that is where Wolves’ spark seemed to come from.

7/10

Daniel Podence

Despite the goal, I felt like Podence for the most part of the game was quite quiet. When he was involved looked sharp and dangerous with great linkup play with fellow attackers.

6.5/10

Hwang Hee-Chan

Nice movement and a good assist for the opening goal, and almost should have scored a great goal solo too. Overall, his movement and pace did give Leeds’ defenders problems.

6.5/10

Subs

Chem Campbell

Only given 5 minutes at the end of the game and was very much thrown into the deep end.

N/A

Wolves rounded off their pre-season preparations with a 1-1 draw against Farense. The hosts took the lead just five minutes into the game, a direct free-kick from Christian Ponde beating the dive of Jackson Smith. Wolves did manage to level the game after half-time, with Hee Chan Hwang converting a penalty won by Chem Campbell. Neither side were able to take control of the game in the later stages, with Bruno Lage giving opportunities to many of Wolves’ Under 21 squad.

Jackson Smith

Smith was called into action early in the game, but could not keep out Ponde’s free-kick. His confidence did not seem to be affected, acting as a commanding figure throughout. A strong one-handed save late on would prove to be his highlight, completing a successful pre-season for the goalkeeper.

7/10

Yerson Mosquera

Mosquera was played at right back by Lage, not for the first time this pre-season. The Colombian struggled outside of his more natural central role, sometimes getting caught out by Farense’s attack. If beaten, Mosquera did at times have the pace to recover. Wolves will be hoping Nelson Semedo can soon return, allowing Mosquera to play more minutes in the centre.

5/10

Conor Coady

Picking up an early yellow card, Coady did concede the free-kick which Farense scored from, although it was arguably Willy Boly who put the Englishman in danger. Despite this, if the same challenge was made in a competitive game, Coady may have been sent for an early shower. The Wolves captain did recover well and played neat football for the remainder of the game.

6/10

Willy Boly

As mentioned before, Boly was the man arguably at fault for the host’s opener. The Ivorian international did improve during the game, stepping into midfield with the ball on a couple of occasions. With Boly already Lage’s fourth choice centre half, he may be looking nervously over his shoulder at the development of both Mosquera and Toti Gomes.

6/10

Toti Gomes

If Toti Gomes is to push Boly for his spot in the first team squad, he will hope to play more minutes at centre half as opposed to left back. Similarly to Mosquera, Gomes struggled in a more unfamiliar position. In attack, Gomes seemed reluctant to cross the ball, instead looking at options from midfield. Lage substituted Gomes at half time.

5/10

Joe Hodge

A key part of James Collins’ Under 23 squad last campaign, Joe Hodge has impressed in pre-season. Taking on the role of Ruben Neves is no mean feat, but the youngster can hold his head high after last night’s performance. Linking defence and midfield with short, sharp passes as well as breaking down opposition attacks, Hodge may benefit from a loan spell away from Molineux in the near future.

7/10

Conor Ronan

With it looking more likely with each passing day that Ronan will remain in Wolves’ squad this season, the 24-year-old put in another admirable performance. A sweeping pass from deep early in the second half released Campbell, winning the penalty that pulled Wolves level. With a severe lack of squad depth, Ronan looks set to join Luke Cundle as Wolves’ back-up midfielders.

7/10

Luke Cundle

Cundle started the match in a midfield three, before moving into the attack at half time. He looked to move Wolves’ attack along at a quicker intensity, playing a similar role to that of Joao Moutinho. Although a loan move would also benefit Cundle this season, Lage cannot afford to lose another midfielder from his squad.

6/10

Chem Campbell

Campbell got his chance to impress after just a handful of minutes against Sporting on Saturday. The 19-year-old looked like a bright spark in Wolves’ attack, winning the penalty after already beating one man in the build up. Campbell should have got his name on the scoresheet early in the game, putting a golden chance wide of an empty net. A good start to the season for James Collins’ side could see Campbell knocking on the door of the first team.

7/10

Hee Chan Hwang

Hwang scored his first goal of pre-season, calmly slotting away his chance from the spot. In the opening stages of the second half, he did have two opportunities to drag Wolves level, failing to convert either chance. Before his substitution, Hwang was deployed through the middle, auditioning to fill the void that injury to Raul Jimenez has left.

6/10

Hugo Bueno

Hugo Bueno started the game in the front three, before moving to left back in the second half. While looking competent in attack, Bueno impressed at full back, with his overlapping runs a key to his game. A delightful cross just evaded Hwang, preventing the Spaniard from what would have been a fantastic assist.

7/10

SUBS

Harvey Griffiths

Griffiths replaced Toti at half time, leading to a reshuffle from Lage. He slotted into the base of a midfield three, sitting just in front of Coady and Boly. Griffiths fell victim to the lethargic nature of the game, leading him to play safe passes when in possession.

6/10

Harry Birtwistle

Birtwistle, the first ever Singaporean to have a Premier League contract, played on the right wing, more advanced than his usual right wing-back slot. He managed to provide fans with a glimpse of his pace when going forwards, creating a some good opportunities that the attackers failed to capitalise on. It was certainly a promising performance from the youngster.

7/10

Ollie Tipton

Tipton is usually deployed as a centre half, but was used at right back. Similarly to Mosquera and Gomes, it was clear to see the this was not Tipton’s natural position, although the youngster did remain calm both with and without the ball.

6/10

Lee Harkin

Harkin was introduced to the action with 20 minutes left in the game, but failed to make a significant impact. Another victim of the slow pace of play and Wolves’ lack of attacking threat towards the end, Harkin spent most of his minutes out of possession.

5/10

Nathan Fraser

Nathan Fraser is one of Wolves’ brightest talents, although he did not have enough time on the pitch to showcase his talent.

N/A

Jack Hodnett

Hodnett also entered the action late in the game, and therefore could not stamp his authority on the game.

N/A

Other subs: James Storer 

Wolves kicked off their double header in the Algarve with a 1-1 draw against Sporting CP. Ruben Neves gave Wolves the lead from the penalty spot, before former Wolves man Pedro Goncalves levelled for the Portuguese side. In a display that showcased free-flowing football and direct counterattacks, supporters can be excited for next weekends Premier League opener at Elland Road.

Jose Sa

In his first appearance since May, Sa can be pleased with his performance. A quiet start, only tested by the penalty, he made an impressive save in the second half to keep the score locked at 1-1. His confidence on the ball cannot be underestimated in Lage’s new system, offering himself to both centre halves when in possession.

6/10

Jonny

Jonny’s defensive ability is there for all to see, rarely letting anybody past him. His positional awareness both with and without the ball was impressive, with his attacking runs in the first half causing issues for the Sporting back line. A full 90 minutes will fill the full back with confidence heading into the new season.

7/10

Nathan Collins

A second start for Wolves’ only summer signing, Collins was in the thick of the action. The Irishman was at fault for Sporting’s penalty, desperately lunging at the feet of striker Paulinho. He recovered well in defence, putting in some strong headed clearances, as well as showing maturity when in possession.

6/10

Max Kilman

If Lage does utilise the same 11 at Elland Road, Kilman has become Wolves’ senior centre half. The 25-year-old put in another good display, rarely challenged by Paulinho. A repeat of Kilman’s wondergoal against Deportivo Alaves seemed to be on the cards, before releasing the ball on the halfway line. He was substituted with 10 minutes to go after suffering with cramp.

7/10

Rayan Ait Nouri

Ait Nouri’s forward runs are becoming a trademark of his game. The Frenchman showed his ability on the ball once more, driving down the left hand side on multiple occasions. He was at the heart of some strong build-up play in the first half, linking well with Kilman and the three midfielders.

7/10

Ruben Neves

Taking the armband once more, Neves certainly put in a captain’s performance. He stepped up confidently to score his penalty, while displaying his dominance on the ball when building from the back. Breaking up Sporting attacks were also a key feature in what was another quality outing from the Portuguese maestro.

8/10

Joao Moutinho

Moutinho put in another good performance against his former side, with short passes the key to his game. Often the middle man in transition, Moutinho attempted to move play along at a higher tempo than what we have become used to seeing over previous years.

6/10

Leander Dendoncker

A vicious strike early in the game tested the palms of Israel, arriving late into the box at the far post. Not as involved as his midfield partners, Dendoncker did provide good physicality in the middle of the park. His forward runs may be crucial to a Wolves side lacking height in attack.

6/10

Morgan Gibbs-White

The England Under 21 international has been full of promise in pre-season, with today being no different. He may feel aggrieved that Pedro Neto failed to square the ball in the second half, but the willingness to break at speed is something that supporters will only admire. Gibbs-White was also substituted with 10 minutes to go.

7/10

Daniel Podence

In a feisty affair against his former employers, Podence seemed keen to make an impact. His one-touch football in the final third caused issues for Sporting, with defenders often chasing shadows. Filling in for Raul Jimenez, Podence started the game as a false nine, but was interchanging with Neto and Gibbs-White throughout.

7/10

Pedro Neto

Neto’s promising pre-season performances continued today. The winger won Wolves’ penalty in the first half, drawing in a challenge from Matheus Reis. There were glimpses of Neto’s impressive 2021 form, running at defenders before quickly moving the ball onto his left foot and unleashing a strike at goal. He will arguably be the key man for Wolves’ in Raul’s absence.

8/10

SUBS

Hee Chan Hwang

Similarly to Sa, Hwang made his first performance of pre-season. Replacing Neto after 66 minutes, Hwang was deployed on the left of a front three. He found himself through on goal in the latter stages of the game, rounding the keeper before having his shot cleared off the line. It was a chance that he would have expected to bury.

5/10

Cham Campbell

Some neat footwork in the middle of the park was the highlight for Campbell, who did not have a great deal of time to show his talent. The 19-year-old will be hoping for some more minutes in tomorrow’s final pre-season friendly against Farense.

6/10

Conor Coady

Coady replaced Kilman with little time left in the game, slotting into the back four. A sloppy pass out from the back almost allowed Sporting in on goal, before recovering and conceding a corner.

N/A

Hugo Bueno

Coming onto the pitch with just two minutes left, Hugo Bueno had no time to make an impact on the game.

N/A

Other subs: Jackson Smith, Yerson Mosquera, Willy Boly, Toti Gomes, Luke Cundle, Connor Ronan, Joe Hodge, Harvey Griffiths