Steve Bull Stand

Wolves 0-4 Burnley Player Ratings

by with No Comment NewsPlayer Ratings

Wolves put in one of their worst performances in recent years as they lost 4-0 to Burnley at Molineux. A first Premier League hat-trick for Chris Wood put the game beyond Nuno’s side in the first half, before Ashley Westwood’s brilliant late strike put the icing on the cake. It was a disastrous display by Wolves, who looked hopeless in all aspects of the game. 

 

Rui Patricio

A difficult afternoon for the Wolves keeper, but he would have done well to stop any of Burnley’s goals. Made one very good save from Lowton in the second half, as well as a couple more routine stops from Wood either side of the break. 5/10. 

 

Romain Saiss

Part of a back three who were battered from pillar to post by Wood and Vydra. Was responsible for Westwood’s brilliant fourth after giving the ball away to Rodriguez outside his own box, but prior to that Saiss had a more backseat role in Wolves’ demise when compared to his partners. Still undoubtedly one of his worst performances in his four-and-a-half years at Wolves. 3/10. 

 

Conor Coady

The worst possible performance for Wolves’ captain in front of a national audience, which it’s safe to assume included Gareth Southgate. If people wanted an example of how not to play against Chris Wood or the Premier League’s other target men, they should look at Coady’s performance; he was turned inside out for the first goal by the New Zealand international, who repeated the trick for a chance in the second half. The defensive aspect of Wolves’ game was a complete shambles, which ultimately falls into Coady’s leadership domain. 2/10. 

 

Willy Boly

Started as he meant to go on when his attempted backpass was woefully short and put Vydra through on goal. Boly’s brilliant last-ditch tackle on the Czech international delayed Burnley taking the lead by just 90 seconds, as another one of his mistakes allowed Wood to score as a long ball sailed over the Ivorian’s head. Certainly Boly’s worst performance in a Wolves shirt. 2/10. 

 

Nelson Semedo

Semedo has looked much improved in recent weeks and months, but he was back to his early season form against Burnley. Taylor and McNeil were untroubled on the left-hand side in the first half, while on one occasion Matej Vydra was given the freedom of Wolverhampton on Semedo’s side and was only stopped by Patricio. Withdrawn for Silva on 57 minutes. 3/10. 

 

Leander Dendoncker

Completely and utterly anonymous throughout the first half to the extent that most watching probably didn’t realise he was playing. Dendoncker was completely bypassed for most of the game, and in the moments when he did make a contribution, it was almost never positive. Before signing a contract extension in the autumn, Dendoncker was one of Wolves’ most important players. Now, they look better without him. 2/10.

 

Ruben Neves

Was a welcome addition to Wolves’ starting lineup after missing the visit of Sheffield United through COVID, but clearly wasn’t up to speed. Like his midfield partner Neves was bypassed for most of the game, and his long shots and free kicks left a lot to be desired. Not the return to action he’d have been hoping for. 3/10. 

 

Rayan Ait-Nouri

Probably Wolves’ best outfield player, but that’s mainly because the use of Josh Brownhill as an inverted winger left him without a one-on-one challenge for the 90 minutes. Still won’t have convinced many that he is a £20m wing back ahead of the summer. 4/10. 

 

Adama Traore

A really bad performance after looking like he’d turned his season around. Was responsible for the second goal after a lazy pass to Semedo was intercepted by McNeil on the edge of Wolves’ box, and his attacking play was similarly woeful. A disaster from Traore, who will be hoping this is just a one off. 2/10. 

 

Willian Jose

Back to his usual anonymous self after two good performances against Fulham and Sheffield United. Was no match for the formidable pairing of Mee and Tarkowski which led to the Brazilian drifting wide, where he was just as ineffective, and the addition of Fabio Silva to form a strike partnership showed no improvements either. Most fans have been calling for Silva to start over Jose for months now, but with five meaningless games coming up the 18-year-old has to play over a man Wolves would be mad to sign in the summer. 3/10.

 

Daniel Podence

Amid fierce competition, Podence’s performance was probably the worst of the lot. The Portuguese almost always broke up any attacking moves Wolves somehow managed to muster, spent more time on the floor than he did on his feet and the handbags following an embarrassing dive in the first half could have led to Wolves being reduced to 10 men. Should have been replaced prior to his eventual substitution on 69 minutes. Needs to bring back his performances of the winter, quickly. 1/10. 

 

Fabio Silva

Replaced Semedo after 57 minutes. Put himself about and disappointingly let a good cross fly through his legs in the box. 4/10.

 

Morgan Gibbs-White

Wolves’ attacking urgency had reduced to near zero when Gibbs-White came on, did nothing of note. N/A. 

 

Vitinha

As above. N/A.

 

James Wynn is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team – you can follow him on Twitter here.

villa park

Aston Villa 0-0 Wolves Player Ratings

by with No Comment NewsPlayer Ratings

Wolves avoided defeat to rivals Aston Villa with a 0-0 draw at Villa Park, but Nuno’s men could quite easily have left with all three points as Conor Coady and Romain Saiss spurned two excellent chances in the second half. It was certainly a game of two halves, with Villa having the better of it in the first, and they could quite easily have had two goals themselves after Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa both saw their efforts come off the crossbar. Wolves were much improved in the second half, but it was the familiar frustrating tale of the season as Wolves failed to perform for ninety minutes and suffered once again as a result. 

 

Rui Patricio

Lucky to see the ball come of the bar twice in the first half but in truth he could do little about either strike. Was largely untroubled for the remainder of the game and commanded his area well as Villa were restricted to long balls into the box with Wolves improving as the game progressed. 7/10

 

Leander Dendoncker 

Yet another poor performance from Dendoncker who would certainly benefit from playing in his more familiar midfield position with the return of Wily Boly imminent. Dendoncker was caught the wrong side of Ollie Watkins on numerous occasions in the first half, including when the Villa striker hit the woodwork from range.  4/10

 

Conor Coady

Commanding at the back and now a goalscoring presence in the area, just what has happened to Conor Coady in the past week? His first chance was perhaps unlucky as he kept his diving header down as his effort came of the post, however he really should have done better with his second effort as Willian Jose’s scuffed strike fell to the feet of Coady, but he failed to beat Emi Martinez from close range. 7/10

 

Romain Saiss

Like Coady, Saiss fulfilled his primary duty and was excellent in Wolves defending crosses from out wide and from set pieces, something that Nuno’s side have struggled with the absence of Wily Boly. However, he will be kicking himself not to have won the game for Wolves as he skied the rebound of Coady’s header from a yard out. It really did seem easier to score.  6/10

 

Nelson Semedo

Semedo’s performances reflected that of the team in that he started poorly and was caught out of position on numerous occasions, with Villa clearly targeting the Wolves right hand side. However, Semedo grew into the game and posed a threat down the right-hand side in the second half as Wolves searched for a winner. 6/10

 

Joao Moutinho

It was a poor and ineffective afternoon from Moutinho, who was far from his best at Villa Park. A number of his passes went astray, many of which were simple passes in midfield. He also wasted possession in good positions, with his usual magic on the ball not on display. 5/10

 

Ruben Neves

A solid afternoons work from Ruben Neves who helped Wolves gain a foothold in midfield after a poor start, winning the ball back on various occasions and aiming to get Wolves on the front foot. However, he did little to impact the game in the final third as he has done to great success in recent weeks. 6/10

 

Jonny Otto

Jonny’s first appearance since returning from injury without being substituted and he certainly seems to be back to his best, much to the relief of Nuno and his teammates. Jonny offered an assured presence at the back, with hardly any of Villa’s attacks coming from the Wolves left hand side. He had little impact on the game going forward but his confident and consistent defending has certainly been missed this season. 7/10

 

Pedro Neto

Yet again Wolves’ main route to goal, and in the first half especially it was very much ‘Neto or nothing’. He had little joy in front of goal but was involved in almost every dangerous attack the away side had, including a one-man counter attack where he forced a good save from Emi Martinez, getting Wolves back on the front foot. 7/10

 

Willian Jose

It was an afternoon of familiar frustrations and Willian Jose was no exception. He once again was effective at helping Wolves keep possession and was often seen extremely deep collecting the ball, but he offered nothing going forward. His movement in the area seems to be on a completely different wavelength to Neto and Traore, which goes some way to explaining why he is still yet to have a clear-cut chance in a Wolves shirt. 5/10

 

Adama Traore

Did not get into the game as much as he would have liked as Villa had clearly worked on limiting his space and time on the ball. Not for the want of trying as Traore had various moments in central areas but he was not amongst the goalmouth action during this stalemate. 6/10

 

Subs: 

Fabio Silva

Wolves’ only substitute and he once again provided energy and enthusiasm to the Wolves front line, and certainly helped Wolves press higher up the pitch, forcing mistakes from the Villa backline. He seems to have some confidence back and should be worthy of a start against Liverpool at Molineux next week. 6/10

Ciaran Barker is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team – you can follow him on Twitter here.