Despite being an extremely dull match for the majority of the 90 minutes, Raul Jimenez scored a late winner that will send the Wolves faithful home more than happy. This win brings Wolves up to seventh, with a game in hand and just three points behind first-place West Ham.
The Good:
Kieran Trippier and the Defence
Wolves picked up their first clean sheet of the season, a huge confidence boost for Sa and the rest of the defense. They only conceded six shots, with just two on goal, neither of which was particularly threatening. Trippier finally made his return from injury, and you could tell the difference from the moment he came on. Based on the past few weeks without him, it is clear that he adds an abundance of stability to the defense, as well as another threat going forward. He will need to stay healthy and remain in the squad if Wolves want to make a serious push for promotion.
Raul Jimenez, the Hero
How many times have we been able to say that over the years? He has certainly had his ups and downs over the last few weeks, but a last-minute winner should provide a much-needed boost of confidence. It also seemed like coming off the bench worked for him. He played much better overall, even when you take the goal out of the equation.
The Bad:
The Attack
A very, very uninspiring performance for the vast majority of the match. Before the winner, Wolves had just two shots on goal, both of which came from Munetsi and neither was particularly threatening. There were far too many misplaced crosses, poor corner routines, and players simply dribbling straight into the defender in front of them.
Dreadful Tempo
For probably the first time this season, the match had a truly dreadful tempo from start to finish. Wolves’ attacks were all over the place, with far too many turnovers. The referee also couldn’t keep the whistle out of his mouth, which only slowed the game down further, often for fouls that looked like they barely happened at all. For 89 minutes, it looked like Wolves were heading toward a frustrating performance and a boring 0-0 draw. Thankfully, Jimenez came through when it mattered most.
