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Wolves 3-0 Sheffield United – Player Ratings

Wolves progressed into the fourth round of the FA Cup with ease following a 3-0 demolition of Championship side Sheffield United at Molineux. Bruno Lage fielded a strong side following Monday’s victory at Old Trafford, and his Wolves team have been rewarded with another home time, this time against a struggling Norwich side in round four. Following a nervy start to the game, Daniel Podence set Wolves on their way giving thanks to good work from Fabio Silva. A superb second goal finished by Nelson Semedo made the game comfortable before Podence rounded the scoring off with his second of the day.

 

John Ruddy

Wolves’ back up goalkeeper proved his worth with several good saves to ensure the game remained comfortable. His save from Billy Sharp’s close-range effort shortly after the second goal ensured Wolves could relax for the closing stages of the game. 8/10

 

Max Kilman

Yet another faultless display from Kilman whose consistency is quite something. He did all that was required of him defensively and looked to get involved in attacks where possible. That England call up can’t be far away. 8/10

 

Conor Coady

Coady, like Kilman, produced a faultless display at the heart of the defence. His ball distribution was excellent and played a big part in the build up to the Wolves goals. Following a shaky start, Coady may well be having the best season of his career. 8/10

 

Marcal

Played the first half on the left side of the back three but was withdrawn at half time as a precaution. Marcal gave the ball away in a dangerous area on more than one occasion but recovered well to ensure the clean sheet remained intact.  7/10

 

Nelson Semedo

Another excellent display from Nelson Semedo who has really started to prove his worth this season. His link up play down the right flank was superb and he was faultless defensively. His determination to get on the end of Ait-Nouri’s cross for the second gaol summed up his performance. 9/10

 

Leander Dendoncker

Played alongside Neves in the midfield in the first half, often breaking play up and allowing Neves the space to be creative on the ball. He then moved to the right-hand side of the back three for the second 45 minutes and looked assured, proving an effective aerial presence when defending. 7/10

 

Ruben Neves

Another superb display from Neves in the Wolves midfield who may just be in the form of his Wolves career now. His passing range was a joy to behold, and the Sheffield United midfield did not know what to do with him. 8/10

 

Rayan Ait-Nouri

Back following injury and back to the promising form his showed at the start of the season. Ait-Nouri was determined and direct, looking to take players on and get to the by-line. His cross to Semedo for the second goal was weighted perfectly. He has certainly staked a claim for a start against Southampton on Saturday. 8/10

 

Adama Traore

A surprise inclusion following mounting speculation of a move away from Molineux this month. Traore was not afraid to get on the ball but was largely ineffective with it. He seemed reluctant to take players on out wide, often coming infield to more crowded areas. He certainly gave the United defenders something to think about, but it just didn’t quite come off for him. 7/10

 

Fabio Silva

An excellent performance from Fabio Silva who felt the appreciation of the Molineux crowd for the first time when he was substituted in the second half. His link up play with Podence was extremely pleasing and ultimately created the first goal. With Raul not in the best form, Silva may soon be knocking on the door for a Premier League start. 8/10

 

Daniel Podence

Without doubt the best player on the pitch. Podence’s movement on and off the ball was mesmerising, leaving the Sheffield United defence dumbstruck. He will be delighted to get on the scoresheet again, having been prolific in the League cup earlier in the season too. 9/10

 

Subs:

Joao Moutinho

Played the second half and produced the calm and assured midfield display we have come to expect. It certainly wasn’t the most difficult 45 minutes of football he will have played, and he is likely to regain his place in the starting XI for the game against Southampton. 7/10

 

Raul Jimenez

Linked play well with the midfield and wing backs but couldn’t fashion a clear-cut chance to get on the scoresheet. He will be keen to rediscover his form following the impressive display from Silva. 7/10

 

Francisco Trincao

An impressive cameo from Trincao who went on several dazzling runs through the midfield and defence. As has often been the case this season, Trincao’s end product was lacking, often holding on to the ball too long or opting to shoot when the pass is the better option. 7/10

 

Bruno Jordao

Will be delighted to get back into first team action following two serious injuries. Bruno Lage is thought to be impressed with Jordao and this is unlikely to be the last time we see him this season. N/A

 

Luke Cundle

Similar to Jordao, Bruno Lage is thought to be a big fan of academy graduate Luke Cundle, who has been on the bench numerous times this season. He came on for the final five minutes in the front three and looked calm and confident on the ball. N/A

 

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

Billy Wright Stand Molineux

Wolves 1-0 Sheff Utd Match Report

Wolves made it back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since February thanks to a first goal in old gold for Willian Jose. It was a dull encounter which ultimately confirmed Sheffield United’s relegation to the SkyBet Championship. The Blades were spirited and more than a match for Wolves, but the away side failed to find the net meaning Nuno’s men cement themselves in 12th place on 41 points.

Wolves (3-4-3): Patricio, Boly, Coady, Saiss, Semedo, Dendoncker, Moutinho, Ait-Nouri, Podence, Jose, Traore (Subs Used: Vitinha, Silva)

Sheff Utd (3-5-2): Ramsdale, Baldock, Ampadu, Egan, Bryan, Stevens, Osborn, Norwood, Fleck, Brewster, McGoldrick. (Subs Used: Mousset, Burke, Bogle)

Just as Nuno seemed to have set out his stall for a four at the back formation for the remainder of the season, he changed it once again and opted for the more familiar back three. It was surprising to see after a relatively comfortable defensive display against Fulham last weekend, and the return of Wolves’ strongest defender Willy Boly. The absence of Pedro Neto may have forced his hand, but the likes of Fabio Silva, Vitinha and Morgan Gibbs-White have all earned more playing time than they have received in recent months. Daniel Podence adopted a more central position, playing in the ‘Number 10’ role behind Willian Jose and Adama Traore, the latter of which embraced his role in a front two. Sheffield United interim manager Paul Heckingbottom has continued to with the 3-5-2 formation which was prominent throughout Chris Wilder’s time in charge, meaning the sides were relatively similar in terms of shape. 

And it was not just in shape where Wolves and Sheffield United were indifferent, as a cagey first half ended goalless. Willy Boly came closest to opening the scoring after an unorthodox back heel was cleared onto the bar before falling into the arms of Ramsdale. United had little in the way of opportunities but controlled possession well, with Wolves happy for the away side to keep the ball in their own half. Wolves improved in the second half, with the game panning out almost exactly as many will have predicted. Willian Jose’s goal owed a lot to Nelson Semedo who blocked Edna Stevens effort just seconds before at the other end, before Traore’s great work to set up the Brazilian. Sheffield United then opened up and forced a fingertip save from Rui Patricio as Edna Stevens turned away from Leander Dendoncker on the edge of the area. However, Wolves saw the game through without any major scares, and perhaps should have doubled their head as Romain Saiss missed from close range after controlling a Joao Moutinho free kick in a good position.   

 

Key Moments 

Jose Goal  – A deadly Wolves counterattack ended in a very welcome goal for Willian Jose. It could have been so different had Nelson Semedo not blocked Enda Stevens goal bound strike at the other end, before picking out Daniel Podence on the right. He found Dendoncker who was closed down by Bryan, leaving space for Adama Traore to run at John Egan. He passed the Ireland international with ease and found the unmarked Willian Jose who fired home beyond Ramsdale from six yards.

 

Man of the Match – Adama Traore

It was a game that needed Adama Traore, without whom Wolves would probably not have left with all three points. While he did at times appear wasteful in the final third, he was keen to get on the ball and direct in attack. He embraced the more central role and looked to support Willian Jose higher up the pitch, something that led to an improved performance from the Brazilian striker too. After coming under criticism this season, one goal and two assists in his last three games have shown that Adama is still one of Wolves’ most valuable players.

 

Final Thoughts 

Wolves must keep hold of Traore 

If there was even the slightest bit of doubt in any Wolves fans mind that Adama Traore wasn’t a key player in the side, they have surely been eradicated in these past few weeks. He is very much back to his best, having a big influence on games and finally getting his first Premier League goal of the season, as well as two assists. But these stats have not done Traore justice this season, with his stunning goal in the FA Cup win over Crystal Palace, his wonder strike which cannoned off the crossbar onto the goalkeeper and into the net against Leeds and the penalty he won which Neves converted against Brighton all seemingly forgotten about by the stat enthusiasts. He poses a threat at any given time and can produce a spontaneous moment of brilliance to win a football match when others would not, as shown with his goal in stoppage time against Fulham last weekend. 

 

The ever-improving Semedo 

Club record signing Nelson Semedo came in for a lot of criticism early in the season, much of which was vindicated after a number of lacklustre performances which included mistakes directly leading to goals. Since the turn of the year the Portuguese international has improved tenfold and is beginning to show why Wolves paid such a high fee for him. He is comfortable in possession and has adapted his game having realised Premier League players will not give you the time on the ball he may have had in LaLiga. He looks to get forward at every opportunity and began to work up a promising partnership with Pedro Neto prior to his injury. And perhaps most important of all Semedo has cut out the mistakes and become a reliable and solid defender as both a wing back and a full back. He handled Fulham’s Antonee Robinson extremely well at Craven Cottage, and also produced a vital block in Saturdays win which ultimately led to the winning goal. He could well be a crucial part of the side next season as Wolves look to get back to into the European hunt. 

 

This just isn’t entertainment 

Successive wins mean Wolves are all but safe and could even push for a top half finish if they finish the season strongly. However, almost every game is met with numerous complaints about just how boring Wolves have been for large parts of this season, and this is hard to argue against. There are a number of factors that explain Wolves’ demise into the bottom half of the table, and many fans accept that. But it is hard to accept the drab football that has been on offer, especially when playing three at the back. The narrow win against a stranded Sheffield United side brought back fairly recent memories of the 2015/16 season, when Wolves went 4 successive home games drawing 0-0 and averaged just one shot on target per game. Then Head Coach Kenny Jackett came under intense pressure with such poor football on offer and was relieved of his duties by new owners Fosun at the end of the season. Now Wolves are nowhere near that stage, but the entertainment value must improve. Wolves have very little to play for with just six games remaining, so some form of experimentation with some more attacking football on offer would improve the mood among the fanbase who are still watching on from home. 

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

Steve Bull Stand

Wolves 1-0 Sheffield United : The Debrief

“Sign him up, sign him up, sign him up!” You can almost hear the chants from the terraces. The name’s Jose, Willian Jose – GOAL MACHINE.

It wasn’t pretty, certainly no classic, but as Sheffield United fell into the relegation abyss, another three points in the bank for Wolves is what really mattered. In years to come, highlights packages from the 2020/21 campaign will be downloaded by sinister entities and used as elaborate torture devices to extract information.

Much like in the 1-0 win over Chorley -January 22, FA Cup Fourth Round- Wolves’ opponents on Saturday evening toiled hard, created chances and gave off a vibe of plucky underdogs doing better than expected. 

Patronising that may be, the visitors are a team looking for any green shoots of hope as a long grind in the Championship awaits. Given the unorthodox nature of the current season (Covid – you might have heard of it) mid-table mediocrity is not the end of the world for any top seven aspirants.

 

‘Everyone at Wolves is baffled as to why it keeps happening’

 

Quietly seething on the sidelines, Nuno Espirito Santo seemed as bemused and puzzled as many watching at home over the reasons behind his side’s lacklustre first half display. Wolves’ stolid style once again strangled the life out of a game played against clearly poor opposition. 

It’s a far cry from the swashbuckling days of old when Wolves would’ve comfortably and swiftly put such an outfit to the sword. That well-worn statement about the absent Reuben Neves being a free kick specialist is trudged out before every wayward set piece attempt. Similarly, the perplexity behind Wolves’ continuous inability to reach and remain in a higher gear is oft repeated by commentators.

 

Sheffield United woke Wolves up

 

It took an Enda Stevens miss to immediately wake the home side up. Good defending from Semedo led to a nifty turn around and a sporadic counter attack kicked in. Traore accelerated and Willian Jose tucked it away beautifully. Bang. First goal for Billy Joe and you couldn’t help but feel pleased for him.

It’s hard to know whether it was better or worse than the win at Fulham, but two 1-0 victories in a row will do nicely. Just don’t ask anyone to watch them back again.

 

Relegating the opposition becomes a thing

 

Ever since a 2-0 opening day loss to Wolves, the away side busied themselves trying to become the worst team in Premier League history. That dubious honour still belongs to Derby who ended the 2007/08 season with a measly 11 points. 

United are now two points off Huddersfield’s 2018/19 total of 16. That number could’ve been even worse for Huddersfield had home and away wins over Wolves not provided six of those points and helped nudge them up and away from Derby’s inauspicious standing. 

As match week gathered pace the prospect of being responsible for United’s relegation became an increasing source of excitement for a subset of supporters. In a dismal season, short on moments of inspiration, any feeling of superiority will do. 

 

Sheffield United arrived low on confidence

 

As former Wolves striker Don Goodman explained on the Sky mic, Sheffield United arrived as a team low on confidence and demoralised, bottom of the league by a country mile. 

Paul Heckingbottom’s men had also ditched their usual red and white stripes in favour of a washed-out pink number, reminiscent of a rogue red sock in the white load. Perhaps the unnecessary kit change would help them forget who they were for an evening. 

That worked in spells, but it’s hard to see the door being smashed down for too many of their players come the summer. Understandably low on confidence, Rhian Brewster’s tagline as a striker would need to be investigated under the Trade Descriptions Act. Rarely has a player carrying such a heavy receipt offered so little. 

Another young man carrying the weight of an inflated cost price, Fabio Silva, is the anti-Brewster. Rollocking forward with reckless abandon, only a late slip-slide on the turf halted his chance to replicate the sparkling West Ham finish.

Positives? There were a few. Semedo and Ait-Nouri both worked well down the flanks. The latter may have deemed himself fortunate to have got away with an “over the top” job on Brewster. Vitinha came on to show once again that the reputation and reality of his abilities are yet to align.

 

Wolves will take the three points and move on

 

For the final 20 minutes Wolves slumped back further into a defensive posture, almost willing The Blades to grab an equaliser – a scant moment of consolation to ease their pain on the long ride home. 

Like an enthused parent rolling a fly-away football in front of their stumbling toddler, the men in Gold and Black stood back to offer the visitors a way back in to the game.

Courteous to their hosts, United politely refused. Leaving with nothing has become the norm. In a rotten season, Sheffield United continue to wallow in the swamp of the EPL’s all-time worst. 

On a night when not much went right, be thankful that one side will travel to the likes of Luton, Millwall and Coventry next season, while the other will reset, rebuild and once again rub shoulders with the elite.

Steve Wellings is part of the Talking Wolves editorial team