The Tim Spiers debrief – Wolves 2 Southampton 0
It was a slog – but Wolves' patience paid off as they earned a 2-0 win over Southampton at Molineux.
The result lifted them to eighth in the Premier League table.
Organised
Since 1973, Wolves have only finished in the top half of the top flight on one solitary occasion (in 1980) – they'll never have a better chance to do so again.
Accomplished, efficient, cohesive and hard-working – Wolves have a team in every sense of the word and have found their feet at Premier League level after just a few weeks.
If their two other victories so far were defined by control, tempo and attractive football, this one was very much about persistence, determination and, above all, organisation.
They started and finished with the panache and style we've become accustomed to, but for long spells of this game Wolves were shuffling through treacle, with Southampton's physical approach preventing them from generating any momentum whatsoever.
In theory the game was there for the taking for Saints, but it was Wolves' rigid, inflexible shape and army-like organisation that prevented them from doing so.
Rui Patricio had to make a few saves, sure, but he hardly had to extend himself did he? Ryan Bennett, Conor Coady and Willy Boly saw to that, as did the busy midfield pair of Joao Moutinho and Ruben Neves whose afternoon was more about protecting and shielding the back three/five than launching attacks at the other end.
Wolves won about a dozen games last season when not at a level approaching their best (1-0 wins over Blues, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town in December spring to mind for being as drab and dreary as they come).
They did so thanks to the foundations laid by Nuno Espirito at the beginning of 2017/18 when he formed his 3-4-3 template and introduced relentless, daily work on shape on the training field.
If Wolves are about to make a habit of winning when not at their best in the Premier League, too, then this could be another memorable season.
Respect
Southampton came into the game as 4/1 outsiders – remarkable odds for an established top flight side playing against a newly-promoted outfit (and also entirely unremarkable odds at the same time, given how well Wolves have started).
Well, the visitors played like a team deserving of those odds, not in terms of their lack of quality (Danny Ings was an obvious goal threat and Mario Lemina was a class act in midfield) but in terms of their gameplan, which was centred around trying to stop Wolves play.
In a serious sign of respect the Saints sat deep and narrow with two banks of four (not unlike many of the Championship sides Wolves faced last year) and were intent on closing Wolves down with a physical approach designed to stunt their free-flowing passing game.
For the most part, it worked, but the game-changing substitutes Adama Traore and Ivan Cavaleiro were the jokers in the pack that Mark Hughes didn't have a plan for.
Strength in depth
Traore has already made a big impact in gold and black, despite not having started a league game yet.
His explosive cameos from the bench have caught the eye and stretched tiring defences at crucial moments of games (he scored the winner at West Ham but also helped relieve pressure against both Manchester clubs by putting them on the back foot).
Here he added a bit of care and attention to his madcap, tunnel-visioned genius, ending his enterprising sprint towards the opposition box by stopping, looking up and playing an accurate low cross to Raul Jimenez, who did his thing and teed up Cavaleiro.
Cavaleiro's goal came just 90 seconds after Nuno sent him on and showcased in script-like fashion the composure and finishing touch that Wolves have been lacking this season.
He came up with nine goals and 12 assists last year and when in peak form was Wolves' most potent attacking talent. It's no exaggeration to suggest he could yet emerge as the star of their Premier League campaign – that's how good he can be.
To do that he'll have to get into the team first and foremost and you suspect that both he and Traore are close to doing so.
Helder Costa has improved as the weeks have gone on and showed flashes of his mercurial best, but hobbled off injured and may be a doubt for next weekend.
Either way, he's yet to provide a goal or an assist – and neither has Diogo Jota.
Jota just doesn't look himself. He failed to produce a single successful dribble on Saturday (Traore provided six in his 37 minutes) and, while that's not what his game is all about, he is evidently lacking confidence.
He's losing possession too frequently and lacks decisiveness in front of goal (witness his hesitation to shoot after Jimenez's pass sent him into the box).
Both Jota and Costa are incredibly talented young footballers who possess the skill and the temperament to succeed in the top flight. But the team comes first and with Traore and now Cavaleiro breathing down their necks, Nuno has a big decision to make.
Wing men
Slightly to the right and left of Jota and Costa, the wing-backs are having no problems adapting to Premier League life.
Matt Doherty is in the form of his career and making a mockery of any suggestion from his national team boss that he needs to change his style, or get forward more.
On the left flank Jonny Castro Otto has all the hallmarks of an unsung hero – he goes about his job with minimal fuss but is a constant buzzing threat down the wing and is rarely beaten defensively.
Daring to dream
Ten points clear of relegation before the end of September, three points off the Champions League places, five games unbeaten, an unchanged team for seven matches in a row, only two goals conceded since the second game of the season (both to the big Manchester clubs) – the stats are impressive.
Wolves are making the impact we all knew they could and boy are they doing it with style.
There wasn't a spare seat in the house at Molineux and tickets for the trip to Selhurst Park on Saturday are long gone.
It's a thrilling time to be a Wolverhampton Wanderers supporter – perhaps more exciting than at any time in the last four decades.
They're daring to dream all over again – and as we all know, Nuno loves making dreams a reality.
Final word
Star man: Matt Doherty
The boss: Subs were spot on
Fans: Helped lift the team at 0-0
Magic moment: Super-sub Cav's instant goal
In a word: Perseverance
Picture perfect:
