Express & Star

Cardiff 2 Wolves 1 – player ratings

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers rates the players after a 2-1 defeat to Cardiff.

Published
Last updated
Wolves lost their fifth game out of six (© AMA / Sam Bagnall)

Rui Patricio

What on earth is he doing for the game's key moment, when Cardiff level things up and sent Wolves into a shock from which they never properly recover? Just make that high ball your's, Patricio, it's in the air for an age, come and claim it. Yes Paterson has been cute to try and block him off, but an experienced keeper like Patricio just has to be doing better there. Either come and take everything, or stay on your line. He does neither. Game-changing moment and the second goal in two games that the keeper is at fault for. 5/10

Romain Saiss

A shock first start of the season for the Moroccan who was back in the role that just didn't suit him in pre-season. Well, he looked far better there last night. An accomplished display defensively, keeping the errors to a bare minimum. His distribution was poor, he often lumped it clear with little care or attention, but that seemed to be under instruction as they were all at it. Uncomfortably had to shift onto his left foot a few times. All things considered he did well. 7/10

Conor Coady

The captain made a couple of standard Coady blocks and marshalled the back line well. A decent display. 6/10

Willy Boly

Just the 15 headers won (most on the pitch) and 15 clearances (most on the pitch) from Boly who didn't deserve to be on the losing side. Seemed to have a magnet in his forehead attracting the ball to it. Again, wasn't the best at bringing it out, but defensively he was superb. 8/10

Matt Doherty

A second goal of the season – a nice finish into the roof of the net – to mark his 200th appearance for Wolverhampton Wanderers. His attacking efforts were kept to a minimum. Won a large amount of headers at the back. 6/10

Joao Moutinho

Kept things tidy and simple. He and Neves were compact and offered decent protection to the back three, but you wouldn't exactly say he had a grip on the game. Still well below the standards he set in the opening weeks. 6/10

Ruben Neves

Tried to galvanise Wolves late on with a few attempted through balls and a couple of worldie efforts at goal. If it were last season he'd have produced a magic moment, but Neves isn't quite that player at the moment. 6/10

Ruben Vinagre

Anonymous for long spells, although wasn't helped by the standard of balls that came his way. Only completed 16 passes. Crossing was poor. The presence of Ryan Giles on the bench is a sign that Jonny Castro Otto's place isn't necessarily his for the next month. He'll need to improve to keep the shirt. 5/10

Raul Jimenez

Good header which was well saved for the opening goal. Had a couple of opportunities to get on the scoresheet but like the team he lacked a clinical touch. Hold-up play wasn't as good as usual either – the ball didn't stick up top. 5/10

Adama Traore

Occasionally looked lively and potentially threatening but ultimately it just didn't happen for him. Either the ball bounced off him or he ran down one of several cul-de-sacs. Wolves should have been four-on-two on a break at 1-0 up but a shocking Traore touch allowed Bamba to tackle him. After a flying start to his Wolves career, he's not justifying that £18m price tag. Far from it. 4/10

Helder Costa

Looked a world-beater at Arsenal. Not even an egg-beater here. A totally anonymous performance. Started every game so far but that record must be at risk after successive poor performances. 4/10

Substitutes

Diogo Jota (for Costa, 66)

Showed some spirit and endeavour, trying to work some space in the final third and play one-twos. Almost slammed in Jimenez's cross but was denied by a great tackle, then teed up Cavaleiro with a decent pass. 6/10

Morgan Gibbs-White (for Traore, 72)

Got into good areas and had a couple of attempts at goal – flashed a volley wide but was also wasteful when he shot from range instead of playing towards several players in the box. However, he must be close to starting soon. 6/10

Ivan Cavaleiro (for Vinagre, 82)

Couldn't repeat his Southampton heroics of a goal with his first touch, as he shot straight at the keeper from 15 yards. N/A

Subs not used: Ruddy, Bennett, Giles, Bonatini.