The Tim Spiers debrief – Cardiff 2 Wolves 1

It was in stark contrast to their last visit there – and highlighted some growing issues around a struggling team in real need of a win.

Humble

"Stay humble" the giant graffiti slogan reads at Wolves' Compton Park training ground.

Google "Nuno" and "humble" and you'll find dozens of occasions when the head coach calls for humility from his players and the club and insists they're all exactly that.

Are they, though? Or has the early-season hype that had people rightly asking if Wolves were one of the best promoted sides in recent history, or if they could even qualify for Europe this season, gone to everyone's heads?

Humility is certainly needed now from a club that's been shouting from the rooftops that it's in the Premier League to do something special, both in the short, medium and long term.

They looked anything but special last night. In fact they looked like a bang average team wrestling with the idea of exactly what its identity is.

A back-to-basics approach with long balls over the top and hoofed clearances was tough to watch, but they needed a result at all costs. At 1-0 they were on their way. Then Wolves did what they've never previously done under Nuno – they threw away a lead.

A bewildering equaliser during which Rui Patricio suffered a headsgone moment for the second time in two games (his bizarre wall and subsequent failure to save Mooy's free kick against Huddersfield being the other) rocked Wolves and they never recovered. They look beatable, they look like they've got a soft centre – the air of invincibility that's defined the first 15 months of Nuno's tenure is long gone.

Five defeats in six matches, one point from 18 and, yes, humbling defeats to the likes of Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City, teams Wolves *expect* to beat (and therein lies a problem) has brought a duly expectant fanbase down to earth with a bump.

Last night's limp defeat to a well-drilled and highly-motivated Cardiff team needs to act as a wake-up call, or things will get a long uglier in the coming weeks.

Adaptable

Huddersfield tinkered with their system in a bid to counter-act Wolves and stop them playing. It worked.

Cardiff went three-at-the-back and changed formation in a bid to stifle Wolves in open play. It worked.

Will Nuno now change Wolves' formation, as the majority of supporters are calling for? Or will he steadfastly stick to his guns in the hope things will turn?

His words at Thursday's pre-match press conference suggest it will be the latter.

"We change players, positions of players, whatever we think is best for the team, but we don't change our idea in terms of preparation, we don't distinguish opponents," he said.

And there it is in black and white..."we don't distinguish opponents".

A bold philosophy that conveys his 'our idea works, can you do better?' approach. Fine when you have a winning team. But in the Premier League, yes the opposition can do better. David Wagner and Neil Warnock have out-thought him and their teams will more than likely be in a relegation scrap until next May.

Nuno's stubbornness and arrogance is becoming a growing theme.

His conviction in his principles is a strength, not a weakness, but he simply must recognise that Wolves have to adapt to their surroundings. It's not enough to insist 'our idea is better'.

When the central midfielders and wing-backs are neutralised, as they have been lately, his team look bereft of ideas.

Individually they've been below their standards, sure, but they need help from their boss, who is now experiencing statistically the worst run of his managerial career.

The curious case of Leander Dendoncker

Someone needs to call West Midlands Police, we've got a missing person and his name is Leander Dendoncker.

Nuno made a peculiar decision last night to drop the incredibly unfortunate Ryan Bennett in favour of Romain Saiss, who was brought in to help exert control in possession.

In pre-season Saiss looked like a fish out of water in that position, but last night he did ok. He gave away a few too many free kicks, but defensively he got stuck in and was generally pretty solid.

However Bennett wasn't the problem – and Saiss isn't the answer. He looks uncomfortable on the right side, constantly cutting back to his left.

There is a guy, though, who's apparently combines the strengths of the above two players in that he's said to be a pretty handy defender who's good on the ball.

If you didn't attend a Carabao Cup game you may not know who I'm referring to, but yes a Belgian chap called Dendoncker who Wolves have agreed to buy for £12m is supposed to be well suited to that position.

Nuno insists he's "an option" but this guy's been at Wolves for three months and has yet to kick a ball in the Premier League. Surely that has to change now.

Changes?

So what happens next? Chelsea at home offers some hope in respect of Wolves' excellent performances against the bigger teams this season.

But the difference now is Wolves are short on confidence after two demoralising defeats.

A recurring failure to finish teams off with a killer, clinical touch isn't going to change overnight. Helder Costa, Adama Traore, Ivan Cavaleiro and Diogo Jota have all had their chances – none of them can say they have done enough to start on Wednesday.

With Neves suspended the chances of an instant recall for Bennett look reasonable, with perhaps Saiss moving into midfield?

Morgan Gibbs-White was bright and breezy again off the bench last night and it's got to be his turn for a shot from the start now.

As one of the three forwards he could tuck in to make a midfield three off the ball and use his pace and energy to play through the lines.

Raul Jimenez was below par but his link-up play will be needed – perhaps with Jota roaming alongside him? He too made an impact. At least he was trying to make things happen.

Crisis?

Yes it was a devastating defeat, yes it's a dreadful losing/winless run and yes changes in personnel and tactics are needed.

But is this a crisis? No.

Wolves are 11th in the Premier League, they will be no lower than 12th by the end of the weekend. They're exactly where they want to be in the table.

If they were in the bottom three and cut adrift it would be a crisis, but this certainly isn't it.

What the situation is, though, is concerning. There are tough fixtures ahead and the schedule is unforgiving this month. Two more defeats to Chelsea and Newcastle and the fans will begin to turn and we know how ruthless Fosun are.

Over to you, Nuno.

Final word

Star man: Willy Boly

The boss: Being questioned for the first time

Fans: Growing in frustration

Magic moment: It can only be Doherty's goal

In a word: Grim

Picture perfect: