Express & Star

Wolves 4 Leicester 3 – player ratings

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers rates the players after an unbelievable 4-3 win over Leicester City.

Published
Wolves celebrate Jota's late winner (© AMA / Sam Bagnall)

Rui Patricio

What you'd call a mixed bag. Lost his head early on, messing around in his own six-yard box and later passing directly to a Leicester player, with both incidents while under minimal pressure. When he hasn't time to think about what he's doing his kicking is fine, but otherwise it's desperately poor. The flip side is he's an outstanding shot-stopper and he saved well here from Demarai Gray and Harvey Barnes. But then he was rooted to his line for Leicester's third. 5/10

Ryan Bennett

Scored his first goal since that unforgettable last-gasp winner at Bristol City back in December 2017, with a powerful header from Moutinho's corner. Defensively he had a tough afternoon in a stretched game. Missed his header for Leicester's first goal. 6/10

Conor Coady

A few important moments sweeping up at the back and he did his best in a defence that collectively lost its head at times. Brought the ball out well too. His second own goal in a week but you can't legislate for something like that, very unlucky. 7/10

Romain Saiss

More clearances (six) than anyone on the field. He's played in this position many times for Morocco but he looked far from comfortable at times. Would have benefitted from Jonny being to his left rather than Vinagre – their combined lack of experience there showed and Leicester targeted them. He was also done by Gray for Leicester's first. 6/10

Jonny Castro Otto

Moved to the right flank to replace Doherty. No-nonsense defensive solidity is his strength but his poor touch into his own box led to the own goal (although he looked to have been impeded by Chilwell at the same time) and then gave away the free kick for the third. Looked more comfortable when back on the left flank. Tireless work rate. 6/10

Leander Dendoncker

Has forced his way into Nuno's starting XI – and looks here to stay. Started the Spurs, Liverpool (cup), Man City and now Leicester games and has yet to play poorly. He tackles, he wins important interception, he reads the games well, he produces decent passes and he wins his fair share of headers. Brings something different to the table and seems to help Neves flourish too. Wes Morgan got ahead of him for the third goal, which was the only downside, but otherwise he was excellent. 8/10

Joao Moutinho

"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way," the words of Martin Luther King seem apt when describing the little genius that is Joao Moutinho. He doesn't unleash pinpoint 60-yard rakes or fire in long-range thunderbolts like his younger compatriot Mr Neves, but he does the simple things exceedingly well. What a cross for the first goal – a 'come and get me' ball if ever there was one. And then whips in a lovely corner onto Bennett's head for the second. In a madcap, end-to-end encounter Moutinho kept his cool, registering an 85 per cent pass accuracy, fully 10 per cent higher than any of his team mates. At his age he knows his limitations and his strengths – one of the cleverest footballers we've seen at Molineux in years. 8/10

Ruben Neves

When I was 21 years old I spent most of my hours playing computer games, getting drunk and missing university lectures. Ruben Neves spends his time being a footballing genius, stirring feelings of giddy, unrequited love amongst the Wolverhampton public. In five years' time half the infant population of Wolverhampton will be named Ruben. He had us all thinking he'd lost his touch a few weeks ago, but this was Neves at his filthy best, pinging long-range passes with perfect accuracy and generating noises from the South Bank that are normally reserved for much later on a Saturday. One chip for Vinagre was eye-poppingly gorgeous and then the inch-perfect pass for Jota's second goal was just stunning. Absolutely stunning. And he topped it off with another to Jimenez for the fourth. A master craftsman at the top of his game. 9/10

Ruben Vinagre

Brought in for a surprise start and he did well at times, but gave the ball away too often. A couple of decent tackles and improved as the game went on. A bit flustered in possession and his decision-making needs a lot of work. 6/10

Raul Jimenez

Continues to show why he's the most expensive player that Benfica have ever bought. Another masterclass in unselfish forward play. Playing a bit of a different role now, cutting in from the right hand side, but he's doing it perfectly. Embarked on a series of effective runs down that flank. Played his part in the first goal by teeing up Moutinho, almost scored himself a couple of times and on another day he might have had three assists – played in Dendoncker for one shot, crossed perfect for Jota for a spurned six-yard header and then in the last seconds he coolly picks out the same player for the winner. Indeed, he and Jota look to have an excellent understanding, which bodes very well for the coming weeks and months. It's been said before and it'll be said again – sign him up! 9/10

Diogo Jota

Four shots, three goals and a day that Diogo José Teixeira da Silva will never, ever forget. Neither will the 31,000 people who watched Jota tear Leicester apart with Wolves' first top-flight hat-trick for 42 years. Cleverly gets ahead of his man for the first goal, bounds forward with grace and confidence to fire home the second and then stays cooler than a cucumber on holiday to the South Pole for the winner with just seconds to go. Had his troubles at the start of the season but he's been in good form for a few weeks, either side of his injury, and could be the star of the second half of the campaign. He's got the talent, he's got the work rate and goodness me has he got the attitude. Continues to get kicked all over the park but shows incredible resolve and also strength to just keep on going. It can only be 10/10.

Substitutes

Matt Doherty (for Vinagre, 73)

Gave the ball away too often (37 per cent pass accuracy) but helped out defensively. 5/10

Morgan Gibbs-White

No impact from the youngster. N/A

Subs not used: Ruddy, Giles, Cavaleiro, Costa, Traore.