The Tim Spiers debrief – Chelsea 1 Wolves 1

But they could be proud of their efforts at Stamford Bridge.

Organised

It was a defensive masterclass for 92 minutes.

Maurizio Sarri bizarrely and disparagingly said that Wolves didn’t need to be organised as they were sat so deep – a classless comment from an under-pressure boss, who, as a few on Twitter were quick to point out, isn’t exactly one to talk seen as he can't organise a substitution.

The truth is that Wolves were organised with military-like precision and to suggest otherwise was petty and nonsensical.

That organisation isn't something that comes via a few days’ work on the training ground. The defensive rigidity that Wolves possess stems from the repetitive coaching Nuno Espirito Santo and his staff have done from day one in June 2017.

They made it look easy at times and Chelsea, a team littered with attacking talent, pace and creativity, were reduced to long shots and crosses.

Apart from at Manchester City in January it was, though, the most defensive we’ve seen Wolves all season.

It was a surprise to see them so deep and producing so little going forward, but the problem was with Chelsea having two defensive midfielders in Jorginho and Kante, Azpilicueta at right-back who doesn't exactly bomb forward, plus two top quality centre-halves in Rudiger and David Luiz, Wolves were afforded little space in the Chelsea half.

They had ambitions of hitting the Blues on the counter attack when they could, but struggled to get numbers up field to build up any kind of momentum and so spent the vast majority of the match in their own third of the pitch.

They were two minutes away from the ultimate smash and grab – via one shot and one goal.

That they couldn’t see it through was reminiscent of Arsenal away and certainly felt like a defeat to a distraught group of players.

Saiss for the defence?

There were a number of impressive individual performances from a defensive viewpoint.

Willy Boly was a colossus, winning several headers and throwing his body at the ball.

Rui Patricio, who had endured a hit-and-miss few weeks and was left out against Cardiff, was faultless in goal with a couple of fine saves, some good claims from corners and some solid kicking.

He may be disappointed with the goal, but the ball has been whipped through a crowd of players at pace and nestles in the side netting, so it would be harsh to criticise.

Man of the match Leander Dendoncker was immense in midfield, winning eight tackles in a physical and understated display, reining in his attacking instincts to protect the defence and restrict the attacking threat of Kovacic.

Romain Saiss was also a key figure.

The Moroccan hasn’t always looked comfortable at centre half this season – games against Leicester and Shrewsbury spring to mind – and when playing at right-sided centre-half in pre-season he struggled.

It’s not the most natural position to have a left-footer on that side, but here he was superb.

He and Doherty managed to restrict the influence of Hazard – whose goal came via a corner – with the mercurial Belgian barely doing anything of note from open play.

Ryan Bennett is available again for next weekend’s huge FA Cup quarter final against Manchester United and you’d expect the Englishman to slot back into the side.

Bennett has excelled over a long period of time this season and one good performance from Saiss in that position shouldn't mean it's his spot to keep for the biggest game of the season.

But with this performance Saiss has certainly given Nuno something to think about.

Goal machine

That’s 14 for the season in all competitions now for Raul Jimenez who has been the stand-out performer of the campaign.

The Mexican has been a key focal point all year long, with his only problem in the early months of the season being his occasional wastefulness in front of goal.

That’s not an issue now.

Jimenez has netted eight goals in his past 12 appearances and only needed one sniff of goal here, latching on to Diogo Jota’s excellent through ball and beating the keeper via a slight deflection.

His partnership with Jota is up there with the best in the league at the moment and they’ve linked up for Wolves’ past three goals, teeing each other up for both goals against Cardiff last week and now at Stamford Bridge via a classic counter attack of passes at pace as they stormed through the Chelsea defence.

Jimenez has scored 12 in the league – equalling Wolves' Premier League record, held by Steven Fletcher – which is more than Marcus Rashford, Callum Wilson, Son Heung-Min, Roberto Firmino, Glenn Murray and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

He also netted Wolves' first goal at Stamford Bridge since Jody Craddock in 2004 – five games ago.

It goes without saying now, but Wolves must make his move from Benfica a permanent one in the summer.

An option of around £30million is good value in today’s transfer market, purely on the goals and assists that he can provide.

Add Jimenez’s tireless work rate, unselfish play, intelligent movement and team ethic into the mix and the fee is a bargain.

What a find he’s been.

London calling

The result also continued Wolves’ unbeaten record in London this season.

They’ve played six and not lost a single one.

Wins against Spurs, Crystal Palace and West Ham, draws against Chelsea, Arsenal and Fulham – the capital has been a happy hunting ground for Nuno’s men.

They've one more trip to London to come – a date at Watford in late April which could decide the race for seventh and possible European qualification.

And of course on top of that they hope to play at least two more London games this season...

United in wait

Which brings us on nicely to next weekend and the small matter of an FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United, under the lights at Molineux and broadcast live to the nation next Saturday night.

It’s arguably Wolves’ biggest one-off, do-or-die game since the ‘survival Sunday’ nerve-shredder against Blackburn Rovers way back in 2011 when Wolves avoided relegation from the Premier League by a single point.

They had big games last season, sure, but with promotion secured with a few games to spare there wasn’t the need for an all-or-nothing promotion clash.

While they may not have won at Stamford Bridge, the past week has served as ideal preparation for the United game.

After losing at Huddersfield you worried they may have gone into the quarter final on a downer, but a hugely convincing victory over Cardiff has been backed up with an impressive point at Stamford Bridge, continuing their superb record against the big six this season.

With no injuries picked up, Nuno will have a fully-fit squad to choose from.

Confidence is high and these players look ready to achieve something special.

It’s an absolutely mouth-watering prospect.

Final word

Star man: Leander Dendoncker

The boss: Outwitted Sarri

Fans: Loved the Liquidator

Magic moment: A wonderful counter-attacking strike from Jimenez

In a word: Organised

Picture perfect: