The Tim Spiers debrief – Watford 1 Wolves 2

Given that it came so soon after the Hornets beat Nuno Espirito Santo’s side at Wembley in the FA Cup semi-finals, this was one of the more satisfactory victories of a unforgettable season that could still have a fairytale finish.

Top half team

First things first, though. Three points guaranteed that Wolves will finish in the top half of the Premier League and, therefore, achieve the club’s ultimate aim in 2018/19.

Surviving relegation was the priority first and foremost. But a top-10 finish was the hopeful ambition – and Wolves have achieved it with two games to spare.

Yes, Nuno has been handed the kind of war chest that even a number of Premier League bosses can only dream of.

But having money, as anyone who sat through 1990 to 2002 under Sir Jack Hayward can testify, doesn’t equal success.

It has to be spent wisely and prudently. West Ham and Fulham splashed more than Wolves last summer but neither of those clubs have achieved their targets this season.

To finish in the top half is a deeply impressive and notable achievement, for which Nuno deserves so much credit.

He is clearly irked by what he perceives to be a lack of recognition for the things Wolves have achieved so far this season, saying yesterday in a terse press conference when he was being quizzed about Wolves' European prospects: “We’ve achieved mathematically staying in the Premier League, nobody said that.

“Now we achieved mathematically that we stay in the top half of the table, nobody’s mentioning that. And last season we were playing in the Championship.

“We’re not thinking about (seventh) because it doesn’t guarantee anything. We don’t have to think about it – just focus on what we have to do.

“We must know where we came from – last season we were playing against Burton, with all my respect. Now we are here.”

You can’t argue with that.

It’s one thing spending the money – it’s quite another using only 19 players, beating (and going unbeaten against) Europa League semi-finalists Arsenal and Chelsea, winning 3-1 at Spurs, defeating Manchester United twice, being one of only six clubs to take points off Manchester City, going unbeaten at home for four months and reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.

When you sit back and take it all in, it's been a phenomenal season.

As well as keeping his squad fit and motivated, arguably Nuno’s most laudable contribution was the switch to 3-5-2 in December.

Wolves were 12th and six points behind seventh place when he enacted the change which would see Leander Dendoncker add power and strength to free up Joao Moutinho and, crucially, move Diogo Jota slightly more infield to partner Raul Jimenez. The fortunes of Dendoncker, Moutinho, Jota and Jimenez, aligned with Wolves, have improved inmeasurably since.

Nuno spotted Wolves’ biggest weakness and overcame it.

A top 10 finish is his – and Wolves’ – reward.

Seventh heaven?

Having achieved one target, another is now within their grasp. One victory is all Wolves may need to secure a seventh-placed finish and, tantalisingly, possible qualification for the Europa League should Manchester City beat Watford in the FA Cup final next month.

Leicester emphatically beat Arsenal yesterday but should the Foxes fail to beat both Manchester City away and Chelsea at home then Wolves can land seventh with a victory over already-relegated Fulham this weekend.

Given that Fulham have won three on the spin without conceding a goal and Wolves have only won three of 11 matches against the league’s worst six teams this season, there should be absolutely no assumptions made that they will do so.

However, an offer of having to beat a relegated team to all-but finish seventh in the Premier League is a generous one.

Should they do so, Wolverhampton will turn blue for the day on May 18.

Courageous

They’re in this enviable position thanks to a courageous, battling victory at Vicarage Road, an afternoon which tested their mettle to the limit.

In terms of quality there is precious little to separate Wolves and Watford.

Mental attributes such as bravery, fearlessness and fortitude were required – fortunately for Wolves those characteristics are not in short supply.

While contenders for the top four have shambolically wilted at the business end of the campaign, Wolves have overcome the most devastating blow in this club's recent history and come roaring back with two fine victories against distinguished opponents.

That takes balls.

They had their bottle and their nerve questioned by all and sundry after that Wembley capitulation, but seasoned watchers of this team knew that wasn’t the real Wolves.

This was far more like it. Organised and brave defending, meticulous passing from midfield, relentless work rate on the flanks and then fireworks up front via the electric duo of Jimenez and Jota, whose combined form shows no sign of slowing down as the season nears a close.

Jota in particular has been nothing short of sensational since that aforementioned formation change.

Up to that point he’d played 14 games in all competitions and failed to provide a single goal or assist.

Since then – 21 appearances, 10 goals, five assists.

It’s not just the numbers. He galvanises Wolves and sometimes single-handedly coaxes them upfield via those trademark barnstorming ventures from deep.

His blossoming partnership with Jimenez has been wonderful to watch unfold. Their telepathy has already left many a Premier League defence perplexed – if they can replicate this over the whole of next season then who knows where they can fire Wolves.

Wolves' set-up is geared to get the best out of the pair and the inevitable summer signings shouldn't take anything away from this fruitful front two.

Lump

A word too for Ruben Neves who, after a difficult couple of weeks, has returned to form. That return, not conincidentally, has chimed with two victories for Wolves.

Ben Foster was no doubt on the wind-up when he said ‘it was a very windy day and he’s sort of lumped the ball to be honest with you...the wind’s picked up a bit and pushed it to the back post...’.

Yes, there’s no love lost between these two unlikely rivals and, while Nuno may have stated otherwise, this was a revenge mission.

Neves’ inch-perfect pass, which befuddled Foster and his helpless defenders, was surely Wolves’ finest assist of the season.

Two games to go then and plenty to play for.

After banishing their white shirt curse, if Wolves can now put a timely end to their bottom six hoodoo and finish their Molineux campaign off in style, they can still have their fairytale ending to 2018/19.

As Fosun keep telling us, this is only the start...

Final word

Star man: Diogo Jota

The boss: Couldn't be faulted

Fans: Noisier than they've been all season away from home

Magic moment: Jimenez scored the opener and about eight Mexican flags were unfurled in the away end before the fans sang 'Si Senor' for 10 minutes non-stop

In a word: Revenge

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