Slick Wolves defy disjointed pre-season to make winning start against Sheffield United
Nuno Espirito Santo’s doubts over Wolves’ lack of pre-season were swiftly swept aside on Monday night. Within six minutes his team showed Sheffield United just how tough the second season in the Premier League can be.
Nuno’s squad have not played a friendly match and barely had a summer holiday since their campaign finished in Duisburg, Germany, with a defeat in the Europa League 34 days ago, yet you would not tell as they scored through Raul Jimenez and Romain Saiss early on.
“We knew it was a quick turnaround and we didn't have friendly matches, just internationals for the players. We had all these doubts and the players were just amazing with the way they worked,” said the Wolves manager, in his first game since signing a new three-year contract.
After two seventh-placed finishes, they look as settled as any Premier League team with their system and the departure of Matt Doherty to Tottenham Hotspur saw Fernando Marcal simply step into his place.
The slick passing of Joao Moutinho continued and Adama Traore remains in a gold shirt despite attracting the attention of rivals last season. Pedro Neto, at 20, could be a star of the Premier League and Daniel Podence is maturing.
As for Chris Wilder’s team, they have no fans in the stands roaring them on and singing the Greasy Chip Butty song for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus pandemic. They may need some fresh ideas but at least recovered well from their early setback.
“People talk about going for a beer for team spirit but how about when you are 2-0 down after six minutes?” Wilder said. “I'm not surprised by their attitude or character. They didn't go missing, we missed a touch of quality in good positions but I felt we would have got something from the game if we got one back. There are fine margins.”
Gareth Southgate was in the stands and had a close eye on Aaron Ramsdale, making his second Blades debut following his return to the club in a £18.5million deal after three years with Bournemouth.
That was Wilder’s only major change from last season. He replaced one England hopeful in Dean Henderson, who returned to Manchester United, with another in Ramsdale, who was name-dropped by Southgate during the pre-season internationals while with the Under-21s.
But within six minutes the new signing had conceded twice. The opener was a swift counter-attack where Wolves moved the ball from penalty boxes within seconds. Moutinho gave Podence invitation to run forward and he burst past John Lundstram at pace. Podence’s cross took a bounce before Jimenez crisply volleyed into the top corner.
Ramsdale tipped over from another Jimenez volley but from the corner was beaten for a second time. Neto’s corner swung into the danger area and Saiss contorted his neck to steer a powerful header into the net, taking advantage of Enda Stevens being felled by his own team-mate.
Club analysts have had time to study how to get through Wilder’s overlapping centre-backs and Nuno’s way to combat the threat was getting Leander Dendoncker high up the pitch.
A defensive midfielder by trade, Dendoncker was so far into enemy territory that he was on the toes of Wilder’s centre-backs, giving them no chance to break forward. It will surely be the blueprint of how to blunt the Blades this season.
Wilder’s team improved in the second half and Stevens volleyed over when he was clean through. John Fleck came closest for them when he drilled a shot that struck the post.
“The game kicked off at six minutes past 6pm for us,” said Wilder. “Two goals that are avoidable for us. It was a difficult position to be in against a team with unbelievable pace on the counter-attack.
"But I know what I have got in my training room, they don't go under and they didn't. They made a game of it,” said Wilder. “We have talked about the challenges when you get beaten, as we had a good run in the last years. It hurts but we quickly move on.”
Ramsdale pulled off a stunning save to deny Saiss when he raced up from defence to join an attack in open play, with Jimenez stabbing the rebound wide. He later hit the post with a header.
Wolves have now been challenged by their manager to improve on playing in the Europa League. “We are going to challenge ourselves to improve the way we play, our ideas, with the same philosophy and staying humble as a team and being brave,” Nuno said.
Wolves captain Conor Coady says it is important that Nuno has committed his future to the club with his new deal. "Massive. When you see how he works with us in and around the training ground, he is a fantastic manager,” he said.
