Dave Porter shares his insight into the things we learnt from Wolves important 3 points against Bournemouth.
1. Finally, an Opportunity Taken
This was not a pleasant watch—the sort of game where time seemed to move in reverse. It was always going to be a tough game. While many had marked Liverpool away as the end of a tough fixture list, a glance at the league table showed that going away to a team chasing Champions League qualification was never going to be easy. But when Wolves found themselves a goal and a man up in the first half, the game switched from one where a point would have been welcomed to one where Wolves simply had to seize the opportunity.
As the game went on and other scores went in Wolves’ favour, the magnitude of the match shifted from “you can’t not win this game” to “you can’t go down if you win this game.” Pressure, nerves, and endless glances at the static clock followed. Had Munetsi managed to convert from five yards with the goal gaping, this might have been enjoyable. But the longer it went on, the more unpleasant it became to watch.
In the end, Wolves, fairly comfortably in reality, walked away with an enormous, potentially season-defining moment as their reward. Having missed opportunities against Arsenal, Liverpool, and others, they took this one, and it feels huge.
2. Momentum Must Continue
Not long ago, many Wolves fans would have settled for just not being adrift at the end of the tough fixture period. A combination of positive results and performances for Wolves, coupled with the teams below them losing any ability to pick up points, now sees Wolves five points clear of the relegation zone. Wolves now turn to what, on paper, looks like a much smoother run of games, starting with home fixtures against Fulham and Everton.
There are no easy games, of course. Fulham are a decent side with a double dose of the curse of the former player within them. Everton are rejuvenated under Moyes and now sit comfortably mid-table, but these are still home games that you would prefer when looking for points. Wolves have taken a massive step towards safety, and that survival could almost be assured over the next two league fixtures.
Wolves have got to continue to build the gap and look upwards towards Manchester United. The gap looks healthy as it stands, but that could change rapidly if Ipswich were to win and Wolves were to lose. There needs to be enough in the tank that there is little jeopardy by the time Wolves make their way to Portman Road in early April. Pereira has got to keep his men going and not believe that the hard work is done. Wolves are in a much better position than we would have hoped or expected, but there are a lot more games to be won to ensure Premier League status next year.
3. The Other Brazilian Ain’t Bad Either
Of Wolves’ triumvirate of Brazilians, plaudits tend to go to the outrageous Matheus Cunha or the relentless tenacity and ability of João Gomes. While Cunha continues to fire Wolves towards safety and Gomes remains Wolves’ most consistent performer, today was the day for the other Brazilian to receive his flowers. André is becoming vital for Wolves, and this was his day to shine. The sight of him furiously celebrating a tackle as if he had struck a thirty-yard wonder goal summed up his performance.
It now seems bizarre that this was a man who struggled to make the starting line-up earlier in the season (though probably not his fault), and he now seems fully at ease with the demands of the league and what is expected of him. Wolves have very quietly got themselves one of the league’s strongest midfields. A strange view perhaps, given the league position, but there are clubs in much higher league positions that would look enviously at what Wolves have to offer, not only as first choice but also in depth. Cunha and Gomes are Wolves’ most valuable diamonds, but they are set in a solid band of gold that is André.
3. Confidence is More Important Than Ability
Don’t believe me? I give you Jean-Ricner Bellegarde. Where has this man been? He has gone from a punchline to a knockout. Another fabulous outing for JRB, who you simply cannot leave out of this team. Bournemouth just couldn’t get the ball from him. How is this the same player who was falling over his own feet just a few weeks ago?
What is perhaps most impressive is that this upturn in form and ability has occurred when Wolves were in the mud and needed people to step up. Whether the player has found some confidence or Pereira has instilled it in him, Bellegarde is a different player. What a timely revelation.
4. Pedro Lima Might Be a Bit Special
The probable departure of Nelson Semedo casts a long shadow. Should he leave Wolves when his contract expires, he will follow a succession of previous Wolves players who have left the club whilst being the incumbent captain. That’s an issue that needs addressing but probably speaks most to the deficiencies of Wolves’ self-sustaining model. While the preference would surely be for Semedo to stay, there are signs that Wolves have something rather special waiting to replace him, which would heavily soften the blow.
Lima already looks like a player who is becoming more and more ready for first-team minutes and starts. Yesterday was another indicator that he has all the attributes to make his mark next season. Semedo will leave big boots to fill, but Lima has the potential to outgrow them very quickly
5. Some Issues with the New Guys
The table looks a lot better today than it has at any point this season. Wolves are five points ahead in a two-horse race with only 12 games to go. It could have been different, though. Munetsi must score. There is no other way of viewing this. Had Wolves not won this game, the Munetsi miss would not be so easy to overlook. It’s also not a one-off. This is a succession of misses over the last three games that are a cause for concern for fans and must be starting to get into Munetsi’s head. He is a powerful player who makes Wolves a much more dominating force on the pitch, but he needs a goal. He is getting into the positions, and this is not yet at the stage where it is an issue, but even after three games, Munetsi needs a goal.
Nasser Djiga also made his Wolves debut as a second-half substitute. Wolves maintained a clean sheet and won the game, but there were a couple of occasions where his swing-and-miss attempted clearances created opportunities. First-game nerves in a pressure-cooker game can excuse those moments, but had the mistakes been capitalised on, we would again be having a very different conversation here. It’s early days, and there is no judgement here, just a raised eyebrow of caution that Djiga, in particular, might need more time.
6. It Was Vítor’s Day
Everything went well. The starting line-up worked. The red card (it’s an obvious red, struggling to comprehend any debate about it) was a bonus. Wolves scored at a good time. Pereira made the right call to remove João Gomes and later Santi Bueno to avoid any opportunity for the referee to even the playing field, as they so often like to do. This was his fourth league win in ten games, and all of them have been clean sheets. He says he deserves a pint, and I’ll happily get them in.
ARTICLE BY DAVE PORTER
Wolverhampton born, East Sussex based supporter. Old enough to have seen the descent to the bottom, young enough to not have experienced the days my friend. Not many Wolves fans to celebrate or commiserate with round these parts, so had to find an outlet to discuss the enormous highs, crushing lows and share the frustrations that only come with following Wolves.