Derby County 2 Wolves 1 – Report and pictures

Helder Costa and Matt Doherty both went close in the first half but it was Derby who went into the break in front thanks to David Nugent's finish after Rui Patricio had saved from Richard Keogh.

Wolves equalised when a wonderful Ruben Neves effort from range cannoned off the bar and Diogo Jota finished the rebound.

But Derby won it just five minutes later when Mason Mount turned in Nugent's pass.

Analysis

So, is your glass half full or half empty?

Depending on your disposition Wolves have either gone winless in five games and don't look ready for the new season, or they've only lost one pre-season game all summer and still have two weeks left to get ready for the big kick off, writes Tim Spiers at Pride Park.

Well, both viewpoints are true, but there will be a few concerns whirring around Nuno Espirito Santo's brain ahead of the final pre-season fixture against Villarreal next weekend.

For the first time this summer Wolves looked suspect defensively here, conceding two sloppy goals against a motivated Derby team who harrassed and pressed Nuno's team from minute one to 90.

They also, again, lacked their famous 2017/18 magic in the final third, aside from the lively Diogo Jota who deserved to score the goal that briefly had Wolves level at Pride Park before Derby's 72nd minute winner.

Wolves peaked in their last pre-season game a year ago (against Leicester) and will now look to do so again next weekend. Let's not forget they lost 2-0 to Shrewsbury last summer – results aren't important yet.

There were positives here, not least Jota and Ruben Neves who look in fine form. New boys Joao Moutinho and Jonny Castro enjoyed nice moments on their first Wolves starts but understandably won't be up to speed yet.

Raul Jimenez also looked sharp, but Nuno will want more from his attacking players against the Spanish side. He'll also want a couple of new signings with the clock ticking.

Match report

Nuno handed first appearances in Wolves colours to new signings Joao Moutinho and Jonny in what looked to be his strongest XI available, save for split decisions over Ivan Cavaleiro and Raul Jimenez. Jimenez was on the bench but Cavaleiro missed out with a knock.

John Ruddy was also left out the squad with Nuno instead handing minutes to Will Norris from the bench, with Norris having missed out at Stoke in midweek.

This was Derby's last friendly before their Championship campaign gets underway. They fielded new Chelsea loanee Mason Mount in midfield and were all over Wolves in the opening 10 minutes.

Nuno's team barely emerged from their own half with the Rams pressing them hard and forcing a couple of chances for livewire David Nugent who side-footed wide from a Mount cross and then headed just past the post after beating Willy Boly in the air.

Moutinho made a checkered start with a couple of misplaced passes but soon imposed himself in midfield, trying to move the ball briskly to the flanks.

He also posed a threat from his set piece deliveries and after Ruben Neves saw a 25-yarder deflected just wide, Moutinho's resulting corner was met brilliantly by Matt Doherty whose powerful header was superbly tipped wide by Scott Carson.

Diogo Jota, Wolves' most creative outlet in the first half, then embarked on a jinking run which parted the Derby defence. He teed up Helder Costa in the box but the forward's shot was blocked on the line by a sliding Richard Keogh.

Wolves were moving the ball with more precision, although Romain Saiss was guilty of conceding possession to readily in an unconvincing display at right centre half.

New wing back Jonny was full of running but lacked end product, especially when a left-footed cross was sliced horribly for a goal kick.

It was an entertaining first half at Pride Park with only a goal missing. Unfortunately for Wolves when the opener came it was Derby who scored it – Keogh's header from a free kick was saved by Rui Patricio, but the keeper couldn't prevent Nugent following up to fire home the rebound.

Nuno made two changes at half time, with Moutinho and Bonatini replaced by Morgan Gibbs-White and Jimenez.

Jimenez was in the thick of the action from the off, firstly just failing to reach a rebound from a saved Jota cross-shot and then stinging the palms of Carson with a decent effort on the turn from 15 yards.

Wolves were playing with more purpose in the teeming Derby rain as they looked to avoid a first defeat of pre-season.

Nuno made three more changes on the hour mark with Will Norris, Ryan Bennett and Ryan Giles on for Patricio, Saiss and Jonny.

Neves had scored an unforgettable world class goal against Derby just a few months ago. He very nearly did it again here, leading indirectly to a deserved equaliser.

The Portuguese midfielder took aim from 25 yards – it cannoned against the crossbar and fell into the path of Jota, who made no mistake with a rebound from close range.

The game was now wide open and stretched – Gibbs-White almost played Jota in but Carson raced from his line to clear.

But it was Derby who retook the lead when Wolves failed to deal with a cross, allowing Nugent to tee up Mount for an easy finish from six yards.

Thereafter the game died a death, with neither team creating a meaningful chance as it finished 2-1 to the hosts.

Nuno applauded a travelling army of at least 2,000 at full time – he'll want his team to give them more to cheer next weekend.

Teams

Derby County (4-3-3): Carson; Wisdom (Bogle, 84), Keogh (Pearce, 84), Davies, Lowe (Forsyth, 79); Bryson (Jozefzoon, 63), Ledley (Johnson, 73), Mount; Wilson, Nugent (Mason Bennett, 75), Lawrence (Thomas, 81). Subs: Roos, Jerome, Mitchell.

Goals: Nugent (41), Mount (72)

Wolves (3-4-3): Patricio (Norris, 61); Saiss (Bennett, 61­), Coady (c), Boly; Doherty, Neves, Moutinho (Gibbs-White, 45), Jonny (Giles, 61); Costa, Bonatini (Jimenez, 45), Jota (Enobakhare, 73). Subs: Batth, Hause, Rasmussen, Goncalves, Ashley-Seal.

Goals: Jota (67)

Referee: Peter Bankes

Next up

Wolves end their pre-season with the visit of Spanish side Villarreal to Molineux next Saturday, August 4.