We have to learn quickly after 'bad day' – Wolves' Matt Doherty

Nuno Espirito Santo’s team have taken one point from their opening two matches against Everton and Leicester – and face free-scoring reigning champions Manchester City at Molineux on Saturday.

Doherty, who had an eventful afternoon at the King Power Stadium where he scored an own goal, missed a great chance and went off injured during a 2-0 defeat, was pleased with Wolves’ performance.

But wing-back Doherty says they have a lot of improving to do – and not a lot of time to do it.

“We played really well but it’s just what happens,” Doherty said. “The league is ruthless and we need to come to terms with that.

“If we don’t take our chances the ball can end up in the back of our net. We need to learn quickly.

“There are definitely lessons to learn going forward and a lot of improvements to make.

“It’s relentless, every game is lose-able. You have to be at 100 per cent otherwise you won’t win.

“It could easily have been six points from six but it’s one.

“We have to get on the training pitch and prepare for a big game next weekend.”

Doherty isn’t expected to miss the clash against Pep Guardiola’s City.

He was on the receiving end of a nasty tackle from Jamie Vardy, who was promptly sent off by referee Mike Dean.

The 26-year-old Irish international said: “It’s fine, I’ve just got stud marks down the inside of my leg. But my leg wasn’t planted, which is beneficial.

“It could have been worse if my leg was planted.

“I could see it coming so I rode with it.

“Jamie knocked in (on the dressing room) and asked if everything was all right.

“There’s no hard feelings. He’s apologised so that’s the end of that.”

‘A bad day’ is how Doherty summed it up after he scored an own goal, went off injured and spurned a great opportunity during 67 minutes on the field at the King Power.

The Irish wing-back put through his own net when he inadvertently headed a deflected Marc Albrighton cross past Rui Patricio.

“It was a bad day,” Doherty bemoaned. “I missed a good chance and then obviously scored the own goal and was involved in the tackle, it was a mixed bag and mostly bad.

“(For the own goal) it took a nick just before but I was already committed.

“When you’re already committed and it’s going that quick, it just hit me and it’s in the back of the net.

“It took a bit of a deflection. It’s unfortunate and not nice but these things happen.”

And then for Doherty’s chance to score in the fourth minute, he said: “I thought it was going to get cleared so when it came, instead of a full swing it was only a stab.

“I should have put it in but it wasn’t meant to be.

“We started off really well and could have had two or three goals early on.

“That’s just the league – if you don’t score you get punished. They were ruthless.

“The bad luck was unbelievable, we hit the woodwork three times and had some good chances.”

Wolves arguably put in a stronger performance than for their 2-2 draw at home to Everton on the opening weekend.

Joao Moutinho hit the bar, Raul Jimenez and Jonny Castro Otto hit the post and the team created a number of presentable opportunities.

Doherty isn’t too concerned about Wolves being able to compete – but says Leicester’s experience and know-how enabled them to shut the game out with relative ease.

“We’re playing well,” the Irishman said. “Leicester’s Premier League experience, nous and know-how meant they shut it down.

“They’ve got Jonny Evans, Kasper Schmeichel, Harry Maguire, they’re pretty experienced in knowing what to do and they did that even with 10 men, it gave them a reason to sit.

“They got the job done.”

Doherty said Leicester’s second goal on the stroke of half-time made a big difference to the final outcome.

“It just deflates you, it’s not easy,” he added. “Even in the second half we started off really well and proved to ourselves we can do it – it’s just clearing up a few things.”