Analysis: Off-colour Wolves are handed Premier lesson

This was the worst display of the campaign from Nuno Espirito Santo's charges.

They lacked their usual speed and flair as they fell to their first defeat of the season at Molineux, courtesy of two Watford goals within a minute.

Jonny Castro Otto was hauled off at half-time after a sluggish performance at left-wing back while Matt Doherty was kept quiet on the other side.

Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho lost the midfield battle against first goalscorer Etienne Capoue and Abdoulaye Doucoure too.

The real difference-maker for the Hornets was how quickly they got up the pitch, particularly for the second goal scored by Roberto Pereyra, who linked up with Isaac Success and Gerard Deulofeu to great effect.

Wolves just could not match that. They did not carry a genuine goal threat.

Raul Jimenez cut an isolated figure before going off on the hour mark. The story of the season continued for Diogo Jota and Helder Costa – both worked hard but were not anywhere near their best.

It was the same starting line-up for the ninth game in succession and some of the players seemed tired. Watford looked a yard or two quicker, they were very quick to pounce on any loose balls.

Ruben Vinagre, Ivan Cavaleiro and Adama Traore came off the bench and teenager Vinagre was Wolves' best performer.

This was a harsh lesson for Nuno's men on the ruthlessness of the Premier League. Hopefully, it is one they learn from quickly.

They perhaps would have got away with switching off as they did here in the Championship. In the top flight, though, you have to be bang at it from the first whistle right up until the last.

It would be surprising to see this XI remain for the trip to Brighton next weekend. There was one change to the Wolves bench from the Crystal Palace victory as Vinagre came in for Morgan Gibbs-White.

The Hornets were without talisman Troy Deeney due to a minor hamstring injury and also had Nathaniel Chalobah, who got his first England cap last week, injured. They did not miss Deeney at all, though. Deulofeu and Success led the line for them and caused the hosts all sorts of problems with their pace and trickery.

Nuno's lot began well enough. Neves' free-kick caused Adam Masina to nod the ball over for a corner and Moutinho's inswinger found Ryan Bennett, whose header was tipped over the crossbar by Ben Foster.

Nothing came from the second corner, though, and with each passing minute, the well-drilled Watford grew in confidence.

Capoue sprayed the ball around confidently and broke forward to put the visitors ahead. Unmarked, on the edge of the box, his low drive flew through the legs of Conor Coady and left the unsighted Rui Patricio rooted to the spot – Doucoure the provider.

And the Hornets swiftly doubled their advantage. Wolves were caught napping. Pereyra timed his run to perfection before coolly lobbing Patricio – yet again, Doucoure with the assist.

They say you are at your most vulnerable when you have just conceded – and this was a clear example of that.

The Hornets were really in the mood while Wolves, frankly, were at sixes and sevens. Success picked up the ball with the intention of driving towards goal and was chopped down by Willy Boly right on the edge of the box. Fortunately, Deulofeu failed to beat the wall with his free-kick.

A fair few groans, understandably, started to ring around Molineux. Neves lunged in on Will Hughes and was booked.

Pereyra, Doucoure and Kiko Femenia all had efforts for Watford in the next several moments. Up the other end, Jimenez dragged a shot wide prior to the much-welcome interval for Wolves.

Nuno made a switch for the start of the second period. Vinagre replaced Jonny, who had been given the runaround. He was not up to his usual standards after his exploits with Spain.

And they looked brighter after the change, as the crowd did their utmost to rally the troops.

Vinagre was keen to get up the pitch and support the attackers. His first involvement was beating Femenia and putting in a low cross which Foster had to beat away.

Costa was having more of an influence as well. He outsmarted Masina but his floated delivery was a little too high for Jota to reach.

Wolves just could not find a way through. Willy Boly's back-heel was gathered by Foster, and Jota, just as he was about to pull the trigger, was tackled inside the area before Nuno made a second substitution.

Jimenez made way for Cavaleiro, who did pretty well.

He and Costa teamed up following a throw-in to work the ball to compatriot Moutinho and his curler spun narrowly over the crossbar.

Watford then very nearly went three up. A counter-attack down the left ended up at the feet of Doucoure, who was denied at the last second by a brilliant Neves tackle.

Record signing Traore was introduced for Doherty, with the formation seemingly shifting to 4-3-3.

Cavaleiro and Costa tried their utmost to salvage something, but each of their attempts flew off target.

Jota and Bennett were cautioned as Watford saw out a deserved victory.

Those yellow cards dished out by Lee Mason were a bit soft and the home supporters voiced their displeasure with the referee's questionable decision-making.

They were right to feel aggrieved but, ultimately, his errors were not why Wolves lost this match.

The manager of the month curse struck. They were not at the races. Of course, we must remember they are ninth in the table and, nine games in, have done superbly, but there is plenty to work on following this performance.