The Tim Spiers debrief – Brighton 1 Wolves 0

They played well at Brighton - but it was the same story in front of goal.

Goal-getter Glenn

Glenn Murray showed Wolves how it was done.

Nuno Espirito Santo's team managed to conjure up almost four times as many shots as the Seagulls.

Many of those were blocked long-range efforts from outside the box, but there's no doubt whatsoever that Wolves created the better opportunities and on the balance of play deserved at least a draw.

Due to a combination of poor finishing, some bad luck and a couple of inspired saves from keeper Mat Ryan, they instead drew a blank for a second week in a row.

It leaves their goal tally at nine, from 10 matches, and is starting to become a recurring theme and an ongoing problem.

Murray only needed one attempt at goal (and made it look a far easier finish than it was). It was pretty much the only thing he did all afternoon.

What Wolves would give for having a player of his finishing prowess in their squad, because that's the main thing lacking from their game.

Build-up play, control of possession and tempo, defensive rigidity, it was all there again at the Amex. Just what Nuno had asked for after the no-show against Watford last weekend.

But in front of goal Wolves' attacking talents, as has been the case for most of the campaign so far, lacked a clinical touch.

Predictable?

And they certainly lacked variety in the last half an hour, when Brighton were more than happy to sit deep in two narrow banks of four and play for 1-0.

On paper the Seagulls could look ordinary but they've now won three games in a row by the same scoreline and are incredibly well-drilled and resolute – once that first goal went in Wolves' task became pretty damn difficult.

That's a recurring theme too – when Wolves take the lead under Nuno, they tend to keep hold of it. Indeed, they've yet to lose when scoring first since he took charge at the start of last season.

Conversely, when they concede first, Nuno's Wolves can struggle to chase the game. Barring Bristol City away last December, they don't win.

This team is all about control, shape and tempo. When the game becomes stretched, Wolves lose their shape and tend to look weaker for it.

They're also starting to look a bit one-dimensional going forward.

Last season they had alternative routes to go in the form of Barry Douglas' whipped set pieces, Benik Afobe's natural instinct for goal or even a physical threat in the form of Alfred N'Diaye.

Those three players have all moved on and, while Wolves' recruitment has been excellent and all their additions have made a positive impact, they do lack different options going forward.

You knew what would happen on the hour mark yesterday – on would come Ivan Cavaleiro and Diogo Jota in the forward areas. As players they're not too dissimilar to Helder Costa and Adama Traore. Brighton knew what they were dealing with.

Wolves tried to work the ball around the final third but with the hosts so deep and so narrow they invariably went wide and put a cross into the box...only to have no 'natural' header of the ball waiting to get on the end of them.

Nuno's team played well at the Amex and they deserved to get something from the game against a team that's only lost five times at home since the start of last season.

But there's some thinking to be done for Nuno in terms of changing things up – otherwise all eyes will turn to the January transfer window.

Forward thinking

There were some good individual performances, particularly from Matt Doherty and Willy Boly who have both reached a high level of consistency.

Doherty was Wolves' best route to goal and showed boundless enthusiasm in attacking his full-back and trying to make things happen.

Boly is maturing into the imposing Premier League-standard centre half we all expected he could be this season. His form is a big plus for Nuno, who can't have too many concerns over his back three. There was no clean sheet here but they barely let Brighton have a sniff of goal.

However, while Doherty, Boly and also Neves and Moutinho could all say they did themselves justice, the same couldn't be said of the forward players.

Raul Jimenez had an off day, Adama Traore wasted his big chance on his first start by failing to shine, Helder Costa produced some decent moments but lacked end product again, Ivan Cavaleiro made an impact but couldn't find a moment of magic and Diogo Jota almost scored on one occasion but still seemed to lack confidence.

All in all, for £51million worth of signings, the forwards didn't produce the goods.

Jota and Costa in particular desperately need a goal, with neither providing one, or an assist, from their combined 19 league starts this season.

That's a damning statistic and one that needs rectifying.

Perspective

Yes two league defeats in a row doesn't feel great and Wolves are in danger of wasting their excellent start to the campaign.

However, it should be noted that the last time they lost consecutive league matches was in April 2017.

Wolves' supporters have been spoiled under Nuno and this is a rare mini blip.

If they produce their Brighton performance every single week for the rest of the season, they'll win more than they lose.

It's tweaks that are needed, rather than any major changes.

London calling

While the next two fixtures offer, on paper, the prospect of two more defeats, Wolves' performances and results against Manchester City and Manchester United suggest they'll raise their game at Molineux next weekend and at the Emirates a week later.

Score first against Spurs, on a Saturday night, under the lights and in a no-doubt raucous Molineux atmosphere, and you'd back them to give Spurs a damn good game.

Improvements needed? Yes. Would you back Nuno to engineer them? Yes.

Final word

Star man: Matt Doherty

The boss: Sticking to principles

Fans: Tried to spur the team on

Magic moment: Traore skipped past Jahanbakhsh like he wasn't there with a moment of brilliant skill

In a word: Deflating

Picture perfect: