Comment: Wolves honeymoon given stern test but perspective is needed

It's been an almost continuous period of joy, wonder, amazement and celebration as we've watched Nuno's team sweep all before them, storm to the Championship title and then continue that momentum into the Premier League, writes Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers.

However that universal positivity, that tangible feel-good factor that's remained untainted for so long, is about to be given its sternest test.

Wolves face the prospect of four consecutive defeats when they travel to Arsenal this weekend. Then there's a potentially tricky visit of Huddersfield two weeks later.

Just a few weeks ago they were seventh and just a couple of points from the Champions League spots. Wolves could do no wrong.

Three defeats, though, have set some nerves a-jangling. Doubts are starting to creep in. Recruitment, the lack of a striker (despite Raul Jimenez providing more goals – three – and more assists – three – than anyone in the squad), no Plan B, maybe it's time for a change of formation...Nuno and Wolves are being questioned more than they have at any point since he took over in June 2017.

With Wolves 11th in the Premier League table, you’d think some perspective wouldn’t necessarily be required when it comes to the subject of just how far this club has come.

But perspective, which is defined as ‘to think about a situation or problem in a wise and reasonable way’ can occasionally be in short supply when it comes to football supporters.

This correspondent’s Twitter notification timeline was full of nonsensical, profanity-laden garbage when Wolves were trailing to Spurs on Saturday, with words like “embarrassing” and even “relegation battle” being bandied about.

Tottenham Hotspur are a pretty good team, to be fair. They play in the Champions League and stuff.

Some perspective, then...

– Two years ago Wolves lost by the same scoreline, 3-2, at home to Derby. But in this game they were annihilated by the Rams in a pathetic first half. Only 19,858 watched it. Wolves were managerless and 19th in the Championship.

– Five years ago they were drawing 2-2 at lowly (and faraway) Carlisle in League One, with outcast Jamie O’Hara coming on as a substitute.

– And seven years ago, having beaten Wigan Athletic 3-1, they were about to embark on a hideous run of two wins in 27 matches that set off a spiral of successive relegations as the club fell apart at the seams.

It’s clear to everyone, surely, that this Wolves team are a world away from the last time they were in the Premier League, when a lack of investment meant they were always on borrowed time before relegation would occur.

This time they've spent £81million (including the automatic Dendoncker fee to be paid next summer) and yes, a comfortable mid-table finish is the very clear target given that investment and given the strength of last season's team. They're well on track to do that.

It’s annoying that they’ve lost three matches. It’s frustrating that they’re not playing to the potential we all know they have. But the panic that sets in after a couple of bad weeks borders on the embarrassing.

Thankfully it’s mostly restricted to social media – and it should be pointed out that the atmosphere at Molineux on Saturday was positive and encouraging. But all the players are on Twitter, etc. They see all the bile and it can’t be nice to read.

Everyone of a Wolves persuasion would take a top half finish as being a huge success this season. Well, they're currently 11th, seven points clear of the strugglers in 14th downwards.

They possess the league's fifth best defensive record, only two teams in the division have had more shots. They ain't doing a fat lot wrong.

If you analyse Wolves’ last three results, it’s only the Watford game where they failed to show up.

With the way they played at the Amex, they’d have got a point from Brighton nine times out of 10. And on Saturday they took on a fantastic Spurs team and played the better football for a number of spells.

Indeed, they’ve faced three of the ‘big six’ now in Spurs, Manchester City and Manchester United and not looked out of place against any of them.

You’d back them to give Arsenal a right good game on Sunday too, despite the Gunners’ recent form. There will be gaps to exploit in the Arsenal third, there will be goals.

The rest of the Premier League has been taking points from Fulham, Huddersfield, Newcastle and Cardiff, but Wolves haven't played any of these teams. They face three of them in a four-game run after the Arsenal game.

This is a team that has substance and style in equal measure. It plays the best football any of us have seen at Molineux for decades.

It also shouldn't be forgotten this is a young and evolving team – Neves and Jota are 21, Traore is 22, even Jonny and Coady are only 24 and 25. And only Bennett has played regularly in the Premier League before.

They're all learning, as is Nuno. And they'll have learned plenty in the past three weeks.

Tweaks and improvements are needed, but come on, this is a Wolves team to be embraced and enjoyed.

There will be bumps in the road but the overwhelming feeling remains that Wolves are a team going places. Three defeats – or four – doesn't change that.