The Tim Spiers debrief – Everton 1 Wolves 3

Goals from Ruben Neves, Raul Jimenez and Leander Dendoncker earned Nuno Espirito Santo's team a thoroughly deserved 3-1 victory.

Set a standard

In doing so, they set a standard for how to perform away from home – four days after doing exactly the same thing at Molineux when fixing the bar pretty damn high in a 3-0 demolition of West Ham United.

The most striking thing about this win – Wolves' first at Goodison Park since September 1979, when Andy Gray was on the scoresheet in a 3-2 victory – was just how unflappable Wolves were.

You never really sensed, even at 1-1 after previously lousy Everton woke from their slumber to equalise against the run of play, that they wouldn't exert their authority and win the football match.

Leander Dendoncker's third goal signalled, effectively, the end of the game. In the 66th minute.

Everton had 24 minutes – plus a further seven added on thanks to that pesky cat – but Wolves' intelligent and organised game management meant they were never really in danger of letting that lead slip.

The home fans knew it, too. They started leaving soon after Dendoncker's goal and come stoppage time the place was half empty.

Wolves were breathtakingly comfortable and perfectly showcased just how far they've come since the blood and guts opening day draw against the Toffee, when they showed courage and heart to earn a draw but produced none of the perfectly enacted game plan we witnessed on Saturday.

Stats do lie

The stats showed that Everton enjoyed 64 per cent possession and had 13 shots to Wolves' eight.

Rarely can numbers have failed as miserably to accurately tell the story of a match.

Wolves could and probably should have been 3-0 up by the time Everton equalised through a stunning Andre Gomes strike.

Yes, the Toffees enjoyed plenty of the ball, particularly in the second half, but at 2-1 up Nuno's team sat deeper and comfortably repelled anything thrown their way – and were in control even without the ball.

Indeed, the first 15 minutes after the break were a non-event with Wolves quelling Everton's threat via their discipline and rigid organisation (with the excellent and extremely noisy Conor Coady at the heart of this), sporadically breaking when they could.

We've seen it time and again during Nuno's tenure – Wolves are incredibly adept at soaking up pressure, with three centre halves, two defensive midfielders and a couple of deep-lying wing-backs, then cantering forward on the counter with their pace, movement and mobility.

They've also mastered pressing high and winning the ball in the opposition half. Dendoncker, Diogo Jota, Jimenez, Joao Moutinho, Jonny Castro Otto – they were all at it on Saturday.

Traps were set in midfield and once the ball had been won there was lightning movement from Jota and Jimenez in particular.

This led two two of their three goals, with Jimenez (in the build-up to Jota winning a free kick) and Otto to thank.

Since they last played Everton we've seen this team evolve in terms of tactics, their formation and also personnel.

A minor but crucial tweak to 3-5-2 have overcome the big problem they had in October/November when teams were overcrowding them in midfield.

Several individuals have notably improved or matured, particularly Coady, Moutinho (who seems to have forged a wavelength with each of his team mates), Neves, Doherty, Jota (who failed to produce a single goal or assist in his first 14 appearances and now has five goals and two assists in his last eight) and the wondrous Jimenez, whose all-round game has few, if any, weaknesses.

The Mexican is already enjoying the most prolific season of his European career (since moving to Atletico from Mexico in 2014) and just gets better by the week.

They've all made strides though, individually and collectively, and the first XI is now set in stone. Romain Saiss was unfortunate to drop out after his assured display against West Ham but there is little doubting Willy Boly is a more accomplished defender.

Wolves are incredibly self-assured. They know their roles inside out, they're prepared, they're motivated and they possess the quality to hurt any team in the division and therefore the land.

For their long-suffering supporters, it must all still feel like a dream.

But the reality is very much that Wolves, both on their day and now consistently, are one of the most effective and stylish teams in the Premier League.

Don't drop the Dendoncker

They've made great strides in recent weeks – thanks in no small part to the splendid Dendoncker.

The Belgian produced eight tackles at Goodison Park. Only Joao Moutinho at Fulham (nine) has bettered that this season.

It's not just that. He's added strength, height, bite, physicality and a different box-to-box option in midfield.

Also, crucially, his presence has freed up Neves and Moutinho to do their thing, relieving them of (some) defensive responsibilities.

It's a similar situation with Jota, whose individual improvements have also benefitted Jimenez's gave in the final third with the pair striking up an excellent understanding.

Both Jota and Dendoncker have helped lift the team to hitherto unseen heights in terms of domination of teams, both offensively and defensively.

Wolves were in control even without the ball on Saturday. With every man playing his part in defence and attack, Wolves look incredibly hard to beat.

European tour?

All of which places Wolves in seventh place with some daylight ahead of the chasing pack.

Fans are dreaming of a European tour – and why not? Seventh has been good enough for Europa League qualification for the past four years (with the big six winning the two cup competitions) and Wolves are hoping for an FA Cup run too.

Wolves' main weakness before Christmas had been scoring goals. Well, they've just netted 12 in their last four.

After coming through an acid test in terms of showing they're good enough to beat the teams around them, their challenge is to now show consistency – and avoid complacency – in facing four teams below them in Newcastle, Bournemouth, Huddersfield and Cardiff.

If they can manage that, they'll be in fantastic position.

The foundations are in place and the stage is set for an unforgettable final three months of the campaign. Can Wolves deliver?

Whatever happens, it's already a season to be so proud of.

Final word

Star man: Leander Dendoncker

The boss: Has cracked his formula

Fans: Just never stopped singing

Magic moment: Dendoncker's goal – a great hit that sealed three points

In a word: Fur-midable

Picture perfect: