The Joe Edwards debrief – Wolves 3 Everton 0
The mood was lifted as Wolves enjoyed an easy 3-0 victory over Everton.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s charges – although helped by the woeful Toffees – played their best football since the Premier League got back going and could have won by more.
A full debut to remember
Almost six months into his Wolves career, Daniel Podence finally made his first start in the Premier League.
And what an impression he made. Yes, the on-the-beach visitors did provide the ideal backdrop for the Portuguese winger, but you could not help but be taken aback by his movement and vision.
Following the losses to both Arsenal and Sheffield United, a spark was sorely needed – and the £17million man was the catalyst on Sunday.
He started on the left but played with freedom, always looking for the ball and aiming to do something productive with it.
Podence could even be seen at right-back, next to Matt Doherty, in order to take up possession.
His eye-of-a-needle through-ball towards Pedro Neto was the first properly exciting moment of the encounter, and then he was influential in Wolves taking the lead.
He completely outfoxed Lucas Digne – who had a shocker, by the way – to win the penalty which Raul Jimenez calmly tucked away to set the wheels in motion.
A hugely encouraging 70 minutes from the 5ft 5in forward, who, on this evidence, has the tools to become a roaring success at Molineux. He displayed an infectious desire to get the ball and attack – but he was clever, too, and worked hard.
We saw why he is Wolves’ third-most expensive signing ever. He adds something different to what was already a potent array of attackers. Fair play, Podence.
That Neves assist
If you somehow have not seen it already, get the highlights up of this game, sit back and just admire the utterly ridiculous crossfield pass from Ruben Neves to set up Wolves’ third.
Diogo Jota, to be fair, still had a bit to do – and did it brilliantly – but the pass was right out of the top drawer.
It acted as another clear example of how insanely talented Neves is.
Racing back to win the ball off Bernard, he saw compatriot Jota on the move and made the hardest of balls look like a complete and utter cakewalk. You cannot find enough superlatives to do it justice.
A word must go to how consistent Neves has been since the restart, too.
Even in the disappointing defeats to the Gunners and the Blades, he still did well. All things considered, he has been the sharpest of Wolves’ stars in recent weeks.
Credit to Nuno
It was lovely to see Podence make his full league bow, but very few of us would have predicted it beforehand.
And even fewer would have expected both him and Neto to be in from the off, with Jota and Adama Traore on the bench. It was a bold move from the Wolves chief, and one that paid off handsomely.
Traore has been such a lethal weapon this term but, against Arsenal and Sheffield United, the approach had become too predictable.
So, Nuno deserves credit for mixing things up against the Toffees as, for one, it worked a treat, and it also makes Wolves hard to read for Burnley.
Will Jota come back in? Will Traore be an impact sub again? Will Podence and Neto, if fit enough, keep their places? It is anybody’s guess – and that is a good thing as Wolves seek to finish as high as possible.
Coming up
With only three games left, Wolves – although perhaps unlikely – are still in with a Champions League shout.
Next up are Burnley at Turf Moor before clashes with Crystal Palace and Chelsea, of course.
You have to think the Clarets will pose a tougher test than Everton, but if Wolves play with the same flair they did on Sunday, especially in the second half, they have every chance of making it back-to-back wins. Fingers crossed.
