Carabao Cup: Wolves 0 Stoke 1 - Report and pictures

Nuno Espirito Santo went for it with his team selection, handing a debut to £35million record signing Fabio Silva, but they never got going against the solid Championship side.

The Potters then snatched it at the death as substitute Brown's shot in the 87th minute proved too hot to handle for John Ruddy.

A disappointing night for Wolves and Nuno will be keen to work on things ahead of hosting Manchester City, back in the Premier League, on Monday.

Analysis

This competition may not have been at the top of everyone's list of priorities, but Nuno certainly will not be happy with what he saw.

Wolves lacked urgency in their play while Stoke, to be fair to them, waited for their moment and pounced when it arrived.

Silva was bright on his first appearance, cleverly linking up play while also taking a few whacks from Bruno Martins Indi.

But, equally, he spurned the big chance that came his way, while the Potters - and more specifically Brown - made the most of theirs.

Ruddy, at the same time, will be disappointed not to have kept it out. Brown may have given him the eyes, but he should have done better.

The absence of Diogo Jota was another strange part of the night, with Nuno extremely guarded on the subject afterwards. Ultimately, this was one to forget for Wolves.

Match report

Nuno made changes, but not to the level we have seen previously in the Carabao as five kept their places from the 2-0 Premier League-opening win at Sheffield United on Monday night.

The big talking point was the debut of Silva, while Vitinha also made his first start in gold and black. Ruddy, Oskar Buur, Ruben Vinagre and Ruben Neves were the others who came in.

Surprisingly missing out altogether though was Jota, who Nuno did not say much on when pressed afterwards, only insisting he was 'not available'.

Meanwhile, Stoke - making seven changes - had former Molineux man Sam Vokes in attack and two more ex-Wolves stars in Danny Batth and Steven Fletcher on the bench.

Silva, easing any pre-match nerves he may have had, came up with some nice early touches.

The 18-year-old calmly brought down a lofted pass with his chest before having the game's first shot.

It went high and wide from the edge of the box, but it was good early intent. He was keen to drop into midfield to get on the ball and always on the move, and compatriot Vitinha also looked pretty tidy in the opening stages.

Wolves were enjoying the lion's share of possession and, while not carving the Potters open, had a couple of half-chances.

Vinagre broke down the left and could have drilled it across goal, but it ended up in the arms of Adam Davies.

On the other flank, Adama Traore gathered an inch-perfect crossfield pass and put it into the mixer, where Silva's toe-poke was blocked.

Fluidity up front, which Wolves displayed at Bramall Lane, was there to see again, with Vitinha drifting in from the left and Traore often staying wide on the right.

Silva's willingness to make runs was encouraging, as was Vitinha's close control.

Still, they were unable to create a clear-cut opportunity before the break as Stoke sat very deep. All the visitors managed going forward in the first half was a Vokes header which looped well over.

Wolves had seen so much of the ball, but they needed to move it that bit quicker in the second period to unsettle Michael O'Neill's robust outfit.

The Potters, though, were the ones who were more adventurous immediately after the interval as Harry Souttar's header was gathered by Ruddy. They were pressing eagerly rather than sitting off, too.

Nuno's pack had lost their impetus, so he turned to his bench. Pedro Neto replaced Vitinha on the hour mark, and then star striker Raul Jimenez entered the fray. Buur was the one sacrificed as Wolves switched to a 3-5-2, with Traore dropping back.

There was £67m of talent up top in Silva and Jimenez, and the former would soon have a couple of chances - one with a fair bit to do, the second a glorious opportunity.

The first saw him teed up following a fantastic run from Neto, cutting inside and seeing his side-footed strike deflect out for a corner. Silva then had the ball fall kindly to him at the far post but snatched at it, dragging his attempt agonisingly wide from close range.

After that big miss, it very much seemed set up to go to penalties - but Stoke dealt Wolves, who ended with five forwards on the pitch, a late sucker-punch on the counter.

Brown was given plenty of room in the area, and his powerful drive was enough to beat Ruddy, who got a hand to it but could not keep it out as Wolves were knocked out.

Teams

Wolves (3-4-3): Ruddy; Boly, Coady (c), Saiss; Buur (Jimenez, 66), Dendoncker (Podence, 77), Neves, Vinagre; Traore, Silva, Vitinha (Neto, 60)

Subs not used: Patricio (gk), Marcal, Moutinho, Shabani

Stoke (3-5-2): Davies; Collins, Souttar, Martins Indi (c); Smith, Thompson, Tymon, Oakley-Boothe, McClean (Cousins, 90); Gregory (Brown, 70), Vokes (Fletcher, 63)

Subs not used: Noukeu (gk), Fox, Batth, Campbell

Goal: Brown (87)

Referee: Simon Hooper (Swindon)