The Joe Edwards debrief - Leeds United 0 Wolves 1
We are very much still waiting for Wolves to return to their swashbuckling, free-flowing best – but they are still carving out wins.
A 1-0 victory at Leeds made it back-to-back triumphs, and successive clean sheets, for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side despite being yet to properly gel this season.
Finding a way
Well, credit must go to Wolves for the character they showed at Elland Road, picking the pace up in the second half and grabbing all three points with the help of a hefty Kalvin Phillips deflection.
The first half, we all know, was a tough watch and the tendency to improve after the break – 40 of the last 56 goals arriving in second periods – is fairly frustrating.
But, in what has been a very strange season thus far, at least Nuno’s pack are showing some consistency.
After the horror show at West Ham, Wolves have looked far more resolute at the back again, keeping things tight.
It is also the first time they have won three of their opening five top-flight games since 1979.
Looking at things positively, they are coming up with results even though the performances are not anything to really shout about.
You have to think that bodes well. Once the new players properly find their feet and this new system Nuno is trying out clicks into place, hopefully wins will arrive with some more pizazz.
For now though, they are just finding a way. And that is what good teams do, right?
Measured Max
Max Kilman has played Wolves’ last two games and they have kept two clean sheets. Coincidence? Probably not.
Nuno, to be fair, surprised quite a lot of people with his line-up, with Joao Moutinho for Ruben Neves being the only change from the side which beat Fulham before the international break.
That meant Romain Saiss, despite Fernando Marcal being back fit, carried on out of position at left-wing-back while Kilman retained his spot at centre-half.
And after a slightly nervy start to the game – still to be expected from such an inexperienced player – he really grew into the game and displayed his quality.
Nuno said it best when he highlighted Kilman’s second-half display, saying he was ‘reading the lines better, anticipating and passing forward to allow us to make fast attacks’.
The 23-year-old stepped up when he needed to and looked for a forward pass, and then kept things more simple on other occasions. His decision-making was on point.
Nuno also praised the superb development of Kilman and how he has grasped the chance. Ultimately, the lad has never looked out of place in gold and black or let anyone down.
Everyone at Compton – coaches, players, staff – speak so highly of him and, crucially, he is level-headed.
That spot on the left of the back three may well be his to lose now. Well done.
Semedo’s struggles
But while highlighting Kilman, it is only fair to also draw attention to the shaky display from Nelson Semedo.
The former Barcelona man, of course, is very early into his Wolves career and is still adjusting to the demands of the Premier League, but he was given the runaround a bit by Leeds.
It is nothing to be hugely concerned about – given his pedigree at both club and international level – you would back Semedo to prove his worth sooner rather than later.
He will have to be a lot sharper against Newcastle, though, on Sunday, especially as he could be marking the dangerous Allan Saint-Maximin.
Midfield problem
On a short note, finally, it would perhaps be nice to see a midfield pair stuck to for a bit as you could argue none of Neves, Moutinho or Leander Dendoncker have really shone for Wolves yet.
Fingers crossed, at least one of them does against the Magpies.
