Leicester 1 Wolves 0 - Report
Wolves' unbeaten run was brought to an end as VAR came to the fore yet again in defeat to Leicester.
Nuno Espirito Santo's side – who had a goal chalked off in both games against the Foxes last season – fell to Jamie Vardy's dubiously-awarded penalty at the King Power.
Given for a handball by Max Kilman after a lengthy review, Vardy slotted home before seeing another spot-kick saved on a frustrating afternoon.
Wolves pushed for a leveller late on but lacked guile and ruthlessness and head into the international break on a losing note.
Analysis
Kilman could not have done anything else for the penalty.
Hit at him with lots of power from a couple of yards away, you cannot point the finger at him, at all. Running with his arms down by his side is just impossible.
Losing after such an incident – especially after the events of last season against Brendan Rodgers' outfit – is a bitter pill to swallow.
Equally, though, Nuno's charges failed to build on the promising attacking display against Crystal Palace.
They had a go but just did not carve the hosts open. Raul Jimenez was absent for large parts of the encounter while Daniel Podence and Pedro Neto had off days as they both ended up being substituted.
Adama Traore made a difference once he came on and may have boosted his chances of starting against Southampton in a couple of weeks, but too many had below-par performances.
Rayan Ait-Nouri, who gave away the second penalty, particularly struggled before being taken off for Fernando Marcal for the final quarter of an hour.
On a positive note, the second half was better and Nuno's charges certainly tried to make amends for a difficult first period.
All in all though, a disappointing outing and you hope Wolves – who have picked up 13 points from eight Premier League games so far – can reach another level fairly soon.
Match report
Nuno, pleased with what he saw in the 2-0 victory over Palace, named an unchanged starting XI for the first time this season.
That meant Ait-Nouri kept his place at left-wing-back after his dream debut against the Eagles, with Marcal among the substitutes on his return from a slight knock.
Summer signings Ki-Jana Hoever and Vitinha were left out of the 18 while Leicester had creative force James Maddison, who has been gradually working his way back from a thigh problem, in from the off.
Both teams entered this clash in fine fettle and it was busy in the opening minutes.
Wolves, interestingly, lined up in a conventional 3-4-3 again – Neto clearly on the right of the front three and Podence on the left – as the more fluid system seen earlier in the campaign has been shelved.
Neto went on a promising early run which, in the end, came to nothing before Ruben Neves had the chance to spring a counter-attack but misplaced his pass intended for Podence.
The Foxes then dominated possession for a long spell, penning Nuno's pack in. None of it was hugely troubling but the pressure gradually increased and, with the help of VAR, Leicester went ahead.
Referee Anthony Taylor – who watched a replay of the incident on the pitchside monitor – pointed to the spot after Dennis Praet's cross whacked the right arm of Kilman in the box.
Hit with such force from point-blank range, there was nothing the defender could do. Vardy, though, gratefully converted from 12 yards.
Understandably, Wolves were frustrated at that decision, but their play became too passive. Jimenez was thwarted by James Justin as he was too slow to make the most of a rare attack and the hosts were comfortable.
They had the opportunity to double their lead, too, as Ait-Nouri, failing to deal with a through-ball attempt, wiped out Justin in the area – no complaints this time.
After tucking away his first spot-kick with such aplomb, Vardy scoring again seemed a formality but Rui Patricio had other ideas.
The Portuguese read the striker's mind and his strong stop handed Wolves a lifeline ahead of a better end to the first period.
Finally, they were making their presence felt in the final third – albeit not quiet on the same wavelength as Jimenez got in the way of Ait-Nouri as he was poised to shoot, while a Neto cross following a short corner failed to beat the first man.
They created a few half-chances just after the break as well. Neto found Nelson Semedo, whose attempt flew well over the bar.
Semedo then narrowly missed Podence with a ball across goal, and Neto rifled into the hands of Kasper Schmeichel following some decent dribbling through the middle from Podence.
Ultimately, though, more was needed. Nuno changed things up on the hour mark as he introduced Traore, for Podence, and his sheer presence on the right flank did see the Foxes take a slight step back.
Wolves were winning fouls in decent positions – but not taking advantage. Neves, frustratingly, lifted a free-kick from 20 yards way too high before Kilman, who was offside anyway, fired over following Semedo's delivery to the far post.
Entering the last 10 minutes, an equaliser was being firmly chased. Neves unleashed a corker that was destined for the top corner but agonisingly kept out by Schmeichel. Club-record signing Fabio Silva was brought on as well and the intent was there.
However, a leveller proved elusive and the Foxes continue to be a bogey team for Wolves.
Teams
Leicester (3-4-3): Schmeichel; Evans, Fofana, Fuchs; Justin, Tielemans, Mendy, Thomas (Albrighton, 46); Praet (Morgan, 80), Vardy, Maddison (Barnes, 71)
Subs not used: Ward (gk), Choudhury, Under, Iheanacho
Goal: Vardy (pen, 15)
Wolves (3-4-3): Patricio; Boly, Coady, Kilman; Semedo, Neves, Dendoncker, Ait-Nouri (Marcal, 76); Neto (Silva, 79), Jimenez, Podence (Traore, 60)
Subs not used: Ruddy (gk), Saiss, Otasowie, Moutinho
Referee: Anthony Taylor (Manchester)
