Wolves 1-0 Burnley: Nuno Espirito Santo starts five Portuguese players as they ease to victory
Wolves cruised to a routine victory over Burnley, earning back-to-back 1-0 wins in the Premier League which sees the West Midlands club move up into the top half of the table.
Wolves dominated from the outset, always looking like the established Premier League team in the contest, and blew Burnley away with their pace, technical ability and attacking intent. The Portuguese wingers - Diogo Jota and Helder Costa - were heavily involved, while Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho always maintained full control of the midfield battle. Rui Patricio, meanwhile, had a very straightforward day in between the sticks.
The performance will have been the source of great pleasure for boss Nuno Espirito Santo, who will be delighted with the control and movement displayed by his side throughout the ninety minutes.
The first real chance came in the tenth minute, where João Moutinho and Helder Costa linked up using the short corner routine - a tactic often used by the Portugal national team - and allowed Helder Costa to whip the ball in from a better angle, playing a delightful cross that evaded all the defenders and found its way to Willy Boly inside the six-yard box, who was stopped from opening the scoring only by a terrific point-blank save by Burnley shot-stopper Joe Hart.
On the half-hour mark, it seemed as if Wolves had surely taken the lead, Raul Jimenez having a shot from around the penalty spot which was swatted away by an inspired Joe Hart, before his follow-up header was headed away on the touchline. Wolves had a further three efforts in quick succession but were denied again, twice by Joe Hart and then from a clearance off the line.
Five minutes from half time and Ruben Neves had a go at one of his typical long-range efforts, trying to bend it into the top corner from distance, but saw it headed away. Boly then had another opportunity a minute later, seeing his powerful effort on the edge the box bend over the bar.
Wolves were on top for the second half too, with Diogo Jota beating the defensive line early on before playing it across to Jimenez, who put the ball over the bar from the edge of the box. Jota then had a penalty appeal waved away 8 minutes into the second half.
Wolves finally got the goal had been pushing for near the hour mark, with Neves playing the ball out wide to Helder Costa, who then delivered a through ball to Doherty on the right-hand side. He then moved into the box and just about managed to poke it towards Jimenez, who side-footed the ball into the back of the net off the inside of the post, his second Premier League goal in a Wolves shirt.
While the only goal of the game, Wolves’ domination will have pleased the fans, who will go home happy with the three points, and a place in the top half of the table.
