NUNO WON’T GET CARRIED AWAY...
WOLVES will not be resting on their laurels, manager Nuno Espirito Santo insists, despite sweeping past ten-man Sheffield United to maintain their 11-point lead at the top of the table.
Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota gave Wolves a deserved half-time lead, and Ivan Cavaleiro sealed victory after Blades keeper Simon Moore was sent off for a rash challenge.
But Santo did admit the victory – and the manner of it – had been almost perfect at Molineux.
“We are focused on working hard and playing well [but] of course, I find enjoyment in it,” he said.
“We still have a long way to go and everybody knows that. That’s the philosophy – from day one up until now, nothing is going to change.
“We prepare and we work in the same way because we want to build something. Nobody is going to start relaxing.
“It was a good performance in all aspects of the game – defensively, offensively, with the ball, without the ball – it was a very good performance.
“This is what we work for – to enjoy ourselves. We have a full house here, game after game, and we should be proud.”
The league leaders showed their attacking intent from the start – Helder Costa volleying wide from Cavaleiro’s cross less than 90 seconds in – and in the fifth minute they were in front.
Conor Coady’s cross-field pass turned defence into attack and, when Cavaleiro was tackled, Neves collected the loose ball and curled an unstoppable strike into the top corner from 20 yards.
Jota doubled the advantage on the half-hour – receiving the ball from Matt Doherty after good link-up play down the right, he played a one-two with Cavaleiro and fired in to crown a flowing move.
It could have got worse for the visitors three minutes later, when Costa turned inside Chris Bahsam and pulled back for Cavaleiro in space, but his scuffed shot was gathered by Moore.
Wolves continued to dominate in the second-half, and Cavaleiro fed Leo Bonatini on 70 minutes but the substitute dragged his shot wide across goal after a good turn.
The Blades’ evening got worse on 73 minutes, however, when Moore raced out of his area and clattered Jota with a recklessly high foot to deservedly earn himself a straight red card.
Substitute goalkeeper Jake Eastwood’s first act was then to pick the ball out of his net, as Cavaleiro’s subsequent free-kick deflected off the wall and spun in.
Benik Afobe, on his Wolves return, almost added a fourth late on, but his header – from Doherty’s cross – dropped just wide.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder refused to be downbeat, however – lauding Wolves as one of the Championship’s best-ever teams.
“It’s only three points that we’ve not taken from our point of view,” he said.
“And there’s no disgrace to lose to an outstanding team in the division, and possibly one of the best Championship sides for a long, long time.
“The quality of the first goal set them up for the evening so we’ve got no complaints.
“They were too much on the day and I take my hat off to them.
“There were no heads dropped out there, because that turns into a four, five or six-nil if they did.
“It’s difficult, especially when they score two goals of the quality they did.”