Wolverhampton Wanderers finally got their first win of the Premier League season, with a 2-0 win over newly-promoted Watford.
Wolves have been a slow burner this season, as they get to grips under new manager Bruno Lage, and slowly integrate star striker, Raul Jimenez back into the squad after his head injury. Despite some good performances, it took the midlands side till Matchday 4 to get their first three points.
Wolves performed strongly against Watford and controlled the game throughout. It was obvious the team needed some luck, and they got that as Hornets defender Francisco Sierralta put the ball in the back of his own net. The luck continued as Daniel Bachmann ended up parrying a shot right into the path of loan signing Hwang Hee-Chan, to add a second and round off the victory.
How can Wolves continue?
Wolves seem to know their identity under Lage; that implements a lot of the things that were there under former manager Nuno Espirito Santos. The team has stuck to a back three, but the change comes up top, as a change from Santos’s style, to a more spearheaded front three.
One thing that hasn’t changed is that winger Adama Traore is a focal point of their attack. But the injuries to Daniel Podence and Pedro Neto have hampered the front three’s production. Jimenez has also struggled to regain his form that propelled Wolves to Europe two years ago.
38 - Adama Traoré has completed 38 dribbles in the Premier League this season for @Wolves (9.8 per 90 minutes), which is more than 10 Premier League sides have completed in total. Force. pic.twitter.com/EpdOsbZQu6
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 16, 2021
The signing of Hee-Chan has helped to reinvigorate the team, and turn Traore’s lack of final product, into a goal. If Wolves are to get up and running, he could be key to get them off the ground, bring new signings into play and even get Jimenez up and running.
Wolves continue their Premier League campaign against Brentford, followed by fixtures against Southampton and Newcastle, three games this team will feel it can win.
If the midlands side can get their formerly prolific attacking threat going, and pick up several points over the next stretch, Wolves could possibly be looking a lot higher than a mid-table finish.