The Matchday Live Extra team of Mikey Burrows and former full-back Andy Thompson were reporting on every kick down in the capital, and after the full-time whistle sat down to assess what they’d just witnessed.
Thompson picked out Jose Sa, Maximilian Kilman and Hugo Bueno for praise, following their strong displays on the night, and Trending Topics now presents the key talking points after another point was added to the tally.
On a good showing in the capital
Thompson said: “They looked more balanced in the way they were playing, bringing in the number nine Jimenez. Cunha looked a lot more comfortable in that position, that number 10 role, and they linked up pretty well. It shows when you’ve got an out and out number nine on the pitch, that it makes a big difference to the way you’re playing. I thought Jimenez had a good game, I thought he worked tirelessly up front, he closed down, he got hold of the ball and brought people into the game and he was an outlet. I think the quality in the second half probably wasn’t as good as the first half up to him, but I think it looked more balanced.
“We looked more in control in that first half – the passing, the crispness of the passing, the movement, the options, and it’s still quite young in the way we’re playing. We’ve only just brought some of these players into the club, they’ve only been here a matter of weeks. They’ve got to get used to each other, and the way they play, and you can see glimpses of the reason they brought them to the club and why we think we’ve got some good players.”
On a well-worked goal for Sarabia
Thompson said: “The two lads involved in the goal at the end of it helped out with the build up of it as well – Sarabia and Jimenez. Jimenez had the ball and Sarabia played it out wide to Matheus, he crossed it to the back post and Jimenez headed it down for Sarabia to put it beyond the Fulham goalkeeper. You’re looking for that quality up to your strikers, quality crosses into the box, picking out people in the box more importantly, and that was how the goal went in.”
On Bueno’s performance
Thompson said: “Since he’s come into the side, I think he’s done really well. I think he’s matured as a player already with the performances he’s put in. He’s defended really well, he’s attacked well. We saw a couple of glimpses of him going down the left side in the first half and the second half. He’s done really well. It seems like things haven’t phased him at all in the way he plays. He was confident, he’s knocked in some good balls, and that’s what you want to see from your full backs.
“He’ll be pleased with the way he performed. He got Man of the Match for the TV and rightly so, he had a good game. It’s nice to see we’ve got healthy competition in this squad."
A great shift from this man last night 👏 pic.twitter.com/jXpg9eCEvA
— Wolves (@Wolves) February 25, 2023
On Bentley putting pressure on Sa
Thompson said: “It was a good save [from Vinicius]. I don’t want to take anything away from him, the header was going into the corner, but the thing that favoured him a little bit was that there wasn’t much pace on the ball, which allowed him to get it. It’s still a great save. He’s looked better [since Bentley signed]. It’s about making sure you push players, it’s not just the goalkeeper, you want to be in the starting 11. It’s about having healthy competition, pushing people in the right way.”
On Kilman regaining his confidence
Thompson said: “The way he came into the team to start with, the way he played, pushing forward, playing balls from back to front, diagonals, zipping balls into the midfield – he’d lost it, for me. Now, he’s doing what he did before, the first ball, can he look forward? He’s got the quality to do it and I like that he’s on the front foot now. It comes from performances and confidence.
“The biggest thing for me is he’s playing alongside an experienced centre half who will talk to him. He’s been at a few clubs, he’s played a few games – he’s playing alongside somebody who has been through a lot and knows how to play that position. We saw it in the first half, mixing it up, if there’s nothing on, can we go long? It’s not just a boot up the field, it’s a pass and trying to pick somebody out.”
On a trip to Liverpool coming up
Thompson said: “It’s got to give you confidence, that you’ve just played them two weeks ago and you’re going to Anfield. I know it’s a different scenario all together, Liverpool being at home, with the crowd behind them, but we know we can do it. Then need to take that confidence into every game – they know they can beat teams when they’re on their game. For long spells on Friday, I thought they played well.”
