Wolves jumped to 13th in the Premier League table with victory but had to ride their luck and the game was turned by Julen Lopetegui’s substitutes, according to the Matchday Live team.
Mikey Burrows was joined by former old gold duo Andy Thompson and Claire Hakeman, and post-match they assessed the latest big afternoon in Wolves’ season.
On a strong second half
Hakeman said: “It was a superb second half. I think we rode our luck a couple of times, they hit the crossbar and we changed our defensive line-up and saw it through to get a clean sheet with a few good saves from Sa, but for me I think Jimenez was Man of the Match – someone who didn’t start the game. To have that attitude when coming on, and impact the game the way he did, that’s a credit to him. His body language was excellent. He cared so much and was everywhere. The energy levels were like something I haven’t seen from him, he looked like a new player. He impacted the game when he was given the ball, he held it up well and linked play – there was no rustiness evident at all today.”
On improving after the break
Thompson said: “Wolves grew into the game, as the game got older – we started to show a little bit of what we’re about. It’s about making your own luck, and we’ve had quite a bit bad luck recently. It was a great occasion, getting the three points against Tottenham. It’s a shame, when you look back, our performance against Liverpool and result against Bournemouth, which everyone was disappointed with. Probably everyone thought Tottenham would come here and win, I know they’ve hit the frame of the goal a few timesv, but you need that little bit of luck if you’re going to get a victory. My concern in the first half was we needed to be positive. We dropped a little bit deep, but we grew into the game, and got a result out of the game, and in the end did really well.”
On Adama’s winning goal
Hakeman said: “The reaction of having to do that, when it’s coming back from the rebound, is unreal. He’s managed to sort himself out and it looks like he powers and places it exactly where he wants it to go. They’re the fine margins of football, when I first saw it, I thought it was coming back out, then you saw the net go and the place absolutely erupted. There’s nothing better than a late goal that drives us on.
“The way the game changed, we went from being very flat in the first half, a lack of atmosphere, nothing going for us, to the second half is credit to whatever happened at half-time. We’ve criticised the subs the last couple of games, but today was on point. Moutinho settled in well, Jimenez and Traore impacted the game massively, Collins did a great job at the back. 16 players played in that game and saw it through for three points for Wolves which is vital.”
A massive moment.
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 4, 2023
🙌 @AdamaTrd37 pic.twitter.com/IpfQNSAPuF
On Jimenez’s performance
Thompson said: “I thought he played well at Fulham, and I thought he did OK against Liverpool, even though the service wasn’t great to him. One thing you will get off him is effort and commitment – tracking back, defending by his own goal line, it shows you the character. He went for everything today, he tried to head everything, was challenging, and had a couple of opportunities himself. I thought he played really well, and he gives us something else. He does well at holding and challenging for the ball.”
“He’s on the turn [for the goal], so when the ball’s played into him, you can see he’s only got one thing on his mind. He wants to have a go at goal. If you’re positive and try to make things happen, things work out for you, and it just showed for the goal. As soon as that ball came in from Moutinho, he’s gone, he’s on the half turn, he’s had the shot, which was unlucky with the goalkeeper saving, and it was about the follow up then. It showed the confidence and quality he has. I thought he played really well. At the right end of the pitch where we want him, he’s made something happen with the goal.”
On Moutinho’s impact off the bench
Hakeman said: “I think he’s done it a number of times this season, where he’s come off the bench and really settled. He, along with other subs, changed the game. We looked so composed, the panic stopped, we got possession and kept possession. It’s that control of the game that he has. Don’t get me wrong, I think there’ll be times where he probably does need a rest, because obviously he is towards the end of his career, but what a player he is. He has the experience to see the game out. Without being rude, if you have the wrong player in the corner, thinking they’ll knock it in and get a second, this position maybe doesn’t happen. He’s seen the game out for us because he’s got that game management. He’s integral.”
On the team spirit
Hakeman said: “I think what was lovely to see when Traore scored was the team spirit is most definitely back. You had Lemina celebrating with Traore on the edge of the pitch, the boys are straight up hugging – Toti Gomes was down there and he didn’t manage to get on the pitch, with Ait-Nouri as well, so it’s great to see. You got that bit of buzz back for Wolves and you’re hoping we can push on in the next few weeks. We go to Newcastle with lots of positivity and I’m buzzing for the game against Leeds here because I think the atmosphere will be great – it’s always a lively game.”
The joy.
— Wolves (@Wolves) March 6, 2023
😆 @maxkilman pic.twitter.com/7aCRMYQ2yZ
