Dan Bentley was left delighted to claim a first ‘official’ Premier League clean sheet after keeping out Burnley during Wolves’ 1-0 victory at Molineux.
The goalkeeper, who didn’t concede in around 80 minutes of football on Saturday after replacing the injured Jose Sa off the bench, went the whole game without letting the ball in his net against the Clarets having been brought into the starting 11 after his Portuguese teammate took a late fitness test. And Bentley was pleased to contribute to the win, especially after making a double save shortly before Hee Chan Hwang fired the winner.
On a hard-earned three points
“That’s the tale of a team who are well drilled in how we approach the game and how we deal with teams who are going to come here and be stubborn.
“It wasn’t pretty, and I don’t think we’re ecstatic about the performance, but we’re very happy with the three points and clean sheet and it’s definitely something to build from, but we need to improve.”
On his first Premier League clean sheet
“I’m delighted. I kept so many minutes with a clean sheet on Saturday, so it was nice to follow it up today and get my first ‘official’ clean sheet. I’m really pleased and the fact I contributed to the team in a positive way and helped us get the three points, that’s the most pleasing thing for me.
On coming in late for Sa
“I’m always prepped to play. That’s my ethos and the way I do things. I work my backside off in training, I do everything I can to push Jose and create an environment where we are pushing each other.
“Of course, I want to play. I have full admiration and respect for Jose and he’s a very accomplished goalkeeper, but I obviously want to play, I wasn’t to be on the pitch, I want to be contributing positively to the team.
“I got the call pretty late because Jose didn’t declare himself unfit, because he has the same mentality. He wants to help the team, he wants to play and be on that pitch, but it’s something I always prepare for.
“I prep to play, even when I’m not playing, just so I’m ready, like I was om Saturday as well.”
In between the sticks tonight 🧤 pic.twitter.com/YI0qS1hZaP
— Wolves (@Wolves) December 5, 2023
On making a crucial double stop
“I just wanted to contribute positively. My role in that moment was to keep the ball out the back of the net, which, in that moment, was the main goal of me being in the net.
“It’s really pleasing for me that I can make a save like that, or saves like that, and we can go up the other end within five or 10 minutes and we break through. From a positive contribution point of view, I’m really pleased that I was able to make those saves at that period of time.”
On stopping former teammate Brownhill’s effort
“He came up to me at the end and he gave me a few choice words for saving his shot, especially because it took a deflection right in front of me, so it made it a little more difficult – and Mario has to thank me for that one, because he obviously didn’t want his name attached to any goal against us!
“But Josh is a quality player and I’m fully aware he’s capable of strikes from in and around the box, and even outside the box, with the quality he possesses.
“It was about being ready to make the first save and be in a position where I can expect him to take that shot on early.”
