Learning From Defeat

Gaffer's verdict after Wolves unlucky to lose

Walter Zenga felt Wolves could have had a point from today’s game at table-topping Huddersfield – but that his team will learn from the game and come back strongly.

The Head Coach felt Wolves started slowly but after a difficult first 15 minutes, in which the Terriers led through Rajiv van La Parra, his team were more than good value for at least a point.

Joe Mason had a goal ruled out for offside just before the break, and in a second half in which Wolves were the better side Joao Teixeira hit the post and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson was denied by a stunning save from Danny Ward.

As it was Wolves were unable to find a breakthrough despite a glut of chances and slipped to their first defeat of the season.

“I have always said – sometimes you win and sometimes you learn, and today we learn,” said Zenga.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose but sometimes in football you have to accept the final result.

“I am not disappointed, I am upset!

“In my opinion we only played badly in the first 15 minutes.

“I told the lads at half time we were too passive and not aggressive enough.

“We were maybe thinking about things instead of doing them.

“And we made one mistake, and we have paid for it, and that is football.

“Towards the end of the first half and in the second it was all different.

“We created a lot of opportunities but just couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.

“At the end of the first half we had a goal disallowed which was on the limit, and then in the second we hit the post, the keeper made two great saves, and we might have had a penalty.

“And Prince (Oniangue) and Helder (Costa) also had chances.

“We played very well in the second half but we didn’t put the ball in the net and when that happens we must also think why we started the game the way we did.

“We did get a great reaction from the players in the second half and they gave everything.”

With four days remaining before the closure of the transfer window, Zenga said Wolves were close to completing a deal for Romain Saiss, and were also still keen for further strengthening.

That apart, work will continue to prepare for the return to club action in a couple of weeks, and aiming to pick up from an impressive launchpad to the season in which today’s first defeat came in the seventh fixture.

‘We will lose a few players to the international games and we will work with the other players that are still here,” added Zenga.

“We will be working physically and tactically to prepare for the next game.

“Everything happening for us in August was an achievement – eight points, 11 points, whatever we got, and of course we wanted to stay unbeaten.

“But we have to understand we cannot start the game in this way against a team at the top of the rankings.

“We have to use this game as a lesson for the future and a good chance to show how we have to start the game.”