We’ve Played Better

Nuno Espirito Santo admitted that his side weren’t at their best as Wolves beat Barnsley 2-1 in the Sky Bet Championship at Molineux.

In front of over 28,000 fans at Molineux, Nuno’s side thought they’d won the game earlier as substitutes combined to scored in the 80th minute - Alfred N’Diaye crossing for Bright Enobakhare. 

 

But in the 91st minute it looked as if Wolves would have to settle for a point as Adam Jackson fired into the roof of the net from 12 yards out.

 

Wolves had other ideas however as Leo Bonatini found N’Diaye again who scored his first goal for the club.

 

The Wolves coach said that he wasn’t happy with his side’s first half performance but praised their character as they fought back to win the game in the closing stages.

 

“I’m delighted with three points, whether we deserved them is another question,” he began. 

 

“I didn’t think we played well in the first half, not at all - second half we were much better and maybe if we think about the second half then yes three points was deserved. We can’t only play well for 45 minutes. 

 

“Honestly, we didn’t play to our game and especially in the first half, we were very, very bad - it’s something that we really have to look at. 45 minutes is too much time to not be in control of the game.

 

“Sometimes this happens, we’ve played better on other occasions and things were different. 

 

“I will always concede that if you play well, you will be very close to winning the game. 

 

“We’re going to work on that - playing better, improving the team and making our performance worth the three points every game. 

 

“I think we didn’t play how we usually play - our mobility and the characteristics that we have, the creativity of changing the ball from one side to the other, and creating the spaces - we didn’t do it.

 

“Credit to Barnsley because they defended well but we must find solutions. 

 

“During the second half there was a total change - we were what we want to be, this is the next step that we have to make for the next game, we want 90 minutes of consistency, possession - we must play for 90 minutes.”

 

It was the impact of Nuno’s substitutes that the Head Coach was happy with on the day. 

 

The impact of Bright Enobakhare, the scorer of the first goal, and then Alfred N’Diaye who assisted the first and the score the second, was something that pleased Nuno.

 

He said that his substitutes ultimately changed the game.

 

“It was important for us that the boys that came on to the pitch really changed the game. 

 

“Three goals I think we deserve it - we score and then concede it’s a moment of madness, but then we come back again. 

 

“This shows the character we’re trying to build - never give up until the referee, we still have a chance, that was proven today. 

 

“Thank you to our fans for the support, we thank for that but it also has to be for 90 minutes - lets go everybody supporting the team even when the team is down, we need you to back up the team.

 

“It’s a sign of a team that doesn’t give up, it’s a team that’s being built each day of the training session, each game. 

 

“We are on that process. Every game for us a new chance, a new battle that we have to face - we will take a good look at the team that we’re going to play and try to make us better. 

 

“We must improve each game because there is a long, long way to go. 

 

“The boys are working now - 90 minutes, 90 minutes inside the game.”

 

#WOLvBAR