Matt Doherty felt Wolves played into Bournemouth’s hands in the first half of the defeat in the first Premier League away game of the season.
The Old Gold fell behind after just four minutes at the Vitality Stadium when Marcus Tavernier’s deflected effort beat Jose Sa, before the team were reduced to 10-men moments after the break when Toti was shown red.
But Doherty felt there were still positives to take from the performances into this week’s double header against West Ham United in the Carabao Cup and Everton in the Premier League, including the changes which were made at half time, and the defensive stability the team displayed after the red card.
On defeat to Bournemouth
“We’re obviously disappointed. We know we’ve lost the first couple of games this season and it’s not ideal, but I think we’re just disappointed in how we performed until the red card.
“Obviously, after the red card, it was a bit ‘backs against the wall’ although we were actually better, so we’re just disappointed with how the game went before the red card.”
On making mistakes for the goal
“Our game plan was to not play through the middle, but we did that and got punished. We know how good they are in closing the middle and counter pressing, winning the ball and then creating chances from that.
“We made mistakes that we knew we shouldn’t have made, and we planned to not make, but they’re good side, they counter-press well, and they punished us off the first chance that they got.”
On switching up at half time
“It was nothing crazy, just a little tactical change. Obviously, we had the extra man in midfield with Andre and we looked a lot more solid.
“I know they pierced through us once where the red card came from, but they didn't have that kind of dominance that they had in the first half. We made the changes on that and it was working up until the red card.”
On performing better after the red card
“I know as a team that’s had a red car before, or I’ve been on the other side of it, and you kind of force things a little bit with the team at 11. You feel like the spaces are there and you can just go in over the top a lot more.
“Maybe Bournemouth were probably guilty of trying to force it and probably thought they could get in every time, but that’s where you need to stay calm and knock the ball around a bit better. But I think we defended well and they didn’t create too many chances.”
On taking positives into the week
“There are always positives in some kind of way. The fight that we had for most of the second half, the fact that we didn’t concede when we were down to 10, and we defended strongly.
“We need to take that kind of defensive energy and tactical energy into everything and I’m sure we’ll be okay.”
