Before Wolves’ Carabao Cup tie with Port Vale Dan Bentley spoke about changing habits and building momentum with a win, and he echoed those sentiments post-match.
That’s because the Old Gold progressed with a 3-0 win and positive performance, and with the goalkeeper enjoying his own moment to celebrate, producing a penalty save to preserve his clean sheet against the League Two side.
Wolves now have one week to prepare for the Championship beginning, and the 33-year-old has called on the players to bottle the winning feeling and take it into Blackburn Rovers next Friday.
On a winning start
“It was very satisfying. It was important to all of us to start the season well because this officially is the first game of the season. We've taken some momentum from pre-season into today's game and hopefully we can take that momentum into next week.
“Pre-seasons is for building that momentum, for getting into those habits that are going to be vital throughout this campaign. For us to do that tonight, and to put those habits into practice in a competitive game, was really pleasing to.”
On an enjoyable performance
“When we're playing our free-flowing stuff, it's an absolute pleasure to watch. We did that in large spells tonight. There's things I think we can do better, at the start of the game we looked a little bit nervy, but once we gained control and made better decisions on the ball, we took control of the game of the quality we have, which obviously was to be expected with respect to Port Vale, but it was a pleasure to mention behind it at times tonight, we've got some top players at this level, so it's good.”
56' | #WOL 3-0 #PVL
— Wolves (@Wolves) August 7, 2026
Penalty save from Dan Bentley! The goalkeeper gets down well to parry Mo Faal's spot kick and we clear the danger.
#WOLPVL pic.twitter.com/jqcXgdiR5b
On his penalty save
“Apart from an early block from a through ball, it was the first save I had to make in a good 60 odd minutes. For me, it's obviously to be there when the boys need me. On this occasion it happened to be a penalty, and there'll be plenty of times where Yerson will bail me out this season, and make big blocks and interceptions. For me to do the same to him, and to bail him out of jail, it's what I'm there for, and thankfully tonight it went in our favour.
“We do our research on all the penalties, which is part of the game nowadays. When I dive one way it's important to be able to react to those situations if the ball isn't in the corner, and if there's a trailing leg that can save it, then obviously that's what has to be done. The homework come into play to a degree, but then obviously it's down to myself technically nail the dive. We won’t to save them all as goalkeepers, but when we get an opportunity like that, we do everything right, then of course it's really pleasing for us.”
On changing the feeling from last season
“It's something that we need to get in the habit of. I keep mentioning before games, and throughout the week, that winning is a habit, clean shoes are a habit, good performances are a habit. The more we can get into those habits, the more we can take momentum from game to game which is vital in the Championship, the better. I spent a long time in the Championship, and it's really important because the games do come so thick and fast, so we have to be good every single week. Every time you step foot on the pitch there’s expectation on us. If we can keep them sheets, we've got the quality at the other end of the pitch to cause problems, score goals and win games. Habits are vital, momentum is vital, and the more we can build that, the better.”
On taking momentum into Blackburn
“We've bottled the feeling that we've got tonight, which is winning the first competitive game of the season off the back of two good performances in pre-season, where we won the games. We do what we do in training, we work hard throughout the week, and we take that momentum into the game on Friday. It's no different, business as usual, and we do everything we can to get three points.”
