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A 1-0 win at Leeds saw Nuno Espírito Santo’s team have back-to-back wins and successive clean sheets, despite the fact that they have not yet established themselves properly this season.
Well, credit must go to the Wolves for the character they displayed at Elland Road, picking up the pace in the second half and taking all three points with the help of a strong deflection from Kalvin Phillips.
The first half, as we all know, was difficult and the tendency to improve after the break (40 of the last 56 goals in the second periods) is quite frustrating.
But, in what has been a very strange season thus far, at least Nuno’s pack is showing some consistency.
After the horror show in West Ham, the Wolves have been much more determined in the back again, keeping things tight.
It is also the first time they have won three of their first five top flight games since 1979.
Looking at things positively, they are getting results even though the performances are nothing to shout about.
You have to think that it is a good omen. Once the new players feel good and this new system that Nuno is testing falls into place, hopefully the victories will come with a little more pizazz.
For now, however, they are only finding a way. And that’s what good teams do, right?
Max Kilman has played the last two Wolves games and they have kept two clean sheets. Coincidence? Probably not.
Nuno, to be fair, surprised a lot of people with his lineup, with Joao Moutinho being for Ruben Neves the only change from the team that beat Fulham before the international break.
That meant that Romain Saiss, despite Fernando Marcal being fit, continued out of position on the left side while Kilman kept his place in the middle.
And after a slightly nervous start to the game, which was still to be expected from such an inexperienced player, he really grew in the game and showed his quality.
Nuno said it best when he highlighted Kilman’s display in the second half, saying he was “better reading the lines, anticipating and passing to allow us to make quick attacks.”
The 23-year-old stepped up when he needed it and looked for a forward pass, then kept things simpler at other times. His decision making was spot on.
Nuno also praised Kilman’s excellent development and how he has seized the opportunity. Ultimately, the boy has never looked out of place in gold and black or let anyone down.
Everyone at Compton – coaches, players, staff – speaks highly of him and, more importantly, he’s down to earth.
That spot to the left of the back three may well be yours to lose now. Well done.
But while Kilman is being singled out, it’s only fair to call attention to Nelson Semedo’s shaky display.
The former Barcelona player, of course, is very early in his career with Wolves and is still adjusting to the demands of the Premier League, but Leeds gave him a bit of an evasion.
There’s nothing to be hugely concerned about, given his pedigree both at club level and internationally, he would be backing Semedo to prove himself sooner rather than later.
However, he will have to be much sharper against Newcastle on Sunday, especially as he could be scoring the dangerous Allan Saint-Maximin.
On a short note, finally, perhaps it would be nice to see a midfielder pair stick together for a while, as it could be argued that none of Neves, Moutinho or Leander Dendoncker have really shined for the Wolves yet.
Fingers crossed, at least one of them does it against the Magpies.
