Wolverhampton Wanderers boss, Nuno Espirito Santo, was happy with his sides first half performance, however disappointed that his side conceded from another set piece. 

A Richarlison header, from an Everton corner, proved to be the decisive moment which separated the two sides, in a 1-0 defeat at Goodison Park.

Nuno spoke to wolves.co.uk to reflect on the match.

  • “It was a very good first-half"

Throughout the season, Wolves have struggled to get going at the beginning of the match.

Nuno's side have conceded in the first half far too often, meaning the players are left chasing results. 

This was particularly the case against West Ham United, where three goals in the first 20 minutes cost Wolves the points.

Today however, it was a different story, and Wolves looked like the stronger side in the first half. 

Fabio Silva and Adama Traore had some good chances, as well as a delightful effort from Morgan Gibbs-White, which had the Everton goalkeeper scrambling across his line.

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However, Wolves couldn't find the back of the net - something the fans in gold and black have become far too familiar with. 

Nuno said: “It was a very good first-half. All the game was good, but the first-half was very good. We played very good football, we were dominant, we controlled very well, we pressed very well, we recovered the ball very well, we had good movements, good aggression, really good football, but we didn’t put the ball in the goal.

“We had chances, Pickford did good saves, but the first-half was very good. The goal changed the game. The set-piece, a corner, everything changes from that, but it was a good reaction from the boys, we finished the game on the front foot.

“We did a lot of good things, but it’s too bad that the concentration and the focus on the set-piece changed the game, but this is football.”

  • "I'm angry, but not upset"

Wolves were undone by another set piece on Wednesday evening, in what proved to be the only goal of the game. 

Gylfi Sigurðsson's corner was floated onto the head of Richarlisson who beat Willy Boly in the air to direct his header into the far post.

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This has happened far too often this season.

Out of the 50 goals The Wanderers have conceded this season, 13 have been from set pieces. 

This makes up 26% of the goals conceded. 

Only Leeds United and Manchester United have conceded more goals from set pieces, with 15 and 14 respectively.

It has become a recurring problem for Nuno and something he will need to work on over the summer.

Nuno Said: “I’m angry as a manager when players don’t perform well, but today I’m not upset at all. I understand that it’s a set-piece that will need reviewing, but it’s about individual competencies in that moment.

“But I’m not upset with the boy because we have to reflect on all of the aspects of the game, and I’m proud of the boys.”

  • “The fans are back, and football is good again”

One of the positives ahead of the final game of the 2020/21 season, is that a small number of fans will be in attendance.

4,500 fans will be watching in Molineux as they host Man United.

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There's no doubt that the lack of fans in the stadium has contributed to this season's struggles, therefore having fans back in the stadium will be a huge boost going into next season. 

Nuno Said: “It’s the best thing that the game has, is fans back again, not in large numbers, but we can hear them, we can feel them. I’m happier than yesterday, even though I’ve lost the game – the game needs the fans.

“At Molineux it’s going to be our own fans, singing our own songs, and that’s the way to finish such a hard and difficult season. I’m looking forwards to it. It’s going to be a special moment for everybody.

“The last day is for us to be together. It was a terribly difficult season for everybody, so having things coming back to normal gives us hope for the future.

“The fans are back, and football is good again.”