Gary O’Neil’s side went one-nil down in the tenth minute due to a Chris Wood header, but responded instantly through a superb Jean-Ricner Bellegarde strike just 45 seconds after conceding and will take their first point back with them back to Wolverhampton.
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Strand Larsen can make a big impact on the Premier League
Jorgen Strand Larsen has already opened his Premier League account with his goal against Chelsea, but it is clear to see that his game is not just goals, he is an all-round out-and-out number nine. With his 6’5 stature, he is a handful for defenders to deal with in the air and his size allows him to hold the ball up fantastically well, allowing players like Rayan Ait-Nouri, Matheus Cunha and Rodrigo Gomes to come into the game and use their pace to create chances for Wolves.
It is obvious that most players need a little bit of time to get used to the Premier League, but Larsen looks to have hit the ground running with his understanding of the game and his role within this Gary O’Neil team. With the player only being 24-years-old, Wolves can develop into another level, a similar type of player to what Raul Jimenez was for Wolves.
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Johnstone’s distribution and experience is valuable
With Jose Sa set to exit WV, new signing Sam Johnstone was given his first start for his new club, just one day after being announced by the club. However, it wasn’t the dream start for the England international as he conceded just ten minutes into his debut and would be dissatisfied with the attempt of his save.
Throughout the game, he was trusted with the ball when Wolves attempted to play out from the back and consistently received pressure from players like Morgan Gibbs-White which he dealt with comfortably, when he had the ball Johnstone didn’t always play the safe pass and was attempting to go long and advance Wolves further up the field and each time found an Old Gold shirt in space.
When you compare this to Jose Sa, who wasn’t so comfortable on the ball, this can allow Wolves to keep possession of the ball more when it is needed.
The importance of Nelson Semedo
Wolves have been without Nelson Semedo for the first three games of the season due to the red card he received at Anfield on the last game of the 23/24 season, and despite him being substituted for Matt Doherty in the second half, Wolves fans were reminded on why the Portuguese right back won the ‘player of the season’ award last year.
The 30-year-old provides a vast amount of experience in the game, and despite the player coming into his thirties he still has incredible speed, which was shown various times in the first half in situations where he had to cover defensively.
With Wolves attempting to play a higher defensive line, Semedo always must be conscious that if the opposition try to catch the Old Gold on the break himself and Yerson Mosquera have to be on guard for defensive duties and in today's game it was evident that he is capable to keep Wolves steady.
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How different Matheus Cunha can be in a free role
Last season, Matheus Cunha was played mainly through the middle of the front three in the ‘number nine’ role with Pedro Neto and Hwang Hee-Chan either side of him, however it often restricted the 25-year-old but now with the addition of Jorgen Strand Larsen, Cunha can be allowed to sit just behind the striker in a ‘free role’.
Throughout the game, we could see how this new role is perfect for the Brazilian as it allows him to pick up pockets of space and spray balls forward into the oppositions defensive third, frequently linking up with Larsen and Joao Gomes. Going into next week’s fixture against Newcastle United, Cunha could potentially find a lot of joy in this role.
