Wolves Player Ratings v Burnley

Wolves player ratings after a poor first-half performance but an important win, including criticism of the selection and 4-2-4 set-up, plus thoughts on key performers and available options.

A very poor performance, especially in the first half, but a win is a win and was badly needed after two losses. A strange selection and an odd, perhaps brave, decision to go 4-2-4.

Neither can be considered a success despite the result but, as far as selection at least is concerned, I'm not sure he has - given the injuries and the plethora of games the side is facing in a short period - a lot of options. That is a damning indictment of the club!

Ratings

Sa 6 - should he have done better with the goal? Yes. However, he made a far harder save from Vardy 15 mins earlier and otherwise was OK.

Jackson 5 - His athleticism, which allows him to defend adequately, does not mask the fact he is a very poor footballer.

Djiga 8 - My only criticism is that he occasionally overplays but otherwise a Rolls Royce! V good defender and v comfortable on the ball. Note he was also playing between 2 non-footballers in Jackson and Toti, so has enormous pressure on him when he has the ball.

Toti 6 - See comments on Jackson but not quite as bad.

Konan 6 - Solid enough defensively and better going forwards than I had expected. TBH did enough to make me ambivalent as to if he or Hugo plays at LB.

Munetsi 6 - Works v hard and, especially in the 2nd half, showed greater positional maturity. Took 2 terrible shots and is still a limited footballer, but a better performance than normal from him.

Andre 7 - Solid. In the first half was putting out fires on his own but in the 2nd half, when Munetsi stayed closer to him, he and the side looked far more comfortable.

Bellegarde 3 - Was he wearing the right boots? He is weak - falls over so often! - makes v poor decisions, takes terrible shots, has poor positional discipline - the goal came from him leaving his man totally unmarked to press a CB who was already being pressed by Neave and has a very heavy touch. It was not his night and he was lucky to last the full hour before being hooked!

Lopez 7 - Not heavily involved in the first half when Wolves were overrun but scored a good goal late on in the half and from then, until he went off half way through the 2nd half, grew into the game. Always creative and dangerous. Absolutely key to Wolves hopes this year!

Neave 6 - Some nice touches but found it hard physically, especially in the first half. Got the assist for the first goal with a calm pass.

Said 6 - Far from certain he was as good as some are making out but clearly had one or two good moments. For me he needs to be more involved and more consistent to be considered a first choice but if Wolves are going to pick someone to hug the touch line he may well be an option.

Subs

Mane 6 - Played well and has talent. Can the manager get this out of him regularly? Maybe he needs to play more centrally as a 2nd 10 with Lopez? Armstrong off of a 9 Jimenez/Neave in a 4, 3, 2, 1 formation although that would leave the side v narrow.

Doyle 6 - Missed two very good chances, which is disappointing, but is a solid passer and was part of a side that closed out the game relatively comfortably.

Chirewa 6 - Scored and looked for work. Not certain he would be featuring if everyone is fit but they aren't and he did OK.

Bueno 6 - Battled away to close out the game.

Krejci n/a.