LETHAL WOLVES OFF TO A FLYER WITH EARLY BLITZ

IF Premier League matches ended at half-time, Wolves would have been relegated last season. In their previous 75 matches, they had not scored inside the first eight minutes. Not now. Two goals up inside six minutes, this was the sort of ruthless opening they’ve been looking for. Chris Wilder’s men never recovered from the early blitz. Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, who signed a new three-year deal on Sunday, warned of better still to come. ‘We are only just starting,’ he said. ‘There are so many things we can improve. But their attitude tonight really pleased me. They pressed, they fought, they recovered, they were brave and so effective arriving in the box.’ Wilder labelled them ‘absolutely lethal’ before moaning: ‘The season kicked off at six minutes past six for us. Unfortunately, we were 2-0 down by then.’ You had to feel for debutant Aaron Ramsdale in the home goal. Wilder admits comparisons between him and last season’s loan star Dean Henderson are inevitable, and England boss Gareth Southgate was here to check on him. The £18.5million summer signing was beaten inside 140 seconds by Raul Jimenez. There was little he could have done, however, the Mexican firing a first-time volley into the top corner from 12 yards. Jimenez would have netted a second volley within two minutes of his first had Ramsdale not extended a fist to divert over the crossbar. But from the corner, defender Romain Saiss connected with Neto’s out-swinger and steered home a header. Two home defenders had collided to afford Saiss the freedom of the penalty area. ‘They were avoidable goals,’ said Wilder. ‘That start put us in a difficult position against a side that possesses unbelievable pace on the counter.’ Wolves keeper Rui Patricio did not have a save to make until the 38th minute and even then it was a routine catch from Oli McBurnie’s header. Saiss nodded inches wide from another corner after half-time and then, after galloping 80 yards upfield, saw his shot tipped onto the post by Ramsdale, with Jimenez stabbing wide from the rebound. Saiss then turned saviour at the other end by heading a McBurnie effort from the line.