Nuno hails Moutinho as Wolves make it eight games unbeaten
The Special One has returned. Not just to North London, but also to the Black Country where Nuno Espirito Santo is once again overseeing something special at Wolves.
“Nuno’s the Special One,” sang jubilant supporters as they watched the team extend their unbeaten league run to eight games and climb into fifth place. “The first half we played really, really well. It must be our reference for the way we want to proceed and keep on going and improving,” said the Wolves manager.
There now follows a trip to SC Braga where Nuno’s side can secure progression to the knockout stages of the Europa League with a point.
This was a well-oiled and committed performance from a team playing their 25th game of the season, with Joao Moutinho the standout performer.
“Joao is an important player because he has the experience to know what is required in each moment,” said Nuno.
The Portuguese made two outstanding contributions. The first came in the 21st minute when he curled in a wonderful free-kick goal from an acute angle after Simon Francis had chopped down Diogo Jota a yard outside the penalty area. Then, 10 minutes later, he showed innovation to rush a free-kick into the path of Adama Traore who slid the ball across the area for Raul Jimenez to score his 14th goal of the season.
With Eddie Howe scratching his head, things took another turn for the worse for Bournemouth when Francis foolishly pulled back Jota and received a second booking, spoiling his first Premier League start since last December, eight minutes from half-time.
“We made a couple of mistakes tactically,” said Howe. “I have to take responsibility for that. It’s a huge frustration because we go away with nothing from a game we know we’re capable of winning.”
Bournemouth were resurgent at the start of the second half and Howe’s side got a foothold when Steve Cook rose to meet Ryan Fraser’s corner at the near post and glanced home.
Still, Wolves looked likely to add a third and Jota had the best chance of doing so but struck his powerful shot too close to Aaron Ramsdale.