Jacob puts the bite on Wolves with Jota absent
WOLVES crashed out of the Carabao Cup at the hands of Stoke as mystery surrounded the exclusion of forward Diogo Jota from the squad. The Portuguese was at Molineux before kick-off but was not named either in the starting XI or on the bench. Boss Nuno Espirito Santo declined to explain his absence after substitute Jacob Brown’s late goal had given Stoke a surprise win. Nuno was repeatedly offered the chance to clarify why Jota, an unused substitute in the 2-0 win at Sheffield United on Monday, had missed out, He would only say: ‘He was not available for the game. These are decisions we have to make, we have to protect the squad and take care of the players. ‘When a player is not on the list, sometimes he stays at home, sometimes he watches the match. You’re going to speculate a lot. He was not on the squad list, period.’ Wolves debutant Fabio Silva, the club-record £35million signing from Porto, wasted a glorious chance to mark his first appearance with a goal. The 18-year-old volleyed wide in the 75th minute when it appeared easier to score. Wolves made six changes to their starting XI and Stoke seven, producing a disjointed game. Wolves’ best chance of a drab opening half fell to Leander Dendoncker who connected with Ruben Neves’ chip but his header fell narrowly wide. Then Silva wasted that wonderful opportunity for a debut goal. Neto’s free-kick from deep picked out Willy Boly at the far post. The defender’s header across goal was perfect yet the teenager somehow steered his volley wide. With full-time approaching, Wolves were made to pay when James McClean powered in off the left and found substitute Steven Fletcher, who teed up Brown. The shot should really have been saved by Ruddy but he could only palm it home.