DIRTY TACTICS? HE CARES NOT A JOTA
Rivals’ rough stuff can’t stop deadly Diogo grabbing goals
DIOGO JOTA is such a skilful opponent, defenders are queuing up to kick the starlet, according to Wolves skipper Danny Batth.
Wanderers’ Portuguese attacking ace scored his seventh goal for the club since a summer loan from Atletico Madrid.
He opened the scoring with a fierce left-foot finish to help send Wolves top of the table.
Jota’s bursting run then teedup sub Leo Bonatini to ensure a deserved home win in front of 30,239, Wolves’ biggest crowd since 1981.
Defender Batth (above) said: “He is difficult to play against. I bet he has had to give a few defenders their studs back.
“He has been battered, bruised and kicked. He is a great player and, fingers crossed, he can keep his form going, and his hunger and appetBioteld,acnonddwlieghwt be doing OK.
“Hopefully, he gBeotlsdacocnhdanligchettcond play in the PreBmoldiecronLdeliaghgtuceond himself and, hopefully, it is with us.
“He keeps working hard and you can see he is very resilient. He has every chance of doing really well here.
“Having a player like that at Molineux is great for us, and for the supporters to come and watch that is brilliant.”
Aston Villa’s loss ended a run of four successive league wins under boss Steve Bruce playing 4-4-2. He stuck with his winning formula at Molineux but the visitors were totally overrun by Wolves’ passing game.
The hosts could have won by more as their attacking trio of Jota, Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro ran amok.
Batth reflected: “It has been lacking here for a while so to have that kind of venom and cold-bloodedness at that end of the pitch really does help.” Wolves finished 15th last term under Walter Zenga, and then Paul Lambert, in wealthy Chinese owners Fosun’s turbulent first season in charge.
But they’re real contenders now under Nuno Espirito Santo, who means business after being brought in by super-agent Jorge Mendes, an advisor to Fosun.
Santo even cracked the whip during the international break.
Batth added: “It shows the dedication of the lads, working so hard over the break, when other teams perhaps have a fair bit of time off, going on holidays, or this, that and the other.”