It’s not all about the league table for Nuno

Posted Sunday, February 25, 2018 by PA

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo dismissed suggestions after the 2-0 defeat at Fulham that his team’s nine-point lead at the top of the Sky Bet Championship has blunted their competitive edge.

Goals in each half, from Ryan Sessegnon and Aleksandar Mitrovic, gave fifth-placed Fulham their eighth successive home win and handed Wolves only their second defeat in 20 games.

After draws in their two previous matches, Nuno’s men have gone three league games without a win for the first time this season.

However, he said: “The table is not what we focus on. We don’t care about that. We know there is still a long way to go.

“We are preparing, we are building something that requires always one focus – not where we are in the table, but the work. How we play is what dictates what we are going to do.

“We started well, opened a lot of options but we didn’t finish our actions – the last pass, the cross. We must improve on that: shooting better, assisting better – all these things, we must do better. In every aspect, in the defensive part of the pitch also. We are conceding goals so we’ll work on everything, as we always do.”

He added: “Fulham deserved it, they’re a good team and Joka [Fulham head coach Slavisa Jokanovic] is doing a fantastic job.

“But it’s over now and now it’s our job to analyse it – and this week will be very good for us. We’re going to fix the problems. We always do. We are going to show character and bounce back.”

Joakanovic was reluctant to single players out for praise but agreed that Mitrovic, on loan from Newcastle, has given his team another dimension.

The Serbian striker’s shot was half-saved before Sessegnon opened the scoring, and he showed his power in holding off two Wolves defenders before scoring the second.

“Okay, we played well without him, but he gives us different options, it’s true,” Jokanovis said.

“He scored a goal, he works in the right direction for the team, he holds the ball a lot, he works off the ball too. He must be satisfied with his performance – and we are satisfied with his performance.”

Sessegnon’s goal was his 13th of the campaign, and he showed once again an uncanny knack in a 17-year-old for being perfectly-placed to score.

Jokanovic added: “He is many times arriving in the right moment in the right position to score a goal.

“He has some sense of where the ball will arrive and today he showed this ability once more. In the end he’s a special kid with special ability.”