Nuno avoids looking at Championship table after Wolves go 12 points clear

Posted Sunday, January 28, 2018 by PA

Nuno Espirito Santo claims he does not look at the Sky Bet Championship table after Wolves moved 12 points clear at the top of the standings with a 1-0 win at Ipswich.

Matt Doherty’s 15th-minute goal was all that separated the sides at Portman Road as Wolves ended a four-match winless run.

The league leaders, who spent last week in Spain at a warm weather training camp, created a host of chances in the second half but were denied by a fine performance from Ipswich goalkeeper Bart Bialkowski.

Nuno said: “I’m happy with the performance that the boys put in. Very pleased with the way they were organised, stuck together, had good defensive organisation and that allowed us to go out and create a lot of chances.

“I don’t look at the league table, I look game by game. It was important for us but the next game is in our minds now.

“We have to realise where we are and be happy about that but, at the same time, have this sense that we still have a long way to go.

“I think the goalie of Ipswich was one of the best men on the pitch, that says a lot of how many situations we created.”

Santo added that the warm weather training camp in Spain was not down to their poor form before the trip.

“That was something we had planned before,” he said. “The results didn’t mean anything. It’s more about the bonds that the boys create during a week. We had a lot of hard work there and I think the benefits are visible.”

Ipswich boss Mick McCarthy, who was facing his old club, praised goalkeeper Bialkowski – who has just agreed a new three-year deal with the Blues.

“It’s a snap-shot of him today,” McCarthy said. “He’s been like that every week since he’s been here. He’s been excellent. So that was a bit of good news for the club which I think at the time needed it.

“I’m always disappointed when we lose of course, but I can’t really argue with the result. They are a very good side but I can’t argue with my lads or complain at them for the effort and application that they gave.

“Could we be better at times, quality with the ball? Yeah, but they give me and they give this club everything, every week, so I’ll settle for that.

Speaking of Wolves, McCarthy added: “They make it very hard, it’s a bit of parasite football, they can feed on our mistakes and I don’t blame them for it – they’re very good at it and when they break, they’ve got quality.”