Wolves were unable to keep their winning run going against Hull City last night.
Wolverhampton Wanderers’ surge towards the Premier League hit something of a speed bump last night, as they were only able to claw their way to a 2-2 draw against an impressive Hull City side.
While it wasn’t exactly a full strength team put out by Nuno Espirito Santo, it was a starting XI which many would’ve expected to get the job done – however, the absence of a few key players certainly made life a lot more difficult for the home side at Molineux.
One of the biggest negatives heading into the encounter was Ruben Neves’ suspension, as the Portuguese youngster has been arguably the best player in the Championship this season. In addition to that, however, Matt Doherty sitting on the sideline may have been equally as damaging.
Over the course of his eight years at the club, Doherty has grown into being one of the most well-rounded defenders in the league. The 26-year-old is known for his passion and determination, but beyond that, he possesses some qualities which put him head and shoulders above the rest in his position.
While Ryan Bennett has had some important moments for Wolves, the fact that he’s a natural centre-back was always going to ensure an uneven comparison. With that being said, nobody would’ve been able to achieve the kind of penetration with Doherty is capable of down the wing.
His link-up play is one of the main reasons why Wolves have been able to expose teams on so many different levels, as he’s a master at tracking back while also not committing himself too extensively to any given attack. In terms of cardio, there are very few defenders and players in general who can hold a candle to his endurance over the course of 90 minutes – which bodes extremely well for him given the physicality of the top flight.
While yesterday’s games are always going to be frustrating, they also serve as great indicators as to where Nuno needs to improve in the summer.
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