Nuno Espirito Santo has slammed his profligate Wolves side after they failed to take advantage of their dominance despite beating Cardiff at Molineux.
Sunday 3 March 2019 20:06, UK
Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo lamented his side's wastefulness despite cruising to victory over relegation-threatened Cardiff at Molineux.
Diogo Jota and Raul Jimenez stuck twice in as many minutes to secure a 2-0 success, a result which followed the dismal loss at bottom club Huddersfield, a result which cements seventh place in the Premier League.
The hosts could have made the win more emphatic but Adama Traore twice missed the target and Neil Etheridge made fine saves from Jimenez and Ruben Vinagre.
Jota netted a fabulous opener, finishing off a fine team move involving Morgan Gibbs-White, but Santo was more focused on his profligate side.
"All the goals are very beautiful when you score but we're pleased with the way we do it," said the 45-year-old.
"Sometimes it is possible and sometimes it is not especially against Cardiff because they go man-to-man in many situations and the best way to un-block them is to play one-touch, two-touch with a lot of mobility.
"As the game goes on I think we stayed organised, stayed compact and wait for the right moments and the right chances and I think we should do better."
Santo's first defeat as Wolves boss had come to Cardiff and having lost the reverse fixture in the Premier League earlier in the season, the Bluebirds were targeting a repeat.
John Ruddy spilled Aron Gunnarsson's effort as the South Wales club impressed during the opening minutes, but Jota and Jimenez struck to change the momentum.
"Cardiff started the game well," added Santo. "I think the first chance was from them. We defended well and sometimes the game requires that.
"You have to settle down, get the momentum of the game and after some good combinations we achieved the goal.
"You can never relax especially against Cardiff. They are a very tough team, they play long balls. They keep believing, they get set-pieces, throw-ins and you have to be organised, very, very organised."
England U19 star Gibbs-White was the star of the afternoon but Santo is unwilling to put too much pressure on the midfielder.
"[Morgan] is very young," he said of the Wolves teenager, who has made 25 appearances in all competitions this season. "He has a long way to go but the talent is there it is just about the right moment to exploit it."
