Leicester City 2 Wolves 0 – Report and pictures

Joao Moutinho and Raul Jimenez hit the bar and post with efforts from outside the box in the first half, while Matt Doherty missed a sitter.

They somehow found themselves 2-0 down at half time – Doherty diverted a cross into his own net for an own goal and then a James Maddison shot deflected off Conor Coady and beat Rui Patricio.

Jamie Vardy saw red for a nasty challenge on Doherty – who went off injured – just past the hour mark. Wolves, with debutant Adama Traore impressing from the bench, hit the post again through Jonny Castro Otto but it wasn't their day.

Analysis

Welcome to the Premier League.

Wolves could have been 3-0 up after 21 minutes here – instead they were 2-0 down at half time, writes Tim Spiers at the King Power Stadium.

They hit the woodwork three times and missed a sitter...and at the other end conceded via an own goal and a deflection.

Just one of those days? Lady luck on Leicester's side? Well, the Foxes can certainly feel fortunate to have won this so comfortably in terms of the 2-0 scoreline, but Wolves only have themselves to blame for not winning this one, let alone drawing it.

They had the better of the match, amassed 11 shots to Leicester's four (only one on target for the Foxes), looked potent in attack and controlled possession for long spells.

That they contrived to lose it was a combination of, yes, bad luck in the extreme, but also profligacy and some naive defending (not just from the defenders).

They were even presented with the advantage of an extra man for the final 24 minutes after Jamie Vardy was sent off for a nasty challenge.

But, try as they might in what was an attack versus defence training drill, they couldn't force Kasper Schmeichel into a meaningful save.

Hitting the post and bar on three occasions is mightily unlucky but bleating won't get far in the harsh reality of the Premier League. Nuno wants Wolves to impose their ideas, their football, their philosophies on the opposition. They didn't do enough of that here, they allowed Leicester the opportunity to open the door, which the streetwise Foxes duly did.

There were many positives here – with Adama Traore's flamboyant second half cameo being one of them – and they'll play worse than this and win this season, but Wolves do need to learn some harsh lessons. And quickly.

Match report

Nuno named the same team that drew 2-2 with Everton last weekend but there was a new face on the bench in the form of Adama Traore, the club's £18million record signing.

Leicester made a number of changes from the XI that had lost 2-1 to Manchester United, with goalscorer from that game Jamie Vardy starting up front and ex-Albion defender Jonny Evans coming in for his Foxes debut.

Wolves, sporting their new white away kit and backed by more than 3,000 noisy travelling fans, had by their own admission been anxious on the opening day – but they were nerveless at the King Power and should have been 2-0 up inside four minutes.

They attacked Leicester with pace and purpose from the off with Helder Costa and Diogo Jota rampaging down the flanks and Raul Jimenez regularly finding space in behind the back line.

The Mexican crossed towards Matt Doherty who kept the ball alive and it came for Joao Moutinho who crashed a superb 18-yard effort off the crossbar.

If that was unlucky, there was no misfortune a minute later when Doherty somehow spurned a wonderful opportunity – Jimenez brilliantly kept it alive and Doherty had half an open goal to aim at from six yards, but shot straight at a defender.

It was an open, entertaining game with both teams committed to attacking – and leaving gaps to exploit.

Demarai Gray was played in on goal as Leicester threatened, but Ryan Bennett denied him with a goal-saving tackle in the box before the winger could shoot.

Like the team in general, Jonny Castro Otto was showing more attacking intent than last week and he skipped past a challenge to set up the lively Jimenez – he span and shot from 20 yards and it cannoned off the post.

Wolves could have been 3-0 up with just 21 minutes on the clock. It had been an excellent showing from Nuno's team...but their misfortune/profligacy was to be punished in the most ruthless of fashions.

On 29 minutes the Foxes took the lead when Marc Albrighton's cross flashed over the head of Coady and it diverted off Doherty's forehead and past Patricio.

There was then, as there had been after Everton's opener last weekend, a lull in the game with Wolves unable to get back in their attacking flow.

Wolves couldn't get going again...and by half time they were 2-0 down. The increasingly influential James Maddison was allowed to shoot from 20 yards – it hit Coady and deflected past a wrong-footed Patricio.

It was another unlucky goal to concede, but Wolves were kicking themselves for those earlier misses.

Nuno withdrew Jota and Costa – who had both conceded possession too regularly – at half time, with Traore on for his debut and Bonatini leading the line with Jimenez moved to the right.

Traore's introduction sparked Wolves into life and they came out on the front foot.

The winger soon clicked into gear and embarked on a couple of full throttle bursts down the flank, ghosting past players like they didn't exist.

Jimenez continued to look menacing and he was slipped in by an expert Moutinho pass which foxed three Foxes, but Kasper Schmeichel saved from a tight angle.

Last week a red card for the opposition presented Wolves with a lifeline – and on 66 minutes it happened again here. Vardy and Doherty went in no-holds-barred for a loose ball and the striker followed through strong and hard on the Irishman.

Mike Dean sent Vardy off – and the injured Doherty had to be replaced after an eventful afternoon, with Morgan Gibbs-White sent on.

Traore was on the right wing now and causing just as much havoc – he made Evans look like he was walking through treacle with a zimmerframe before teeing up Bonatini who had a great chance from 12 yards but curled it comfortably over the bar.

The same combination ended with Bonatini heading over from a similar distance a few minutes later...it just wasn't happening for Wolves with time running out.

Wolves were effectively playing 3-4-1-2 now with Gibbs-White in the hole and Traore and Otto as (very) attacking wing backs.

Leicester, especially now they were a man light, were content to defend and soak up the pressure.

It just wasn't happening for Wolves with Schmeichel redundant in the Leicester goal – and you knew it wasn't their day when 10 minutes from time they hit the woodwork yet again, with Otto's shot from a tight angle on the left hitting the post.

Neves hit a fabulous 25-yard volley at Schmeichel in the closing stages but Wolves just couldn't find a way through and needed a decent Patricio save to deny Chilwell during six minutes of stoppage time.

Key moments

3 – Moutinho crashes an 18-yard shot off the bar.

4 – Doherty should score with half the goal at his mercy from close range but his shot is straight at a defender.

9 – Gray is in on goal but Bennett denies him with a superb sliding tackle.

21 – Jimenez hits a brilliant shot from 20 yards which smacks off the post.

29 – GOAL – Albrighton's cross just misses Coady and Vardy and cannons off the head of Doherty who diverts it into his own net.

45 – GOAL – MADDISON shoots from 20 yards and a deflection off Coady takes it past Patricio.

66 – RED CARD – Vardy sees red for a strong tackle on Doherty.

80 – Wolves hit the woodwork for the third time when Otto shoots against the post from a tight angle.

Teams

Leicester (4-2-3-1): Schmeichel (c); Pereira, Evans, Maguire, Chilwell; Mendy, Ndidi; Albrighton (Amartey, 59), Maddison (Iheanacho, 81), Gray (Silva, 81); Vardy. Subs: Ward, Morgan, Fuchs, Ghezzal.

Goals: Doherty (OG, 29), Maddison (45)

Red card: Vardy (66)

Wolves (3-4-3): Patricio; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty (Gibbs-White, 67), Moutinho, Neves, Otto; Costa (Bonatini, 45), Jimenez, Jota (Traore, 45). Subs: Ruddy, Hause, Saiss, Vinagre.

Attendance: 32,033

Referee: Mike Dean (Wirrall)

Next up

Premier League champions Manchester City visit Molineux next Saturday. Kick off is 12.30pm.