Express & Star

Wolves v Villa - five talking points

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It was about as interesting a pre-season game as you'll find.

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A hugely competitive local derby played out in front of a bumper Molineux crowd, with two goals apiece, chances galore and some late drama.

But what did we learn from a Wolves perspective? Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers picks out five talking points.

1. Afobe's still got it

The pressure is on Benik Afobe to pick up where he left off last season and lead Wolves' promotion charge. On this evidence he'll handle it with aplomb. Afobe was a constant menace to the Villa defence, often dropping deep to link the play with intelligence and vision. He linked well with Nouha Dicko and showed great composure for his late equaliser. No exaggeration to say he could - on top form - be the best player in the Championship this season.

2. Wolves are crying out for width

Kenny Jackett has tinkered with his midfield throughout pre-season, utilising different systems and personnel. But he's yet to find the magic formula for a Bakary Sako-less Wolves. It was a surprise to see David Edwards start on the left and although Edwards had a decent game, all his best work was done centrally or on the right flank. A flat midfield was ineffective without two genuine wingers - Edwards naturally drifted inside and James Henry endured a largely frustrating evening. Rajiv Van La Parra will feel aggrieved to have missed out and he - and possibly Jordan Graham - could get the chance to stake a claim at Doncaster on Saturday. Either way Wolves are crying out for width.

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3. Conor Coady looks a find

Probably Wolves' standout performer. Coady was tenacious in the tackle, rousing the Wolves supporters with a couple of perfectly-timed challenges. And he was positive in possession, constantly getting his head up and looking for an incisive through ball. There's work to do on his partnership with Kevin McDonald - at times the pair were overrun with Scott Sinclair and Gabby Agbonlahor finding space too easily ahead of Wolves' back four - but for a midfield partnership in its infancy this was promising. And in Coady, Wolves may have found the tough-tackling box-to-box midfielder they've been lacking for a long time.

4. Hause can fill in for Batth

Not the perfect performance from Kortney Hause, who was auditioning for the centre half role made vacant by Danny Batth's injury. Sure he made a couple of mistakes, but Wolves were playing a Premier League team and Hause is still only 20 years old. There was certainly enough to suggest that Hause - playing in his natural position after filling in at left-back while Scott Golbourne suffered with injuries last season - can do a more than decent job in the centre of defence at Championship level. Hause is strong, good in the air and reads the game well. And a quick word on Dominic Iorfa, who like Hause grew as the game went on and set up Edwards' goal brilliantly.

5. Wolves can't start games like that too often

It was a rousing second half from Wolves who, urged on by their vociferous supporters, kept pushing for a deserved equaliser not once, but twice. However the final result shouldn't erase what a shockingly bad opening 20 minutes they had. Let's be honest, Villa could and probably should have been 3-0 up by the time Wolves found their feet. And you got the impression the visitors took their foot off the gas a touch too. Yes it was an encouraging and spirited comeback from Wolves in a competitive game that felt anything but like a pre-season friendly. But if they start like that against Blackburn on August 8 then the end result might be a different story.

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