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Kenny Jackett: Wolves got lucky but earned it

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Head coach Kenny Jackett admitted Wolves got lucky with their winning goal against Blackburn - but felt his team had earned their good fortune.

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David Edwards diverted Nouha Dicko's cross into the net with his hand to give Wolves a 2-1 advantage on the stroke of half time, a lead they desperately clung on to in a tense finish.

And Jackett praised his side's defensive heroics as Wolves got their season off to the perfect start at Ewood Park.

"It's one of those things we'll take," Jackett said.

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"The ball definitely hit Dave Edwards' hand - I don't think it was necessarily deliberate but it's clipped his hand as he's tried to head it.

"For Dave it gets him off the mark and on a roll in a season where I want a good goals total out of him.

"We're delighted with the win and spells of possession that I thought were very good and very encouraging.

"That diamond formation gives you an overloading midfield which is a good thing."

Benik Afobe continued where he left off last season, scoring Wolves' opening goal with their first shot of the new campaign.

And while Wolves rode their luck at times, with Blackburn hitting the woodwork and having a strong penalty appeal turned down, Wolves themselves could have had a late penalty when debutant Sheyi Ojo seemed to be harshly booked for diving, while James Henry smacked the bar with a superb 20-yard shot.

Jackett's praised his team's spirit in what was a thoroughly hard-earned win.

"We showed some big heart and there were some big headers at the end - Matt Doherty won a couple, so did Dominic Iorfa and Kortney Hause, so we did well to survive that onslaught and physically at the end we were strong.

"We showed hunger and desire.

"There are things we can build on and take from today as we go forward into the season.

"It was a sluggish start, we were off them and didn't handle Jordan Rhodes. But he's obviously a good player - there are bids into the £12m/£13m mark so he is a big threat and a very good player.

"But we grew as the game went on and had spells of very good possession.

"I want to play, I want to be able to pass the ball and control it and the boys in midfield did that in spells - we'll be looking to replicate that."

Jackett praised goalscorer Afobe and felt Nouha Dicko was a 'big threat' up front.

Hause endured a tough time of it against Rhodes but Jackett said: "He did grow into the game.

"He's a young player but we feel that he's got a very good future, as a number of our players have, and finding his feet in this division is a big thing. The quicker he can do that the better."

Debutant Conor Coady was another to impress in the heart of the midfield.

The Wolves boss said of the 22-year-old: "He's had a very good pre-season for us and followed that up today.

"I do feel, no disrespect to anybody else that's played, he's improved our midfield so far."