Express & Star

Wolves 1 Cardiff 2 – player ratings

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers rates the players after Cardiff win at Molineux.

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John Ruddy

Has been almost faultless up to now but Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's winning goal went straight through him. Still made a number of decent saves though to keep Wolves in it. 5/10

Roderick Miranda

Endured a torrid afternoon. The warning signs has been there at Hull in midweek when Kamil Grosicki got the better of him on a few occasions. Here Junior Hoilett had the beating of him for Cardiff's opening goal when Miranda fell to the floor. Also struggled with the power of Kenneth Zohore and made a number of mistakes. A game to forget and with Bennett and Batth on the bench it was a surprise he wasn't taken off. 3/10

Conor Coady

The captain was the best of a bad bunch at the back. Covered when he could and made fewer errors than his haphazard team mates. 6/10

Willy Boly

At fault for Cardiff's winner when misjudging a goal kick. For all his impressive strength and technique (a ridiculous flick pass over a Cardiff defender to Douglas was a highlight), he's got a mistake in him. 6/10

Matt Doherty

Cardiff did a job on him, restricting his attacking forays. Solid at the back but offered little going forward. 6/10

Ruben Neves

Welcome to the Championship. Tried his best to cope with Cardiff's physical midfield but despite a few sumptuous passes this wasn't his day. The victim of some rough treatment but he'll need to toughen up, otherwise every opposition will try the same. 6/10

Romain Saiss

Continuously gave the ball away and, like Neves, failed to exert his authority in the middle of the pitch. A notable step down from his recent performances. Does he possess the required physicality to do the dirty stuff when Wolves are swamped in midfield? A first half booking didn't help but Saiss was overrun here. 4/10

Barry Douglas

Like so many others this wasn't his day. Cardiff did a great job of restricting balls to the wing backs and Douglas suffered as a result. Still popped up with an assist but this was a struggle for the Scot. 5/10

Bright Enobakhare

Was Wolves' most likely outlet for a bit of magic before he was surprisingly withdrawn before the hour mark. After a poor start he began to find space to good effect. Beautifully rode one challenge before firing wide just before the break. 7/10

Leo Bonatini

An average performance but he got his goal – his second in two home league fixtures – and produced some tidy link up play. Two goals for the Brazilian but in terms of style of play you suspect he won't have yet convinced Nuno he's the right man to lead them in the number nine role this season. Time will tell – he's still no fully fit yet. 6/10

Diogo Jota

Tried in vain to inspire Wolves but his effort and his persistence couldn't be faulted. Continuously fouled. 6/10

Substitutes

Ivan Cavaleiro (for Enobakhare, 58)

Limited impact. Provided a goal and an assist in his previous two bench appearances but he was lacking in end product here. 5/10

Nouha Dicko (for Douglas, 78)

Spurned a good opportunity when he shot into the side netting with three team mates in the six yard box. 5/10

Connor Ronan (for Saiss, 83)

Sent over a few crosses but to no avail. N/A

Subs not used: Norris, Batth, Bennett, Price.