Comment: Wolves have come so far but QPR offered warning sign

Managerless after the sacking of Walter Zenga, 17th in the table following a 1-1 draw at Blackburn and fully 17 points behind league leaders Newcastle with just 15 matches gone, writes Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers.

Twelve months on they’re second in the Championship with 29 points from only 14 games.

They’ve just produced their worst performance of 2017/18 – yet still came up with some (brief) spells of spellbinding football and on another day could have won.

That’s huge progress.

Indeed, despite a wholly indifferent display they still played better here than in half of their games from last season.

That’s not to say that Wolves don’t deserve criticism for this untimely defeat, which saw them drop to second in the Championship owing to Sheffield United’s win over Leeds on Friday night.

Their passing game was way off, with terrier-like QPR severely restricting their space.

Wolves like to lounge around in first class these days but this was a crammed rush hour tube journey with no room to breathe.

Ian Holloway’s team were winless in seven but they clearly raised their game a few notches here with the league leaders in town (something Wolves need to get used to). They were men possessed, all over Wolves like a burning rash.

And on a tight pitch they stopped the supply to Wolves’ wing-backs, with Matt Doherty (so influential against Preston) rendered anonymous and Barry Douglas continuing his poor recent form.

There was a physical presence too, which has already become Wolves’ bugbear this season.

QPR dished it out and Wolves didn’t cope as well as they’ll need to over the course of a brutish and relentless six months ahead. They were often swamped in midfield – Romain Saiss tried his best but couldn't dominate play, while Ruben Neves' class rarely shone through other than a couple of sumptuous passes. In hindsight it may have been a game for Alfred N'Diaye.

Wolves also failed, again, to deal with a tall, strong striker, namely Matt Smith who twice got the better of Roderick Miranda including for the winning goal.

With Willy Boly, Kortney Hause and Ryan Bennett all now fit to play, Miranda’s place may be vulnerable.

Diogo Jota and Leo Bonatini, whose partnership has become telepathic with the pair laying on a hatful of goals for each other, tried to get Wolves going with the former brilliantly teeing up the latter twice – once for the equaliser and once with a sumptuous dummy and pass on the hour mark, which Bonatini should have buried.

But no one else really did themselves justice.

Ivan Cavaleiro had an off-day and the distribution from the back three was below recent standards.

Nuno’s substitutions, for once, made no impact with a worryingly off-colour Helder Costa still a shadow of the player he was last season despite this being the sixth appearance since his comeback. He will require more patience. Bright Enobakhare also brought little to the party – his confidence looks to have taken a knock after his missed chances at Manchester City.

The hosts produced double Wolves’ number of shots (16 to eight) and played with more purpose and drive.

Wolves didn’t come across as complacent, but they were gradually bullied into submission.

They would love to have responded by passing QPR off the park – Nuno attempted to lead his orchestra but there was a loud barking dog outside who kept putting them off their stride.

Fine margins ultimately decided it – had Bonatini’s chance gone in, or Cavaleiro been awarded a penalty, Wolves may have won when playing badly, as they’ve done on a number of occasions already.

But ultimately they could have no complaints with the result.

Tomorrow's trip to Norwich offers a chance to jump straight back on the horse and changes are likely.

One will be enforced, with N'Diaye set to replace the suspended Saiss. Elsewhere Boly/Boly/Bennett, Ruben Vinagre and Ben Marshall are candidates to come in, while Costa may be given an opportunity from the start.

Making best use of arguably the strongest squad in the league will be Nuno's next challenge. Jack Price, Kortney Hause and Ruben Vinagre were at Carrow Road on Saturday but didn't even make the 18, showing the remarkable strength in depth at Nuno's disposal.

On paper Saturday's game was Wolves' easiest of a busy week. In reality it may turn out to be their toughest – Norwich will play their own game and attack Wolves, while Friday's visitors Fulham are famed for their passing style.

Both opponents should suit in theory Wolves better than QPR, but Nuno simply must find a way to cope with the physical, tigerish approach the Rs favoured. Otherwise they'll find a number of teams adopt that approach and once the wing back threat is nullified Wolves can look stunted.

Wolves have come so far in the past year. If in a year’s time they’re to go a lot further, they must quickly prove this was a bump in the road rather than a sign of things to come.