Norwich City 0 Wolves 2 – Report and pictures

Willy Boly scored on his return to the Wolves side as they returned to the top of the Championship with a 2-0 win at Norwich City.

The Frenchman made his first appearance for two months and headed home Barry Douglas' corner in the first half.

Norwich had earlier hit the post through Marley Watkins but Wolves created a number of chances and were very good value for their second goal, which arrived when Leo Bonatini volleyed home from 12 yards.

They saw out the remaining minutes comfortably to secure an excellent win.

Analysis

In a weird way it would be good if Wolves could lose more often.

They've accrued a few beneficial knacks under Nuno Espirito Santo and one of them is they react superbly well to defeats, writes Tim Spiers at Carrow Road.

Their two previous league losses this season (to Cardiff and Sheffield United) were followed by convincing away wins at Southampton in the Carabao Cup and Burton Albion.

And here they recovered from arguably their worst performance of the season just four days ago to produce one of their best in a convincing outmanoeuvring of a very capable Norwich side on their own turf.

The Canaries may have hit the post early on and caused Wolves a few problems, but this scoreline flattered Daniel Farke's team.

Wolves were domineering from front to back. Their sturdy defence made a number of excellent blocks, meaning ex-Norwich keeper John Ruddy enjoyed a comfortable return to Carrow Road.

In contrast to Saturday their wing backs were so effective going forward. And up front they dazzled via Diogo Jota in particular but also Ivan Cavaleiro and Alfred N'Diaye who enjoyed a great game on his return to the side.

They created a hatful of chances which were either spurned, saved or blocked and on the hour mark it looked like the introduction of Cameron Jerome would yield an inevitable equaliser. Not so. And Wolves, via Leo Bonatini's second, were comfortable winners.

They say all promotion-chasing sides should avoid two defeats in a row. Wolves, like with a lot of things under Nuno, are pretty good at that.

Match report

Nuno made three changes from the team that lost 2-1 at QPR on Saturday.

Captain Danny Batth and fellow defender Roderick Miranda were dropped from the squad, while Romain Saiss missed out through suspension.

In came midfielder Alfred N'Diaye, former Norwich defender Ryan Bennett for his second league start for the club and Willy Boly for his first appearance since August 26 due to a hamstring injury.

Norwich made four changes from their 2-1 defeat to Derby with Wes Hoolahan and Cameron Jerome – who came into the game having scored seven goals against Wolves in his career – among those to drop to the bench.

After a scrappy start both teams opened up and created a number of chances in what was an entertaining first half between two attacking, attractive sides.

Norwich were within inches of taking a 14th minute lead when Wolves' Achilles heel – defending set pieces – nearly cost them again when Marley Watkins glance a free kick against the post.

But the goal seemed to spark Nuno's team into life. They breezed through the gears causing no end of problems for the home defence and could easily have scored four times in the next 15 minutes.

As it was they had to settle for one – Boly's first goal for the club. It came from the third of three successive corners when the big centre half was left unmarked to head Barry Douglas' inswinger past Angus Gunn from just a couple of yards.

Just before then Matt Doherty had seen a ferocious goalbound effort blocked and Ruben Neves produced a gorgeous 20-yard pearlier which Gunn tipped wide.

And after the goal rampant Wolves continued to threaten in what was a real purple patch. Leo Bonatini should have picked out Ivan Cavaleiro when latching onto a loose back pass, but tried to round the keeper and fire from a tight angle, which went comfortably wide.

Then a superb block denied Diogo Jota from point blank range after good work from Doherty. In fact everyone played well in what was an impressive team performance in the first half. Douglas looked back to his early season form, an up-for-it Cavaleiro occasionally sauntered past defenders, Alfred N'Diaye added a physical presence in midfield and a sturdy back three restricted Norwich's attempts with plenty of support as Wolves defended in numbers.

Norwich sporadically posed danger, mostly through livewire James Maddison who ran menacingly from deep on a number of occasions.

And then just before the break defender Timm Klose was allowed a free header from a corner, but sent it wide.

Considering the standard of opposition it was one of the most impressive halves of Wolves' season so far and they continued in the same vain after the break.

They should have doubled their lead inside two minutes after breaking three-on-two, but N'Diaye's 15-yard shot was too weak after he was teed up by Cavaleiro.

N'Diaye was again in a great position a couple of minutes later but couldn't connect with Jota's low ball from just six yards out, with Klose putting him off.

Norwich may have hit the post early doors but all told Wolves should have been out of sight at this point and their profligacy was almost punished when Watkins got above Coady to meet a cross but headed at Ruddy.

Jota teed up his partner in crime Bonatini on the hour mark after a scintillating run but the Brazilian prodded past the onrushing keeper and wide as Wolves wasted another good opportunity. Then, after Conor Coady got in the way of another shot from danger-man Maddison, Wolves sliced Norwich open only for Ivo Pinto to throw himself in front of Jota's shot from just eight yards with most of the crowd expecting the net to bulge.

Then with 18 minutes to go Wolves finally made their dominance count. Doherty and Bennett worked brilliantly to keep a free kick alive with the latter lobbing towards Bonatini who expertly drilled a volley into the far corner from 12 yards.

Thereafter they saw out the game with relative ease, defending deeply and frustrating the hosts who barely had a sniff of goal, leading one disgruntled home fan to yell "this is f*****g boring". For table-topping Wolves it was anything but.

Key moments

14 – James Maddison whips over an inswinging free kick and Marley Watkins glances a header against the post.

18 – A corner drops to Neves who lines up a 20-yard pearler which is pushed wide at full stretch by keeper Angus Gunn.

18 – GOAL – Barry Douglas' inswinging corner is met by WILLY BOLY who heads home from inside the six yard box.

21 – Leo Bonatini pounces on a loose back pass and rounds the keeper but fires over from a tight angle.

31 – A Matt Doherty cross breaks for Diogo Jota – his shot is goalbound but a Norwich defender gets in a crucial block.

47 – Wolves break three on two – Ivan Cavaleiro plays to Alfred N'Diaye but his 15-yard shot is too weak and straight at Gunn.

59 – Jota hares down the left touchline, cuts inside and feeds Bonatini who's in behind but prods past the keeper and wide.

72 – GOAL – A Douglas free kick is half cleared – Doherty brilliantly wins it in the air, Ryan Bennett lobs into the box where LEO BONATINI drills a volley into the far corner.

Line ups

Norwich City (4-2-3-1): Gunn; Pinto (c), Hanley, Klose, Husband (Stiepermann, 60); Reed, Trybull (Zimmermann, 65); Vrancic, Maddison, Murphy (Jerome, 60); Watkins. Subs not used: McGovern, Martin, Hoolahan, Cantwell.

Wolves (3-4-3): John Ruddy; Bennett, Coady (c), Boly; Doherty, Neves, N'Diaye, Douglas; Cavaleiro (Enobakhare, 61), Bonatini (Price, 75), Jota (Costa, 84). Subs not used: Norris, Hause, Vinagre, Marshall.

Goals: Boly (18), Bonatini (72)

Attendance: 26,554 (1,400 Wolves fans)

Referee: Darren England