Express & Star

Sheffield Wednesday 0 Wolves 1 – player ratings

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers rates the players after a 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday

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John Ruddy

Yet another quite game for the experienced custodian who made only one save (that two in three matches now) but did get unnecessarily flappy for a Sheffield Wednesday free kick which was bundled wide. 6/10

Ryan Bennett

A solid game which began at centre half and ended at right wing back, a position he excelled in against Manchester City in the Carabao Cup and again proved here that he can do a job, albeit one with limited attacking assistance. Solid enough defensively but what on earth was he doing just before half time when needlessly becoming embroiled in a running battle with Jordan Rhodes that on another day would have seen him red carded. 7/10

Conor Coady

So assured, so composed, so commanding. Barely put a foot wrong. Surely having the season of his career. 8/10

Willy Boly

Wolves with Boly – played 13, win percentage 76, goals conceded six. Wolves without Boly – played nine, win percentage 66, goals conceded 11. The stats don't lie – Wolves are a better team with Boly that without. He's a colossus. Gave the ball away too frequently here but as Nuno said after his excellent clearance under his own bar was as important at Neves' winning goal. 8/10

Matt Doherty

Almost unbeatable down that right flank which, as so often this season, he owned. Made a couple of surging runs forward but Doherty was more of a right back than at any point this season. Coped with a switch to the left wing with the minimal of fuss, as you'd expect. 7/10

Romain Saiss

Not his best game. Gave away the ball too often and was also suspect positionally, particularly in the first half. 6/10

Ruben Neves

He and Saiss found it tough at times against David Jones and but Neves was so sensible in possession yet again, hitting a pass accuracy of 90 per cent (bettered only by Coady with a remarkable 93 per cent). Curiously only twice have Wolves failed to sell out an away allocation this season and on both occasions (Hull away being the other) Neves has scored, with the strikes being his only goals to date. Both have been sensational but while the Hull goal was a piledriver this was almost unique, certainly in this division (how many Championship players would even think to strike the ball as Neves did?). He gently caressed a 20-yard pass into the bottom corner with such style it wouldn't have looked out of place in Paris Fashion Week. The midfielder does beautiful things with a football and treats it with such care. Mrs Neves is a lucky woman. 7/10

Ruben Vinagre

A rare chance to impress owing to Barry Douglas' injury absence but he didn't really take it. Wednesday targeted him down their right flank and Vinagre struggled to cope in the early stages. Improved as the half went on and then was sacrificed in the second half when Nuno wanted extra physicality in Wolves' defence. 6/10

Ivan Cavaleiro

Wolves' front three were pretty lacklustre and Cavaleiro, a couple of bright moments aside, wasn't on his game, although being fouled every five minutes didn't help. 6/10

Leo Bonatini

Battled on with a shoulder injury until he was replaced for the final 18 minutes. One shot on the turn, after he mis-kicked his first attempt, rolled just wide but otherwise Bonatini was very quiet. Is fatigue starting to take its toll? 6/10

Diogo Jota

As with Bonatini he looks a little jaded. Needs to take advantage of the full week off now ahead of the busy festive period. 6/10

Substitutes

Danny Batth (for Vinagre, 67)

Made his first appearance since October 28 as Nuno reacted to the Owls sending two target men on by adding some physicality of his own in Batth. The club captain had a couple of jittery moments but helped Wolves see the game through. 7/10

Helder Costa (for Bonatini, 72)

A bright cameo with a couple of searching runs forwards including the one which ended with Morgan Fox losing patience with Costa and earning a second booking. With Wolves short of a creative spark in their past two games it's time for Costa to start. 7/10

Alfred N'Diaye (for Cavaleiro, 91)

N/A

Subs not used: Norris, Miranda, Gibbs-White, Enobakhare.