Express & Star

Wolves boss Nuno ahead of Reading clash: We have to play better

Nuno Espirito Santo says Wolves must double their efforts to compete with teams that try twice as hard against the league leaders.

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The Wolves boss – weather permitting – will today hope to engineer an important win over Jaap Stam's Reading at Molineux.

After a week of training in 'tough conditions' the head coach says he's been pleased with the reaction of his players after last weekend's defeat to Fulham.

He said: "Every team that plays against us tries to double their efforts so we have to be on the same page – we have to double ourselves and run more, be more clinical sometimes and manage better the games.

"This is what our process is. We have to grow.

"We have to improve on set pieces, on defensive organisation because we concede more goals than usual.

"The boys are totally focused and wanting to play.

"They're fantastic at taking ideas on board. We cannot allow anything to distract us.

"I'm really pleased (with the reaction). The work is clear, we analyse then we detect where is the problem and we find solutions.

"The players have done what they should do.

"Team spirit, solidarity, being cooperative, communication, all these things are very important.

"It's time to be focused, alert, knowing you have to give more of yourself.

"You cannot think the job is done, in a game or a competition."

Nuno, who revealed that the injured Bright Enobakhare isn't yet ready for a first team return, said his team were ready to play whatever the weather.

"We have to perform better than we did in the last game," he added.

"(It's been) tough conditions but we have to adapt. If we can't go to the pitch we go to the dome (to train).

"The prediction is to be snow and cold so we are ready to play in snow and cold.

"The most important thing is to be ourselves and (remember) the origin of everything, how we started (the season) and repeated over and over again the actions that always allowed us to be dominant and the better team on the pitch.

"Moments of adversity and sadness is the moment that you should organise better your thoughts.

"These moments can happen to every team.

"We have to work more, there's no other solution."