Wolves chairman Jeff Shi on Aston Villa defeat: "It was just one game"

The gap to third place was cut to seven points by West Midlands rivals Villa as Wolves capitulated with a poor second half performance at Villa Park.

However Shi is confident Wolves can soon get over the defeat.

"It's just one game," he said. "We're still on top of the league and still a big gap clear of third.

"We're going through a tough period, the other teams keep on winning, but we're still ahead of them which shows we've done a very good job over the whole season.

"I don't think one game will impact on us. I chatted with Nuno and he's very calm because we know what we're doing.

"The progress in the most important thing – sometimes we'll have a bad day and we must say we had two penalties denied and their second goal was perhaps offside – but over 46 games the season will fairly reflect who is the best team.

"We are not the best team yet. The only time to judge is at the end of the season, but I can say with 100 per cent confidence we're are the most improved team in the league.

"Football is a very emotional game and one result will change the mindset of a fan very quickly.

"But as the management of the club we're very cool-headed. We know what's happening in the club and we're confident and positive of our direction and our strategy.

"One thing Nuno told me that's very important is that we're building a team, we're building a club.

"We're not gambling a promotion or thinking it's just a season to go up. We're building a team.

"Of course we want promotion but in the meantime we're preparing for our long term future."

Head coach Nuno has guided Wolves to the top of the table and within touching distance of the Premier League.

Shi said he and Nuno, plus sporting director Kevin Thelwell and managing director Laurie Dalrymple, were all on the same page.

"Nuno is my choice!" he said. "He is a fantastic head coach. I was not in the football industry two years ago, but I know how to manage an organisation and top it with leadership.

"What I'm lacking is the know-how about football, so Nuno is a very good partner of me.

"Every team has to have a strong identity, how to get players to suit that identity and how to build a team for long success with a mix of young and old players. And what's the right way to build a strong formation.

"You can see in the season our recruitment and training are much better than last year.

"Nuno is key because he has a very clear mindset about how to build a team.

"It makes my job, Laurie's job and Kevin's job clearer because we know how to support him.

"If all the key guys work together and share the same view about what we want to achieve. The chemistry is being built.

"We know sooner or later we'll have success because we're in the same direction.

"Nuno has strength in football, I have strength in investment and management, Kevin has strength on the recruitment and academy and Laurie has strength of the commercial side.

"We are confident we will be successful.

"That's the difference from last season. We were trying to find the right coach, I'm not saying who is a better coach but the right one who can work with us for a long time.

"It's about the chemistry. Nuno is a guy I'm so comfortable to work with. He's taught me a lot about football."