Paul Lambert lauds 'outstanding' Wolves

Nouha Dicko scored the game's only goal when he latched onto Ben Marshall's pass to beat Rob Green just before half time.

Wolves came under pressure after the break but Andy Lonergan only had one save of note to make, with the recalled Mike Williamson and Richard Stearman both impressing.

Lambert said: "It's huge for us. I thought we started the game really well, it set the whole tone of the game.

"We were brilliant, we should have been 3-0 up at half time. We took the sting out of the crowd and played really well and looked a threat.

"Second half, you expect them to come with long balls and second balls. But overall the performance was outstanding. It's a big win to come here.

"Maybe the lads were alright but I was under stress! Kortney (Hause) came on with a brilliant clearance. They were getting too many crosses in, so I put Kortney on as an extra defender (five minutes from time). There was a world class clearance from Kortney."

Marshall's pass for the goal was pinpoint, while Andreas Weimann also impressed after being restored up front in a 4-4-2 formation.

Lambert said he hadn't wanted to play the Austrian on the right in Wolves' last three games, but was forced to do so because of Helder Costa's ankle injury.

"Marshall and Weimann have made a difference, they've been brilliant," he said of his January signings.

"The thing is with them, they're talented footballers, they're robust, they can play Saturday-Tuesday every time barring injury, you know exactly what you're going to get.

"I trust them 100 per cent to go and perform.

"I think we lose a bit when Andi plays on the right, I'd spoken to him a couple of games ago and said he needed to do a job there, it's not ideal because I don't want to play him there. He was a massive asset the way he played today.

"Ben's always effective on the left but today I thought Ben was excellent on the right."

Wolves can now start to plan for next season. And Lambert pointedly warned against any repeat of the glut of signings that arrived last summer.

"One thing I know 100 per cent, what happened here in the summer can't happen again, that's what I know," he said.

"You cannot influx 12 or 13 people who just turn up and don't really know the division, or haven't played many games. It's a recipe for disaster.

"Thankfully we stopped it and rectified it. But it needs to be done properly.

"What happened in the summer certainly cannot happen again. I certainly hope it won't.

"We'll do what we can to get lads in that have played a lot of games, that are ready for it, can play in front of big crowds."

Skipper Danny Batth and Portuguese playmaker Ivan Cavaleiro both missed out through injury.

Lambert said of the pair: "Danny hurt his knee against Brighton. Cav hurt his back on Friday.

"I thought Kortney needed a little break and it was the right time for Mike and Stears' experience - they were outstanding. "Big compliment to them two for coming in and playing the way they did."