Shropshire Star

Hull City 2 Wolves 3 – Report and pictures

Goals from Ruben Neves, Diogo Jota and Nouha Dicko saw Wolves extend their winning run with a 3-2 victory at Hull.

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Ruben Neves celebrates his wondergoal (© AMA / Sam Bagnall)

Neves scored a stunning 30-yarder to open the scoring in the sixth minute before Michael Dawson equalised from a corner.

After superb work from Bright Enobakhare Wolves' were back in front by half time when Jota tapped home.

Hull hit the bar as they ramped up the pressure late on but substitute Dicko sealed the three points in the last minute, meaning a very late stoppage time penalty from David Meyler was irrelevant.

Analysis

Edge past Middlesbrough? Not bad. Convincingly beat Derby? That's quite impressive. Win both of those games and then go to Hull a few days later, come under big pressure and win yet again? Right okay, I think Wolves might be on to something here.

Nuno Espirito Santo's team travelled to Hull and back and returned with all three points to continue their perfect start to the season, writes Tim Spiers at the KCOM Stadium.

They did so thanks to two moments of pure brilliant from Ruben Neves and Bright Enobakhare, the former unleashing a 30-yard stunner and the latter once again adding end product to his raw genius when setting up Diogo Jota.

That's indicative of some of the level of quality Wolves are producing in the early days of Nuno's reign.

But more impressive here was the second half rearguard action that denied Hull, a team considered among the promotion favourites who spanked Burton 4-1 here on Saturday, an equalising goal.

Make no mistake, Wolves came under severe pressure from a very decent Hull side. In years past they'd have crumbled, without a shadow of a doubt.

But there's something different at play here. Wolves, from back to front, look very well equipped to make a big impact in this division.

And, while the explosive football and moments of sheer artistry have got their supporters rubbing their eyes in disbelief, it's the defensive rigidity and discipline that bodes so well for the season ahead, starting at Molineux on Saturday when Cardiff are the visitors for an early-season top-two showdown.

'Bring it on' will be the message from Wolves. Nothing is phasing them right now.

Match report

On a sunny midsummer evening Nuno had the luxury of naming the same XI for the third successive league game, meaning Ivan Cavaleiro again had to settle for a place on the bench.

He was joined by Jordan Graham who, having being left out the squad at Derby came in for Connor Ronan.

Hull also named an unchanged side from the team that beat Burton 4-1 at the KCOM on Saturday. Abel Hernandez scored a hat-trick in that game and he partnered Fraizer Campbell up front.

Hernadez began the game in confident mood, testing John Ruddy after just 15 seconds with a low effort from 18 yards.

In fact the Tigers made the better start with Willy Boly having to deny a certain goal when just reaching Kamil Grosicki's pull-back ahead of the stretching Hernandez after the winger got around the back of Roderick Miranda.

But Wolves were in front after just six minutes – in the most spectacular way imaginable. Ruben Neves picked the ball up fully 30 yards from goal, set his sights, and planted the ball into the corner for what will be one of the goals of the Championship season.

It seemed to shake Hull who struggled to keep possession and Wolves almost doubled their lead when a Neves corner to the back stick was somehow headed over by Miranda who got under the ball just a yard from goal.

The wing backs Matt Doherty and Barry Douglas were causing the hosts problems and a final ball was all that was lacking.

Wolves were looking vulnerable from set pieces though – and that's where Hull's equaliser came from.

Seconds after Douglas had cleared off the line from a flag kick, a short corner from the left was whipped in, Ruddy missed it with Hernandez pressurising, Neves cleared off the line but there was Michael Dawson to head home.

It looked like it would be an uncomfortable end to the half...but another moment of brilliance saw them retake the lead. Bright Enobakhare stormed past Max Clark down the right flank, got to the byline and played across goal where Jota slammed home from close range.

Wolves hadn't reached the scintillating levels of football they'd produced at Derby but it was effective enough.

In the second half though, with perhaps fatigue a factor for both sides, it descended into a scrappy affair. Romain Saiss, Neves and Jota were all deservedly booked for over-zealous challenges and Wolves struggled to make headway.

They were very nearly pegged back when Campbell barged his way through the Wolves backline and drew a superb save from Ruddy.

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And then the hosts were just inches from an equaliser when a Hernandez header bounced off the crossbar with Ruddy beaten.

Wolves were winning fewer 50/50s and the home crowd lifted the volume levels with Nuno's team on the ropes in what was becoming a stern test of their defensive credentials.

Boly crucially headed a cross behind with Hernandez waiting. And in the process the striker was hurt, leading to a six-minute stoppage that quelled Wolves' moment.

The visitors took full advantage, sealing the deal when substitutes Ivan Cavaleiro and Nouha Dicko combined with the former sending the latter clean through and he made no mistake to send the away end into raptures.

Hull managed to pull one back in the 99th minute, owing to a long stoppage when Hernandez was injured, via a David Meyler penalty when Doherty was judged to have fouled Max Clark, but it was too little too late for the Tigers.

Key moments

4 – Willy Boly saves a certain goal when blocked ahead of Abel Hernandez.

6 - GOAL - Ruben Neves lashes a thunderbolt into the top corner from all of 30 yards.

16 – Should be 2-0 but Roderick Miranda heads Neves' corner over the bar.

27 - GOAL - Michael Dawson heads home after Wolves fail to deal with a corner.

43 – GOAL – Bright Enobakhare dances down the right flank and crosses for Diogo Jota to slam into the net.

65 – Fraizer Campbell is through but Ruddy denies him with a strong diving save.

71 – Hernandez heads against the bar from a Hull corner.

90 – GOAL – Ivan Cavaleiro plays Nouha Dicko through on goal and he coolly beats Allan McGregor.

99 – GOALDavid Meyler scores from the spot after Doherty is judged to have fouled Clark.

Line ups

Hull (4-4-2): McGregor; Aina, Dawson (c), Hector, Clark; Bowen (Larsson, 60), Henriksen, Clucas, Grosicki; Campbell (Diomande, 76), Hernandez (Meyler, 86). Subs: Mannion, Mazuch, Weir, Lenihan.

Goals: Dawson (27), Meyler (99)

Wolves (3-4-3): John Ruddy; Miranda, Coady (c), Boly; Doherty, Saiss, Neves, Douglas; Enobakhare (Cavaleiro, 60) , Bonatini (Dicko, 75), Jota (Bennett, 85). Subs: Norris, Batth, Price, Graham.

Goals: Neves (6), Jota (43), Dicko (90)

Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire)