It is always tempting to read too much into opening matches but if you were a Wolves fan you would have left Molineux on this bright summer’s afternoon dreaming of what might be to come.
A solitary goal from the Brazilian forward Leo Bonatini was enough to decide a highly competitive encounter between two teams tipped to challenge for promotion to the Premier League this season.
The two new managers, Nuno Espírito Santo and Garry Monk – with 13 debutants on the pitch at kick-off – claimed their teams were a work in progress. But it was the home side who showed more verve and determination, with the visitors seeming slightly disjointed.
“It’s not the result we were hoping for but it’s the first game, the season opener and it’s always difficult,” Monk said after the match. “In the first half they were the better team and we made very simple mistakes with the ball and one led to a goal which is unfortunate.
“In the second half we were the better team. We upped our urgency, moved the ball quicker, especially in the last 25 minutes. We had the best chances in the game. We should have had a goal or two. We deserved something from the match but look, it’s the first game, there are many, many more to come.”
A capacity crowd of 29,692 welcomed Wolves, their new manager, their record transfer midfielder Rúben Neves, the on-loan Atlético Madrid winger Diogo Jota and five others. For Boro there was a new attacking focal point in Britt Assombalonga, while Jonny Howson and full-back Cyrus Christie had also come in for big fees.
After a stirring show of support from the home supporters for the Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme, who is fighting leukaemia, the match began in highly competitive spirit with both teams attempting to assert their style of play on the match. Wolves tried to work sharp passing triangles through their forward line of Bonatini, Jota and the academy graduate Bright Enobakhare. Boro were content to stay compact, strong in the challenge and looking to release Assombalonga directly.
With both teams trying to apply a plan, it will probably have surprised no one that the opening goal came from a mistake. In the 31st minute and under minimal pressure, Boro’s centre-back Daniel Ayala looked to play a simple ball across his back line only for Bonatini to seize on it, stroll into the area and slot the ball low past Darren Randolph for a goal on his debut.
Boro should have equalised before half-time with a chance Monk was particularly aggrieved by: a Christie cross that was wasted miserably by the £9m signing Martin Braithwaite, his weak header dropping wide of the far post.
That chance apart, the goal had only served to give Wolves greater confidence. For all the big money signings, play was flowing through wing-backs Matt Doherty and Barry Douglas, while Enobakhare was the brightest spark going forward. The fans, meanwhile were trying out a number of chants for their new manager, and talked him into giving them a wave.
The pattern continued in the second half, with Enobakhare and Doherty causing George Friend no end of bother. Boro were increasingly reliant on set pieces to create any kind of opening.
Both sides looked to shake things up, with Wolves bringing on fans’ favourite Nouha Dicko for Bonatini, while Boro brought Patrick Bamford into the mix for Ashley Fletcher. Bamford’s moment came shortly after his arrival when John Ruddy’s half clearance fell to him outside the area. The former Chelsea striker went for the volley and completely missed the ball.
Then, in the 72nd minute, Boro had their best chance of the match and it fell to Assombalonga. Timing his run perfectly behind a retreating Wolves back line, he read Bamford’s pass. He fired a low shot to the far post but Ruddy dropped low to tip it wide.
“It was a tough game‚” Nuno said after the final whistle. “A tough game but a good game. We had a very good first half when we controlled the game and we did not suffer too much in the second. We were facing a good squad but we were organised as a defence at the right moments.
“I said last week we were ready. But we are still not the final project. This is the line we want from the boys, always progress.
“Every day is a chance to learn. It is about us, building an idea, building a team, a strong squad. So that no matter who we face we will always be Wolves.”
