Express & Star

Norwich 3 Wolves 1 - player ratings

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers rates the players after a 3-1 defeat to Norwich.

Published

Carl Ikeme

Blameless for the first goal and later made a great save to deny Jonny Howson. Otherwise it was a quiet afternoon until the 75th minute. There's no doubt it's a dive from Wes Hoolahan for the penalty but Ikeme does give him the option by sticking his leg out. And then in the heat of the moment the keeper reacts in the wrong way, giving Hoolahan another excuse to play up when he pushes him in the chest. The Irishman's antics are pathetic and, sadly, are now treated as being an inevitable/acceptable part of the sport by many, particularly in the Premier League. In a way it's he who should be facing punishment, but it's Ikeme and Wolves who suffer. He'll now miss the Liverpool game. 6/10

Dominic Iorfa

Surprisingly recalled in place of Conor Coady, who was excellent against Villa last week. Iorfa was so impressive in his last appearance at Stoke but he was out of sorts here, getting caught out of position on a few occasions. Got forward well in the first half but otherwise he fell below the standards we know he is capable of. 5/10

Danny Batth

A tidy afternoon for Batth who handled Cameron Jerome better than he did in the reverse fixture. One short backpass put his keeper in trouble in the first half but otherwise Batth had a decent game, continuing his recent good form. 7/10

Richard Stearman

Some important blocks and interceptions and, like Batth, he actually had a fairly quiet afternoon despite Wolves conceding three goals. A mark off for his poor header which led to the opening goal, though. In hindsight he should have put it out for a corner instead of blindly heading to Naismith. 6/10

Matt Doherty

Kept Jacob Murphy quiet and one of his marauding runs forward led to Wolves' penalty. Had no hesitation in donning the gloves. It's a rare sight to see an outfield player go in goal but Doherty fancied his chances between the sticks, even if he did momentarily forget his bearings when later turning up in the Norwich half as a keeper-sweeper. 7/10

Jack Price

An off-day for Price. A number of passes went astray and he and Edwards were put in the shade by the superb Hoolahan and Howson. 5/10

David Edwards

His endless pressing saw him win the ball back on a number of occasions. Went close in the second half with a half-volley at the near post. 6/10

Helder Costa

A couple of moments of quality but otherwise he struggled to impose himself on the game. Did manage to score pretty much the perfect penalty - two keepers in there wouldn't have saved it. His ninth of the season. 6/10

Joe Mason

A decent effort at the end of the first half and a bit of interplay aside, he was fairly anonymous. Withdrawn early in the second half. 5/10

Ivan Cavaleiro

What's happened to him? Very poor in recent weeks after that productive spell in late December. Disinterested at Sheffield Wednesday, underwhelming against Villa and completely ineffective here. Given the hook at half time. Needs to rediscover his mojo. 3/10

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson

Fighting a losing battle for long spells. Good work in the build-up to the penalty but otherwise he was left too isolated. Worked hard for little reward. 6/10

Substitutes

Andreas Weimann (for Cavaleiro, 45)

A couple of nice flashes here and there. Moved the ball quickly and showed a decent turn of pace. Also helped out defensively, particularly after Ikeme's red. 6/10

Bright Enobakhare (for Mason, 58)

Plenty of running but little end produce. 5/10

Nouha Dicko (for Bodvarsson, 66)

As with Enobakhare, he looked to stretch the Norwich defence but nothing really came off. 5/10

Subs not used: Burgoyne, Coady, Saville, Evans.

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