Express & Star

Wolves 2 Norwich City 2 – player ratings

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers rates the players after a 2-2 draw against Norwich.

Published

John Ruddy

Ruddy said before the game that he over-analyses all his performances...well the 93rd minute won't make for great viewing today. Oliveira's shot dips viciously and bounces at just the wrong moment (plus the closing down is pitiful) but Ruddy should have saved it, pure and simple. His distribution wasn't great either. Conversely, a great save from Maddison just before the equaliser. He's attracting a lot of criticism from supporters but this guy has been a rock this season and his influence on the team on and off the field shouldn't be underestimated. 5/10

Ryan Bennett

Against his former club he was the pick of the back three. Won loads in the air and made a couple of great tackles in the closing stages. 7/10

Conor Coady

Not his usual self. Ran into a couple of cul-de-sacs and inadvertently put himself in trouble. 6/10

Willy Boly

Like Coady, he allowed the ball to bounce through for a golden Norwich chance with the score at 0-0. Wasn't involved in the action too much thereafter. 6/10

Matt Doherty

Good in the first half when he combined nicely with Costa but after Wolves' formation change his attacking forays lessened. Defensively he did fine. 6/10

Ruben Neves

Oh Ruben. A crunching foul earned a deserved booking and has ruled him out of the big game at Fulham on Saturday, as well as the visit of Reading a week later. How Wolves will miss him. Otherwise he had a decent game, keeping the tempo high where he could, whipping out some filth with a quite frankly illegal manoeuvre when he chipped over two defenders to play in Jota and also playing to Jota for the opener. 7/10

Alfred N'Diaye

After a couple of flat performances he was influential here. If Neves was the steering wheel of this metaphorical Wolves car then N'Diaye was the engine. Bombed around covering both boxes, regularly broke up play and got Wolves on the front foot with some good passes in the final third, plus he popped up with his second goal in three games. Ran himself into the ground and had to be subbed. 8/10

Barry Douglas

Produced his 10th – yes his 10th – assist of the season to draw level with Ivan Cavaleiro at the top of the Championship 'assist league' with a whipped corner onto N'Diaye's head. Also sent a very decent 25-yarder just past the post. Not attacking with as much freedom as he did in the first half of the season. 6/10

Helder Costa

Had a good first half, came up with a couple of almost supernatural moments of pure skill and had the beating of his man...then was taken off at half time in a tactical reshuffle. Strange. At least he'll be fresh for Saturday. 7/10

Diogo Jota

A wonderful spin and driving run for the opening goal. Otherwise he wasn't quite himself, again. A low key second half. 6/10

Ivan Cavaleiro

Looked absolutely gutted to be withdrawn on the hour mark and his disappointment was justified. Not at his best but was still creative and dangerous. Seconds before being taken off he'd sent a superb come-and-get-me ball right across the face of goal. 7/10

Substitutes

Romain Saiss (for Costa, 45)

Looked uncomfortable in an unorthodox floating position in midfield. Never confident on the ball in the opposition third and his passing was a little off. Needed to close down Oliveira quicker for the equaliser. 6/10

Benik Afobe (for Cavaleiro, 60)

Not Afobe's night. A thankless task with limited service but he just didn't really get into the game. Went looking for the ball when he needed it to come to him. 5/10

Morgan Gibbs-White (for N'Diaye, 69)

His best performance in a Wolves shirt. Had a big, positive influence on the game in the final 20 minutes. Constantly looked for the ball and when he received it he'd get his head up and recycle possession quickly, always moving forward. Did everything right bar the finish when racing through on goal. And he should have done better with the ball near the corner flag in injury time. However it feels churlish to knock a kid who is not only holding his own in one of the best second tier teams seen in years, but also improving it and thriving in it. What a success story Gibbs-White has been since the turn of the year. 8/10

Subs not used: Norris, Batth, Miranda, Bonatini.