Express & Star

Wolves 1 Burnley 0 – player ratings

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers rates the players after a 1-0 win over Burnley.

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Rui Patricio

More redundant than Lewis Hamilton in a modesty competition. Had absolutely zilch to do bar saving a dribbling, pitiful shot in the second half. The easiest clean sheet he'll earn all season. 6/10

Ryan Bennett

Continued his excellent start to the season with a faultless performance, not that he had a huge amount to do. One important header in the first half to take a Lennon cross away from Vokes. 7/10

Conor Coady

Almost set up Doherty with a searching pass over the top that Hart collected. Some decent balls out from the back and some good covering when needed. 7/10

Willy Boly

Calm, assured and steady. Kept his passing simple and nearly scored with a 15-yard volley that dipped just over the bar. An improvement on his last display at West Ham. 7/10

Matt Doherty

Magnificent for the second game in a row. Anyone who doubts if he is a Premier League player should watch a tape of this match. Make no mistake, he can cut it in the top flight. One assist, almost one goal (he admitted afterwards he should have scored), a sequence of marauding and searching runs, some tidy link-up play and some very solid defensive work meaning Gudmundsson didn't get a sniff all afternoon. Martin O'Neill doesn't think he gets to the byline enough...as a fellow glasses wearer I would respectively suggest you get yourself down to Specsavers, Martin. 9/10

Joao Moutinho

Exerts more control than a seasoned dominatrix. Burnley foolishly gave him room to express himself and he did just that, with Moutinho and Neves quickly getting a stranglehold on the midfield battle. Oozes class, drips with panache and reeks of quality. What a guy. 8/10

Ruben Neves

See above. These pair match each other better than red wine and fillet steak...they're the most creative duo since Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter. Neves looked extremely comfortable out there and produced a couple of sultry passes which had the crowd moaning like it was after the watershed. Defensively much better than against West Ham too. 8/10

Jonny Castro Otto

A constant positive presence buzzing up and down that left flank. This was exactly the type of all-action display you'd want from your wing back, full of effective runs, smart link-up play and defensive solidity. Aaron Lennon barely saw the byline all afternoon. It seemed Otto was being brought in as a steady defensive addition but his game is about so much more than that. Mirrored Doherty's excellence and could have got himself on the scoresheet a couple of times too. Very, very good. 9/10

Helder Costa

Everything but the finishing touch for Costa who gave Burnley a headache with his jinking runs and rapid movement but lacked that killer cross or shot. Played his part in the goal when feeding Doherty but soon after his last touch was a ballooned free 15 yard shot when a touch of composure could have sealed the win. However overall he helped get Wolves on the attack on numerous occasions. 7/10

Raul Jimenez

Link up play? Check. Work rate? Check. Good in the air? Check. A match-winning goal? Check. Sure, Jimenez could have scored a couple more but his overall contribution cannot be underestimated. Like Bonatini was doing a year ago, Jimenez unlocks the doors for the likes of Jota, Costa and Traore to open. It was pleasing for him to find the target in the game after that dreadful miss at West Ham. If Wolves keep creating these chances he'll reach double figures this season, for sure. 8/10

Diogo Jota

Like a few others he improved on his recent displays. On another day he'd have bagged a couple of assists but one pass to Jimenez when the goal was gaping wasn't in the Mexican's path. Looked more confident and positive and almost the Jota of old. 7/10

Substitutes

Adama Traore (for Costa, 66)

Pure box office. A buzz goes around the ground whenever Traore is in possession. Joined in the fun with a decent effort from a tight angle which Hart saved and then he created two good opportunities for Bonatini. Outside the usual top six if there's a more effective substitute to bring on with 60 minutes gone, I'd like to see him. 7/10

Leo Bonatini (for Jimenez, 76)

Denied by Tarkowski who cleared off the line from a decent effort on the turn. Should have scored when Traore crossed to him in the dying seconds. 6/10

Morgan Gibbs-White (for Jota, 87)

No time to make an impact. N/A

Subs not used: Ruddy, Hause, Saiss, Vinagre.