Back to winning ways ; Nuno dares to make changes and succeeds

The Wolves Coach Nuno Esperito Santos is an excellent tactician.  He does not like interviews and whenever he makes a committment, he really sticks to it.

So this last weekend, he gave the No. 1 goalkeeper slot to John Ruddy, one of my favourite players and big John obliged with a clean sheet against a rather lacklustre Cardiff front 2.

In addition, Nuno made major changes to the team for the first time in this Premier League season giving starting places to 4 other not first teamers and Boy, did they take the opportunity with both legs ! Let me elaborate :

a) Reuben Vinagre for Johnny Otto ; the Portuguese under 21 was a revelation in the left wingback position, and he had 2 good attempts at goal saved by the Cardiff custodian Neil Etheridge. All in all, he played a sterling game and was never caught off the ball.

b) Adama Traore for Matt Doherty ; this guy finally showed the world what he was capable of, his surging runs made life hell for the Cardiff back 4 especially Bennett and he has the pace, the talent and the brute strength just to run Cardiff's defence ragged. All he lacked was the final product of getting the ball to the back of the net.

c) Romain Saiss for Reuben Neves ; the G'affar showed everyone he was in charge by benching the talisman for poor performances the last 2 games and putting on the Moroccan hardman, Saiss. A very solid and determined defender, Saiss stopped everything coming along his way and never once let the other 3 defenders down. My personal Man of the Match.

d) Morgan Gibbs White for Joao Mouthino ;; this wunderkind has electric pace and was in and out of every midfield battle. Though he is light of build, his pace and through passes especially the lead up to the first goal were exceptional. He will surely be an England international soon.