Dawson says Jimenez should have started for Wolves vs Palace

Crystal Palace have beaten Wolves 2-0 at Molineux and completed the Premier League double over Bruno Lage’s men.

Lage went into the game with a 3-4-3 system, giving Pedro Neto his first start since his return from injury.

But that meant there was no place once again for Raul Jimenez, with Daniel Podence preferred up front.

Sky Sports pundit Michael Dawson was watching the game for Soccer Saturday and was critical of Lage’s tactics and lack of half-time changes.

“I was just surprised at half time Wolves didn’t make any substitutions. They couldn’t have been as bad as they were in the first half,” said Dawson.

When asked if he understood the way Wolves lined up from the start, he replied: “No. Not in the slightest. Hwang one side, Neto on the other, Podence through the middle.

“There’s no outlet for the defenders. How do you play up to the big man? Podence can’t do that. When you’ve got Jimenez, I’m surprised he waited until 60 minutes.

“As good as they’ve been this season, that was a concerning first half. They had a go in the second half, they had to.”

It is fair to say that Lage’s tactics did not work as Wolves were utterly outplayed in the first half and put in an abject display.

Whether that is all down to the lack of Jimenez and use of Podence up front is up for debate but his changes did not get a reaction from his side.

It is now three losses in a row against London sides now and Wolves need to find some form and quickly to maintain their European challenge.

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