After a difficult start to life in the Premier League this season, Wolves went back to basics when they faced Manchester City at Molineux.
Gary O’Neil’s side picked up just one point in the campaign before hosting the champions, with pressure increasing on the manager to earn more.
While Man City aren’t the easiest team to build confidence and momentum against, the home side put any unrest aside early.
In a blistering counterattack, Nelson Semedo picked out an inch-perfect ball to Jorgen Strand Larsen, who poked the ball home for Wolves to lead.
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Daniel Sturridge praises Nelson Semedo assist for Wolves
Playing on the right flank, Semedo was one of the more pertinent threats for Wolves when looking to counterattack Man City.
On one such occasion, the 30-year-old was through on goal when Ederson smothered his effort to put it wide of the post.
However, just before that, the full-back’s delivery was spot on to find Strand Larsen to open the scoring.
Discussing the goal, former Man City striker Daniel Sturridge said on Sky Sports: “The build-up play is very good [for Wolves’ goal] and Nelson Semedo feeds it into the area.
“It’s a positional play. The cross makes the goal as it’s a perfect ball.”
Given the threat of Semedo going forward and the requirement for him to defend well when going back, many supporters will hope to see plenty more from him in the weeks ahead.
Wolves tactical tweak helped in Man City clash
In recent years, it’s been clear that Wolves have struggled to move away from the back five system and the season so far has displayed exactly why.
The Old Gold have shipped far too many goals early on, while the switch to more bodies in defence worked in their favour against Man City.
The champions were given few chances in dangerous areas, with most efforts at goal coming from strikes at range.
It allowed for a stronger defensive base while also giving slightly more freedom to the attacking skillsets of Semedo and Rayan Ait-Nouri on both flanks.
It remains to be seen whether O’Neil will stick with that going into some slightly more favourable games or if it was just for the challenge of Man City.
Either way, the performance was certainly an improvement and one that needs to be built on.