Wolves finally ended their miserable start to the season with a hard-fought 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Everton at Molineux.
Marshall Munetsi opened the scoring before Tolu Arokodare came off the bench to add a second, helping the Old Gold progress to the fourth round of the competition.
Manager Vitor Pereira made several changes to his side for the cup match, handing recalls to Sam Johnstone, Matt Doherty, and Santiago Bueno.
The shake-up underlines Pereira’s search for a winning formula after Wolves’ dismal start to the season.
Meanwhile, Everton came into this clash having dominated recent encounters with the Old Gold, including a 3-2 win at Molineux last month.
As reported, Tyler Dibling also made his first start for his new club against Wolves.
Wolves player ratings vs Everton
Sam Johnstone – 7
Came in for the underperforming Jose Sa and impressed the Molineux faithful with his quick reflexes. Johnstone’s solid outing could earn him a starting spot in the next Premier League match against Tottenham Hotspur.
Matt Doherty – 6
Doherty slotted back in at right-back and brought some much-needed experience to the backline. Dealt with Everton’s pacey front line with his excellent positioning and is in line for a start against Spurs, even if Pereira returns to a back-five.
Santiago Bueno – 6
Like Doherty, it was imperative that Bueno was recalled to the starting lineup. Won the majority of his duels against Thierno Barry and played out from the back with composure.
Ladislav Krejci – 8
Krejci has had a dream start to life in the West Midlands, impressing on first start against Newcastle United and his first showing in front of the Molineux crowd. In this encounter, the 26-year-old was deployed as a central defender and the versatile player continued his fine form.
Krejci played a vital role in the goal, lofting a sublime pass into the path of Arias. Wolves’ latest recruit was also solid at the back, making numerous key interceptions and tackles.
Hugo Bueno – 6
Bueno returned to his natural position at left-back, despite impressing on the other flank against Newcastle. The Spaniard looked more comfortable on the left-hand side and came out on top in his duels against Dibling and McNeil.
Jhon Arias – 7
Arias has struggled to adapt to life in the Premier League, but put in a much better display against a rotated Toffees side. The forward was tidy in possession and played a crucial role in the opener, unleashing a powerful effort at goal that was eventually turned in by Munetsi.
While the Molineux faithful will want Arias to perform on a more consistent basis, this was a step in the right direction.
Andre – 7
Andre dominated the midfield area on his return to the team. The Brazilian performed at a much better level compared to recent weeks and Pereira will consider starting him alongside Joao Gomes against Spurs.
Marshall Munetsi – 7
Munetsi was also brought back into the starting team, with the manager listening to the advice of former player Dave Edwards, who insisted that the £16 million signing must feature in a 3-4-3. However, Pereira adopted a much more fluid system, which saw Munetsi play just off Larsen.
The January recruit found the back of the net with a composed finish, after Mark Travers made a great save to deny Arias.
Jean Ricner-Bellegarde – 5
Bellegarde was one of the only players to keep his place in the starting lineup, following the 3-1 defeat to Leeds. The versatile player started the match on the left, but frequently rotated with Arias during the contest.
However, Bellegarde was unable to have a meaningful impact on the game with his final ball often failing to find its intended target.
Hwang Hee-Chan – 5
Hwang struggled to impose himself against a weakened Everton side and will likely return to the bench this weekend. The forward, who began the game on the left, was loose in possession and rarely tested Travers.
Jorgen Strand Larsen – 7
Strand Larsen made his first start after coming back from injury and looked back to his best. The Norwegian’s actions were sharp and he linked play effectively.
While his influence dipped in the second period, there were still plenty of encouraging signs to take from his performance.
Substitutes
Rodrigo Gomes – 6
Came on for Hwang in the late stages of the match and played in a more advanced role on the right flank.
Tolu Arokodare – 7
Arokodare replaced Larsen with 20 minutes of the match remaining and opened his Wolves account with a delicate chip to double the hosts’ advantage.
Toti Gomes – 6
Toti was introduced with 10 minutes left as Pereira switched to a back five.
Joao Gomes – 7
Gomes came on to help see out the victory and add fresh legs in midfield. The 24-year-old also grabbed an assist, setting up Arokodare with a fine pass.
Emmanuel Agbadou – 6
Came on in the dying moments.