Wolves are currently navigating their way through some choppy waters with key players out injured – and there’s one star who is now one yellow card away from a very unneeded two-game.
Gary O’Neil took his side to Turf Moor on Tuesday night, and managed a 1-1 draw.
It was a slight missed opportunity, but also not the worst result considering key players were missing and the fact Burnley took the lead in the game.
Rayan Ait-Nouri got the equaliser for Wolves on the stroke of half-time, and also had a very good chance to get a second in the second-half, but couldn’t convert.
It was a hard-fought game from Wolves and O’Neil was pleased with the effort of his players considering how stretched the squad is at the moment.
And it could soon get even more stretched because Nelson Semedo is now one yellow card away from a two-game ban…
Nelson Semedo walking a tightrope for Wolves after picking up ninth yellow card against Burnley
Semedo has had an outstanding season for Wolves.
The Portugal international is undoubtedly in the best form of his Molineux career right now, and is firmly established at right wing-back. O’Neil has regularly praised him, and it’s very clear how highly the manager rates him. Just recently, he branded the way the full-back works as ‘incredible’.
But Semedo will now be a source of concern for O’Neil, because he got booked against Burnley.
He was shown a yellow card for time-wasting in the 54th minute, which was avoidable and therefore frustrating.
That was Semedo’s ninth caution in the Premier League and he is now walking the tightrope. If he receives one more yellow card, then he will be banned for two games.
But, if he can make it past Wolves’ 32nd game of the season against Nottingham Forest without getting booked, the threat of that two-game ban is no more.
Another Wolves player who needs to be a bit careful is Mario Lemina, who is on eight yellow cards. He would have to get booked against both West Ham United and Forest to get a two-game ban.
Semedo must be careful, losing him would be a major blow
Semedo must now be very careful over the next two games, because O’Neil and Wolves would be pained to lose him for two games.
He has been extremely consistent this season, to the point where he is now surely one of the Premier League’s best right-sided defenders.
The £29 million star has been tremendous for Wolves so to lose him for two games would be a serious blow, because there is quite a drop-off in quality with Matt Doherty.
Against West Ham and Forest, he must make sure he gets on with the game as quickly as possible and also try to avoid situations where he’d have to make cynical fouls. It may not be possible, but with a bit of luck maybe he’ll come through.