Wolves have moved up to eighth in the Premier League table after a 1-0 win over Sheffield United – and pundit Ashley Williams noted the contributions of two players in particular on Match of the Day 2.
Gary O’Neil‘s side continued their brilliant season on Sunday, edging out the Blades at Molineux.
Wolves started really brightly and took the lead through Pablo Sarabia, who glanced in a great cross from Rayan Ait-Nouri.
Wolves couldn’t really build on their first-half display, with nerves seemingly affecting the players in the second-half. There was a real sloppiness about Wolves’ play, which was a surprise given the confident start.
But Wolves held out for three huge points, and Williams believes Craig Dawson and Mario Lemina really played their parts…
Ashley Williams praises Craig Dawson and Mario Lemina as Wolves beat Sheffield United
Williams appeared on Match of the Day 2 last night and sang the praises of Wolves and what Gary O’Neil has done this season.
While this was not an amazing performance, it was three more points and Wolves now up to eighth in the table, which is nothing short of miraculous considering the chaos of the summer.
Wolves had to be solid at the back in that second-half, and Williams acknowledged the performance of Lemina and Dawson.
He said, while analysing a chance for Pedro Neto in the first-half: “I like this one, this is Lemina who was brilliant on the day, two strong tackles, he shows his desire. We’ve highlighted Neto – his first thought is to go forward, run into the space. That is a great 60 or 70-yard ball from Lemina. It doesn’t come off in the end, but it showed what Wolves were all about.”
On Dawson, he added: “They play some good football. As he (Gary O’Neil) said today, it wasn’t champagne football. They had to dig in a little bit in the second-half. I thought Craig Dawson was excellent defending his box. But that’s what it takes to win games in the Premier League sometimes.”
Dawson and Lemina have been game-changers for Wolves
Dawson and Lemina were both pretty good on the whole on Sunday, although they – like pretty much every player – were guilty of sloppiness at times in that second-half.
But Wolves fans know full well how important this duo is to the team.
Dawson, who cost just £3.3 million, and Lemina, just £10 million, are easily two of the most important signings the club have made in recent history.
Both joined in the January 2023 window and had they not arrived when they did, Wolves may well have been relegated to the Championship – they were both that influential in the second half of last season.
They’ve continued to absolutely shine this term, and they both just make Wolves a much stronger, more competitive outfit.