Bruno Lage said he didn’t agree with Raul Jimenez handing Hwang Hee-chan the penalty in last night’s win over Preston.
Wanderers advanced to the third round of the Carabao Cup after beating the Championship side 2-1 at Molineux.
Jimenez, 31, opened the scoring inside 10 minutes after good work by Rayan Ait-Nouri down the left side.
Adama Traore then scored a brilliant goal, thumping home with his left foot.
Preston pulled one back early in the second-half through Ben Woodburn, which set up a nervy finish.
It perhaps need not have been as tense as it was had Wolves gone three goals to the good.
They had a golden chance to do that just before half-time, when Hwang was bundled over in the penalty area.
The spot-kick was awarded, and the South Korean then took it to most people’s surprise.
It was a very tame effort, with David Cornell saving easily down to his right.
Jimenez is usually the penalty taker for Wolves and after the game, Lage gave his reaction and wasn’t best pleased.
He said (via Express & Star): “Raul is a generous guy and also Hwang needs confidence. But this kind of thing is not for confidence and the guy who should take it is Raul.
“He took a decision to give the penalty to Hwang, but it’s not for that, it’s for the man who is supposed (to take it).
“I know the goals are important for players, but more important for me is the way they perform for the team and not for themselves.
“I understand, but I don’t agree and Raul should take the penalty.”
Wolves get away with it, after Raul Jimenez lets Hwang Hee-chan take penalty against Preston
It was strange to see Jimenez allowing Hwang to take the spot-kick last night.
The Mexican is the designated penalty taker, and was obviously on the pitch at the time.
Jimenez has scored 31 penalties for club and country to date. He has missed just two, his last coming against Sevilla in the 2018/19 season.
The only time designated takers should be passing penalties to teammates is if the game is well and truly out of sight.
The game was not sewn up last night, and arguably Hwang missing then put wind in Preston’s sails.
The intentions were obviously good. And Hwang did score one in pre-season against SC Farense. But the logic just wasn’t there last night and it came across as a bit complacent from Wolves.