Wolves managed to get their first win of the season against Southampton and arguably, the international break has come at the wrong time for Gary O’Neil.
Wolves are now unbeaten in their last three Premier League games, and have responded fairly well to that very damaging 5-3 defeat to Brentford.
Key to the win against the Saints at Molineux was the performance of Matheus Cunha, who has been Wolves’ star man this season.
The Brazilian made a lovely assist for Pablo Sarabia to open to scoring, before firing in a brilliant strike in the second-half.
Cunha operating from the left side has been working well this term, and Dave Edwards believes his partnership with Rayan Ait-Nouri is starting to blossom.
Dave Edwards enthused by Ait-Nouri and Cunha partnership for Wolves
This season, Cunha has mainly operated from the left side following the arrival of Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Strand Larsen is a natural number nine and the Norwegian is better occupying those central areas.
Cunha has played as a left winger for the most part, but does obviously come inside to support Strand Larsen.
Former Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards has enjoyed Cunha in this role. Edwards said Cunha’s display against Southampton was one of the best ever from a Wolves player.
Edwards is also really enthused by his link-up with Rayan Ait-Nouri. He said on the Official Wolves podcast: “I think the relationship he’s forming on that left side with Rayan Ait-Nouri is brilliant.
“Because Cunha likes to operate in that left pocket of space right on the left wing, and him and Ait-Nouri dovetail so well. Ait-Nouri will go inside a lot of the time and it gives Cunha more freedom.
“I think that relationship is so key to them going forward.”
Wolves must get the ball to their left side
Edwards’ sentiments about Cunha and Ait-Nouri will be shared by many Wolves fans.
Cunha is Wolves’ best player these days and there is an argument for £9.5m signing Ait-Nouri being the second-best. He’s certainly up there as one of the best.
Therefore, Wolves need to be getting the ball out to that left side as often as possible, because these two are capable of doing a lot of damage together.
So far this term, Wolves have scored 20 goals across all competitions and Ait-Nouri and Cunha have provided 12 goal contributions between them. So the pair have been involved in 60% of all Wolves goals this season.
Both players are mavericks and have the potential to do special things and it’s good to see them building their connection.
At the moment, the left side is probably the strongest area of the team for Wolves and the players have got to bring Ait-Nouri and Cunha into games as much as possible.