Wolves have got their first point in the Premier League, drawing 1-1 against Nottingham Forest.
Gary O’Neil started with defeats against Arsenal and Chelsea, with the 6-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge particularly chastening.
But Wolves got a good result against Burnley in the Carabao Cup in midweek, winning 2-0. That was much needed after the loss to Chelsea, and it paved the way for a point against Forest.
It was a good defensive effort from Wolves and also a good response after going a goal down to Chris Wood.
Debutant Sam Johnstone gave a good account of himself, and he now seems set to take over from Jose Sa, who was left out of the squad after an unsettling past few days amid transfer links to Saudi Arabia.
He helped Wolves largely keep Forest at bay – as did Craig Dawson, who was Wolves’ best player on the day in the eyes of Andy Thompson.
Andy Thompson says Craig Dawson was Wolves’ Man of the Match v Nottingham Forest
Craig Dawson made his first start of the season for Wolves against Burnley in midweek, and he and Santiago Bueno were both really solid against the Clarets.
The pair were not massively tested. But neither really put a foot wrong at Molineux.
O’Neil clearly felt Dawson’s experience was required against Forest and that his backline needed bolstering after the Chelsea horror show.
So the Englishman got the nod, playing alongside Yerson Mosquera with Toti Gomes at left-back and Rayan Ait-Nouri further forwards.
Dawson justified his selection, turning in a solid display at the back and former Old Gold defender Thompson reckons he was Wolves’ star man. As per Sofascore data, he made a whopping seven clearances and also a couple of tackles and blocks each.
He said on Matchday Live Extra: “I’m going to go Dawson. I thought he played well. He stood strong.
“I’m thinking, on the back of that defeat last week, (he) was just something to stabilise us a little bit at the back. I’m going to go Dawson.”
Dawson looks a must-pick right now
Dawson was great against Burnley and his presence in the backline on Saturday against Forest was most welcome.
The 34-year-old is just such a reliable performer for Wolves and relishes putting his body on the line and using all his experience. He is a calm head, and someone who just gives confidence to those around him.
At the moment, there is a case for Dawson to be starting regularly – if his body allows it, of course.
The Toti and Mosquera partnership hasn’t really worked, and it was always going to be a risk for O’Neil to use them from the off against such high-level opposition.
Wolves did not manage to bring in a new centre-half in the transfer window which was a shame, and that now potentially places more responsibility on the shoulders of Dawson to get Wolves through until January.