ESPIRITO SANTO: THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING IS THE DEFENSIVE ORGANISATION

BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT SELHURST PARK

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirio Santo paid tribute to his defence after their 0-1 win over Crystal Palace.

The Wolves goal came from a Raul Jimenez one two with Matt Doherty who smashed the ball past Wayne Hennessey at his near post.

Nuno Espirito Santo: “ I am really pleased with the way we played because of the result. We did not start well. Crystal Palace were stronger in the first half. In the second half we were really good. The basis for our form is the season before, the style we have and the shape of the team was over time. If you play and train with the same team it becomes a routine and it becomes easier and more effective. I am sure there can be other options but the tasks will be the same and hopefully the performance will be the same.”

 We got the win against a very tough team and fans in the stadium today.”

On their sixth clean sheet in a row in all competitions he said:” it is the beginning of everything. The beginning of everything is the defensive organisation and the way we defend and a clean sheet.”

Meanwhile the Crystal Palace Manager Roy Hodgson lamented the lack of their ability to take their chances. He said: “The obvious answer as to where the game was lost was they took their chance today. We were then chasing the game and they looked more solid. We had a good first half performance where we played well. Had we got the goal which I think our play in the first half deserved it would have been hard for Wolves.”

They sat on their goal and were waiting for chances to take advantage of our tiredness. Wayne Hennessey had nothing to do in the first half apart from their random chance, which he saved.  Hodgson went on further:

“If you go several games without scoring you will feel pressure. I have never known a team that does not. Until such a time as we score goals I will always be facing this question. What we have to do is to put it right.”

Wolves made history by becoming the first team to be unchanged in 8 games in a row in the Premier League. Palace are still looking for their first goal at home as well as their first home win.