Willy Boly and Léo Bonatini send Wolves top with victory over Norwich

Wolverhampton Wanderers returned to the top of the Championship with a win over Norwich City that suggested the division’s pacesetters still have more to give as the season progresses.
Goals from Willy Boly and Léo Bonatini, his ninth of the campaign, were the highlights of a performance full of pace and power. The result, however, was achieved with a minimum of fuss against a Norwich side who welcomed their former goalkeeper John Ruddy back to Carrow Road but showed the limitations of a squad remodelled extensively in the summer.
Both these teams went to extra-time against top six Premier League opposition in the Carabao Cup last week and both lost their league matches at the weekend. But while Wolves restored their strongest XI , Norwich were light up front, playing their Welsh winger Marley Watkins at No9.
Watkins came close to opening the scoring in the 13th minute, however, when his flicked header from a James Maddison free-kick pinged off the far post.
Four minutes later Wolves broke the deadlock themselves. Two short corners in succession forced first a block from the central defender Timm Klose and then a strong save from Angus Gunn. But when the third was delivered, Rúben Neves drove it into the box and seemed to catch Norwich cold. Their zonal marking left the centre-half Boly all alone and he flicked his header into the far corner.
This early goal very much suited Nuno Espirito Santo’s gameplan, he had been happy to play on the counter from the off, allying Neves’s passing range with Ivan Cavaleiro’s direct running. This combination troubled Norwich on several more occasions in the first half but Klose was there to block each time a shot came in on goal.
Norwich, for their part, did not wilt, but lacked the penetration to get behind the visitor’s three central defenders, which included the former City player Ryan Bennett amongst their number. Increasingly the hosts turned to Maddison, their talisman in a recent eight-match unbeaten run and his sparkling dribble in the 42nd minute that sparked a bout of pinball was the closest City came to an equaliser before the half-time whistle.
Wolves should have doubled their lead within seconds of the restart as they broke three on two into the Norwich area. Alfred N’Diaye, nominally a midfield enforcer but more than capable on the ball, found himself at the tip of the triangle and hit a weak shot at Gunn. Five minutes later and the Wolves pack descended again, but Diogo Jota’s cut-back was desperately poked clear by Grant Hanley. In the 58th minute Leo Bonatini nudged his shot wide with the goal gaping after another lightning break.
Norwich switched to a back three and introduced Cameron Jerome for the misfiring Josh Murphy. In response Santo simply added more pace, Bright Enobakhare replacing Cavaleiro. Still a second Wolves goal felt inevitable with Jota seeing his shot blocked on the six yard line, this time by Ivo Pinto.
In the 71st minute the expected moment finally arrived. A free-kick from Barry Douglas on the right was inadequately cleared by Norwich on two occasions and the ball was flicked back into the area where Bonatini was lurking at the far post to drive his volley into the ground and in.
The visitors took their foot off the pedal after that, perhaps grateful to have to dig no deeper into their reserves of energy. Norwich meanwhile continued to persevere but a clearance scooped by Boly past Ruddy but over his own bar was the closest they came.

SOURCE : GUARDIAN SPORTS
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