Norwich 0-0 Wolves: Player ratings as Canaries rue missed chances

Norwich preserved their unbeaten start to life under Dean Smith after a goalless draw at home to high-flying Wolves in the Premier League.

The Canaries started as the considerably brighter side, fashioning a couple of shots at goal inside the opening few minutes.

Teemu Pukki flashed wide from inside the area just minutes after Grant Hanley had headed over from a Billy Gilmour corner, before Josh Sargent blazed over from range as the Carrow Road crowd responded to their team's early energy.

20 minutes had elapsed when Pukki, again, was released by Gilmour in midfield, but the Finland international took too long to get the ball out of his feet as Conor Coady rushed across to thwart his effort.

Wolves offered very little in the opening period, but they were nearly indebted to a Grant Hanley error. The Norwich captain was harried by Raul Jimenez on the edge of the his own penalty area before putting Tim Krul under pressure with a short backpass. However, the Canaries keeper was quick off his line, poking the ball away from Francisco Trincao as he rushed in to capitalise.

Dean Smith's side then fashioned their best opportunity of the half. Max Aarons played a clever give-and-go with substitute Lukas Rupp on the edge of the area, but Jose Sa was equal to his effort.

Wolves nearly caught their hosts cold when they emerged from the interval, with Jimenez meeting Trincao's floated cross at the back post.

The Canaries then constructed their best opening of the game. Norwich worked the ball well to Lukas Rupp on the edge of the area and, when he poked a pass through to Pukki with just the goal to aim at, the forward shot straight at Sa.

Norwich continued to push for a winner, with Rupp going close from a cut-back with ten minutes remaining, but it was to no avail.

Here's how both teams rated.

Norwich player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & defenders

Tim Krul (GK) - 5/10 - Spared Grant Hanley's blushes in the first half, although he had very little to contend with throughout.

Max Aarons (RB) - 8/10 - Created Norwich's biggest chance in the opening period, and his slaloming runs from deep caused Wolves issues.

Grant Hanley (CB) - 3/10 - Solid in his duels, but his overplaying in possession nearly cost Norwich on a few occasions.

Ben Gibson (CB) - 5/10 - Composed when stepping out of backline with the ball, initiating a number of attacks for the home side.

Brandon Williams (LB) - 5/10 - Influence grew in the second half, providing defensive security behind the impressive Rashica.

2. Midfielders

Mathias Normann (DM) - N/A - Forced off in the first half with an injury.

Kenny McLean (CM) - 6/10 - Certainly more edge to his game than under Daniel Farke, combining well on the edge of the area on a few instances.

Billy Gilmour (CM) - 6/10 - Played the majority of the game on a booking, but made a few killer passes to release Norwich's forwards.

3. Forwards

Josh Sargent (RW) - 7/10 - Full of energy, constantly causing the Wolves defence problems with his movement across the forward line.

Teemu Pukki (ST) - 4/10 - Movement and hold up play was vital to Norwich's attacks, but he lacked an end product in front of goal.

Milot Rashica (LW) - 8/10 - Impressive. Very direct in his play, always looking to go beyond the Wolves defence.

4. Substitutes

Lukas Rupp (CM) - 6/10 - A very impressive display after replacing Normann. Food for thought for Dean Smith ahead of midweek.

Christos Tzolis (RW) - N/A

Kieran Dowell (LW) - N/A

Wolves player ratings

5. Goalkeeper & defenders

Jose Sa (GK) - 6/10 - Fine stop to deny Aarons in the first half, although he didn't face many shots on target.

Max Kilman (CB) - 7/10 - Done well stepping into midfield on the few ocassions Wolves were able to build possession.

Conor Coady (CB) - 7/10 - Made a couple of vital last-ditch blocks, standing up to Norwich's periods of pressure.

Romain Saiss (CB) - 6/10 - Covered Ait-Nouri well when the wing-back went bombing forward.

6. Wing-backs & midfielders

Nelson Semedo (RWB) - 4/10 - A few shaky defensive moments, and wasn't able to stretch his legs going in the opposite direction.

Ruben Neves (CM) - 6/10 - A performance full of guile, executing a gorgeous outside of the boot pass in the first half which brought the travelling support to their feet.

Joao Moutinho (CM) - 4/10 - Quiet display, spending more time chasing after the ball than having it at his feet.

Rayan Ait-Nouri (LWB) - 5/10 - Struggled in the early exchanges with the pace of Josh Sargent, although he improved after the interval.

7. Forwards

Francisco Trincao (RW) - 3/10 - Continually flatters to deceive in a Wolves shirt, killing a few promising counter-attacks by holding onto the ball for too long.

Raul Jimenez (ST) - 5/10 - Isolated throughout, suffering from Wolves' risk-averse approach.

Hwang Hee-chan (LW) - 3/10 - Marginalised in attack, forced to do most of his good work in deeper areas.

8. Substitutes

Adama Traore (RW) - N/A

Leander Dendoncker (RWB) - N/A