Wolves 3-0 Sheffield United: Player ratings as Bruno Lage's side cruise into 4th round
A brace from Daniel Podence and a first goal of the season from Nelson Semedo were enough to earn Wolves a pretty comfortable FA Cup third round win on Sunday evening.
Podence put the home side one up in the first half, then bagged a third after Semedo had put the tie to bed in the second.
Inside the opening two minutes however, Wolves came within an inch of going one down - twice. Billy Sharp (yeah, still going strong) latched onto a loose ball in the Wolves penalty area before rifling the ball just wide of John Ruddy's post, then David McGoldrick headed wide after some good play down the left flank from Rhys Norrington-Davies.
Despite Wolves finding their footing a bit thereafter, it was Sheffield United who came closest to scoring next. And, to be honest, they really, really, really should have scored.
After some more great play down Sheffield United's left flank from Norrington-Davies, the Welshman whipped a brilliant ball right into the feet of a completely unmarked McGoldrick on the penalty spot. After controlling the ball however, the former Ireland international tried...something...we think it was a really bad attempt to chip the goalkeeper...but we're not 100%...anyways, whatever it was, it was well saved by Ruddy.
The visitors were quickly made to rue that missed chance, when Daniel Podence bagged the opener. The Wolves goal came after youngster Fabio Silva harassed Jack Robinson until he gave up possession outside of his own box, then squared to Podence who slipped the ball cooly past Wes Foderingham in the Blades goal.
It was all Wolves for most of the rest of the first half, with Silva running the Sheffield United defence ragged. Adama Traore spurning a great chance to double his side's lead (what a surprise) on the 20th minute mark, before Silva - following some wonderful link-up play with Podence - saw a dinked effort well saved by Foderingham.
Despite Wolves' dominance, Sheffield United saw an equalising goal ruled out for a high boot in the 40th minute. The disallowed goal came courtesy of Sharp, who flicked his foot up in front of Leander Dendoncker's face to knock the ball into the net after a corner kick had caused havoc in the Wolves box.
The second half proved to be a much calmer affair, with Wolves looking much more like their solid selves when the rather hopeless Marcal was subbed off at half-time and replaced by Leander Dendoncker in defence - with Joao Moutinho coming into the midfield.
The home side, having dominated possession for the whole half, finally bagged a deserved second through Nelson Semedo in the 73rd minute. The wing-back side-footed the ball beautifully into the top left corner of the net after Rayan Ait-Nouri crossed into his path.
10 minutes later it was 3-0 thanks to a bit of terrible goalkeeping from Foderingham. The Blades goalkeeper fumbled the ball to Raul Jimenez on the right of the penalty area, allowing the Mexican forward to turn and square to Podence who slammed the ball into an empty net.
1. Goalkeeper & defenders
John Ruddy (GK) - 6/10 - Made a brilliant save to deny McGoldrick the opener. A solid performance from the veteran.
Max Kilman (CB) - 5/10 - Not the greatest first half but played a bit better in the second.
Conor Coady (CB) - 4/10 - Not his usual self an a much-changed backline.
Marcal (CB) - 3/10 - Hooked at half-time because he was not good in the first half. At all.
2. Midfielders & wing-backs
Nelson Semedo (RWB) - 7/10 - Burnt a few too many times in the first half, but ore than made up for that with a well-taken goal.
Leander Dendoncker (CM) - 5/10 - Solid enough in midfield, then dropped into defence when Marcal was subbed off.
Ruben Neves (CM) - 6/10 - The calm figure, as always, in the middle of the park.
Rayan Ait-Nouri (LWB) - 7/10 - Got up and down the left flank really well, and bagged himself an assist in the second half.
3. Forwards
Adama Traore (RW) - 5/10 - Fun, willing runner, not clinical at all. Basically what you expect from Adama.
Fabio Silva (ST) - 8/10 - Ahhh, so that's why Wolves spent so much on him. Best player on the pitch in the first half. Pressed from the front well, set up a goal, and stretched the Sheffield United defence with his brilliant movement.
Daniel Podence (LW) - 9/10 - Two well taken goals, and linked up very well with Silva at times. Just way too good for Sheffield's defence.
4. Substitutes
Joao Moutinho - 6/10 - Wolves looked much, much better when he came on.
Francisco Trincao - 5/10 - Lively enough.
Raul Jimenez - 7/10 - Bagged an assist after coming on.
Bruno Jordao - N/A.
Luke Cundle - N/A.