17 Sep 2018
Mexico striker Jimenez gives Wolves win over Burnley

Burnley manager Sean Dyche said his team are "in a bit of a fog" after defeat by Wolves at Molineux left them still waiting for their first league win of the season.

Wolves dominated large periods of the first half, and Raul Jimenez deservedly opened the scoring on the hour mark as he turned in Matt Doherty's cross.

The visitors rarely threatened, with the only real chances they created falling to Johann Berg Gudmundsson late on.

Defeat for the Clarets means they have equalled a club record run of four consecutive Premier League losses and now sit bottom of the table, while promoted Wolves have climbed to ninth.

"Attacking-wise we were nowhere near enough," Dyche said.

"We are in a bit of a fog at the moment. Collectively we need to get out of it. You have to work to change it, so that's the key.

"But we have been down this road before and we've managed, along with the players, to pull out of the fog."

Dominant Wolves deserved more

In his pre-match news conference, Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo called for his players to "maintain the standards" set in their 1-0 victory over West Ham, and he was not disappointed.

Last season's Championship winners were by far the brighter team throughout, putting Burnley under sustained periods of heavy pressure either side of the break.

They should have gone ahead on the half-hour mark when first Joe Hart superbly denied Jimenez, before James Tarkowski cleared the Mexico striker's second effort off the line.

Moments later, Tarkowski was again alert to clear Jonny Otto's effort after Hart had palmed clear a low cross, and the former England keeper was then quickly out to smother Doherty's sliding effort from close range.

After Jimenez finally found the net midway through the second half, the home side only got stronger, largely thanks to the introduction of Adama Traore after 66 minutes, his pace causing a tiring Burnley backline problems.

The Spanish forward tested Hart before laying on three good chances for fellow second-half substitute Leo Bonatini, who was unable to convert.

Victory for Wolves means their impressive home record under Nuno continues; his side have only been beaten twice at Molineux in his 29 games in charge.

Burnley's terrible start continues

Burnley could perhaps have been forgiven for their poor start to the Premier League season given their Europa League exertions, but after the international break there could be few excuses for their uninspiring performance.

Their midfield was overrun by Wolves' energy, and Ashley Barnes' effort from range, which was easily saved, was his side's only shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.

It seemed to take conceding a goal for the team to kick into gear, and their best chance came shortly after going behind when Willy Boly almost deflected a Charlie Taylor shot inches wide, with Jack Cork unable to apply the finishing touch.

But it could have been worse for Burnley as Doherty fired wide with only the keeper to beat after being set up by Traore, and Bonatini missed several chances.

Gudmundsson, on his return from injury, could have stolen a point late on, but he shot straight at Rui Patricio and fired a free-kick over the bar.

"When there is a fog around the group it can eat into people," said Dyche. "To bring that flow back you have to be strong mentally and physically.

"I think it's a mentality thing. Some of it can be worked at on the training ground, but I call it bottoming out; a collective moment when a group of players bottom out.

"The quicker that comes the better, because sometimes that opens the mind again and it all clicks back in again. You also have to work at that though."

The Clarets have now won only five of their past 26 Premier League matches.

Dyche, however, will have been encouraged by the performances of Hart and Tarkowski, the latter of whom showed why he has fought his way into the England fold.

Man of the match - Joao Moutinho

'We could have been more clinical' - what they said

Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to Sky Sports: "I am very, very satisfied. We played good football and stayed organised and created chances. Burnley are a good side and stayed in it until the end.

"If there is a 'but', we could be more clinical. But if we can continue to make these many chances, it makes me very proud."

Burnley manager Sean Dyche: "When we got into the Europa League there was this immediate noise about it being tough. You are bombarded with it and it's hard to deal with that as a group - and then it becomes an easy story when you don't start the season well.

"People ramp it up and say 'there you are, I told you'. Well, we have to find a way through that and I remind them they are roughly the same group of players who finished seventh last season."

Burnley's worst top-flight start in 91 years - the stats

  • This is Burnley's worst start to a season in the top-flight (one point from five games) since 1927-28, when they lost each of their opening five matches.
  • Wolves have won all three of their Premier League meetings with Burnley; against no other side have they recorded a 100% win ratio.
  • Burnley have never won a Premier League away game against newly promoted opposition (W0 D6 L5).
  • Wolves have lost just one of their past 24 league games at Molineux (W16 D7 L1).
  • Wolves recorded more shots (30) against Burnley than they have against any other side in a single match in the Premier League.
  • Burnley have now conceded 10 goals in their opening five league games this season; it took them 13 matches to concede their 10th goal of 2017-18.
  • Each of Doherty's past four goal involvements in the league have come at Molineux (two goals, two assists).

What's next?

Both sides are back in action on Saturday, 22 September. Burnley host Bournemouth, while Wolves travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United (both 15:00 BST).

  • Line-ups
  • Match Stats
  • Live Text

Line-ups

Wolves

  • 11Rui Patrício
  • 5Bennett
  • 16Coady
  • 15Boly
  • 2Doherty
  • 28João Moutinho
  • 8NevesBooked at 86mins
  • 19Castro Otto
  • 10Hélder CostaSubstituted forTraoréat 66'minutes
  • 18JotaBooked at 72minsSubstituted forGibbs-Whiteat 88'minutes
  • 9JiménezSubstituted forBonatiniat 76'minutes

Substitutes

  • 17Gibbs-White
  • 21Ruddy
  • 27Saïss
  • 29Vinagre
  • 30Hause
  • 33Bonatini
  • 37Traoré

Burnley

  • 20Hart
  • 26BardsleyBooked at 28mins
  • 5Tarkowski
  • 6Mee
  • 3TaylorBooked at 82mins
  • 25Lennon
  • 4CorkBooked at 37mins
  • 13HendrickSubstituted forWestwoodat 79'minutes
  • 7Berg GudmundssonBooked at 68mins
  • 10BarnesSubstituted forVydraat 56'minutes
  • 9VokesSubstituted forWoodat 70'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Heaton
  • 2Lowton
  • 11Wood
  • 18Westwood
  • 23Ward
  • 27Vydra
  • 28Long
Referee:
Andre Marriner
Attendance:
30,406

Match Stats

Home TeamWolvesAway TeamBurnley
Possession
Home59%
Away41%
Shots
Home30
Away7
Shots on Target
Home7
Away2
Corners
Home8
Away2
Fouls
Home10
Away9

Live Text

Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Burnley 0.

Full Time

Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Burnley 0.

Attempt missed. Léo Bonatini (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Adama Traoré.

Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Ben Mee (Burnley).

Attempt missed. Léo Bonatini (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Adama Traoré.

Attempt saved. Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Matej Vydra.

Foul by Ryan Bennett (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Matej Vydra (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Substitution

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Morgan Gibbs-White replaces Diogo Jota.

Attempt missed. Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.

Booking

Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Aaron Lennon (Burnley) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Attempt missed. Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Willy Boly.

Attempt blocked. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Diogo Jota.

Booking

Charlie Taylor (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Foul by Charlie Taylor (Burnley).

Attempt blocked. Léo Bonatini (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Attempt blocked. Léo Bonatini (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Phil Bardsley (Burnley).

Attempt missed. Léo Bonatini (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ryan Bennett.

Attempt blocked. Jonny (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.

Attempt blocked. Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Doherty.

Substitution

Substitution, Burnley. Ashley Westwood replaces Jeff Hendrick.

Substitution

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Léo Bonatini replaces Raúl Jiménez.

Attempt missed. Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Raúl Jiménez.

Booking

Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Phil Bardsley (Burnley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt saved. Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Raúl Jiménez.

Substitution

Substitution, Burnley. Chris Wood replaces Sam Vokes.

Booking

Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Burnley).

Corner, Burnley. Conceded by Willy Boly.

Attempt missed. Matej Vydra (Burnley) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right misses to the left following a set piece situation.

Foul by Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

goal