• WOLVES RATINGS: Rui Patricio, 8 – Commanded his area well and although chances were at a premium made some important saves and clearances. Fine performance. AP
    WOLVES RATINGS: Rui Patricio, 8 – Commanded his area well and although chances were at a premium made some important saves and clearances. Fine performance. AP
  • Romain Saiss, 7 – Solid defensive performance. Worked well in partnership with Coady and Dendoncker to keep the visitors’ chances to a minimum. Reuters
    Romain Saiss, 7 – Solid defensive performance. Worked well in partnership with Coady and Dendoncker to keep the visitors’ chances to a minimum. Reuters
  • Conor Coady, 7 – Equal to the majority of threats that Leeds posed in the first half. Played well to largely block out the threat of Bamford – this was Wolves’ fifth clean sheet this year in games he has played in. Reuters
    Conor Coady, 7 – Equal to the majority of threats that Leeds posed in the first half. Played well to largely block out the threat of Bamford – this was Wolves’ fifth clean sheet this year in games he has played in. Reuters
  • Dendoncker, 6 – Struggled with Leeds' ability to counter and was perhaps fortunate to get away with keeping a clean sheet. Reuters
    Dendoncker, 6 – Struggled with Leeds' ability to counter and was perhaps fortunate to get away with keeping a clean sheet. Reuters
  • Jonny, 6 – Consistently positioned on the limit of his role as a wing back and adopted an extremely attacking position. EPA.
    Jonny, 6 – Consistently positioned on the limit of his role as a wing back and adopted an extremely attacking position. EPA.
  • Joao Moutinho, 6 – Strong first half but faded as the game developed. Wasn’t far away from registering what would have been a spectacular goal from outside the penalty area in the closing minutes. EPA
    Joao Moutinho, 6 – Strong first half but faded as the game developed. Wasn’t far away from registering what would have been a spectacular goal from outside the penalty area in the closing minutes. EPA
  • Ruben Neves, 6 – A steady performance in the heart of midfield. Dealt with Leeds’ heavy press well. Getty
    Ruben Neves, 6 – A steady performance in the heart of midfield. Dealt with Leeds’ heavy press well. Getty
  • Nelson Semedo, 7 – Will be pleased to have got into goalscoring positions, but ultimately should have made them count. PA
    Nelson Semedo, 7 – Will be pleased to have got into goalscoring positions, but ultimately should have made them count. PA
  • Adama Traore, 8 – An inspired shot from range that rattled the crossbar and struck the back of a helpless Meslier to put Wolves ahead. Used his strength well to cut inside, a move that was made easier by Leeds’ tendency to leave gaps between the full backs and centre backs. Getty
    Adama Traore, 8 – An inspired shot from range that rattled the crossbar and struck the back of a helpless Meslier to put Wolves ahead. Used his strength well to cut inside, a move that was made easier by Leeds’ tendency to leave gaps between the full backs and centre backs. Getty
  • Willian Jose, 7 – Used his pace to get past his marker in search of the ball. Did a lot of good work outside the penalty area to develop attacking movements and bolster the hosts’ threat up front. AFP
    Willian Jose, 7 – Used his pace to get past his marker in search of the ball. Did a lot of good work outside the penalty area to develop attacking movements and bolster the hosts’ threat up front. AFP
  • Pedro Neto, 7 – Excellent technical ability and is a strong talent in the absence of Jimenez. Tried his luck from range on several occasions. AFP
    Pedro Neto, 7 – Excellent technical ability and is a strong talent in the absence of Jimenez. Tried his luck from range on several occasions. AFP
  • SUBS: Fernando Marcal (For Jonny, 60), 6 – Taken off not too long after being brought on when picking up a knock. PA
    SUBS: Fernando Marcal (For Jonny, 60), 6 – Taken off not too long after being brought on when picking up a knock. PA
  • DEF Rayan Ait-Nouri (for Marcel, 82), N/R – A measured performance in the limited minutes he featured. Reuters
    DEF Rayan Ait-Nouri (for Marcel, 82), N/R – A measured performance in the limited minutes he featured. Reuters
  • Fabio Silva (for Jose, 87), N/R – Brought on too late to make an impact. PA
    Fabio Silva (for Jose, 87), N/R – Brought on too late to make an impact. PA
  • LEEDS RATINGS: IIlan Meslier, 7 – Pulled off a couple of fine first-half saves, most notably when denying Neto on 11 minutes. Clearances and foot work were also strong points, but desperately unlucky to register an own goal from Traore’s strike. EPA
    LEEDS RATINGS: IIlan Meslier, 7 – Pulled off a couple of fine first-half saves, most notably when denying Neto on 11 minutes. Clearances and foot work were also strong points, but desperately unlucky to register an own goal from Traore’s strike. EPA
  • Jamie Shackleton, 6 – Grew into the game but prone to giving possession away. Reuters
    Jamie Shackleton, 6 – Grew into the game but prone to giving possession away. Reuters
  • DEF Luke Ayling, 6 – Made a real nuisance of himself but was, responsible for goal when losing a strength battle and race with Traore. Needs to cut out sloppy errors. PA
    DEF Luke Ayling, 6 – Made a real nuisance of himself but was, responsible for goal when losing a strength battle and race with Traore. Needs to cut out sloppy errors. PA
  • Liam Cooper, 6 – Presented with an opportunity to put Leeds ahead in the first half from Raphinha’s well-placed free kick. Similar chance in the second half was also squandered. Disappointing. Getty
    Liam Cooper, 6 – Presented with an opportunity to put Leeds ahead in the first half from Raphinha’s well-placed free kick. Similar chance in the second half was also squandered. Disappointing. Getty
  • Stuart Dallas, 6 – Gradually lost control of Wolves’ wide players and this opened opportunities for the hosts. PA
    Stuart Dallas, 6 – Gradually lost control of Wolves’ wide players and this opened opportunities for the hosts. PA
  • Pascal Struijk, 7 – Linked up well with Cooper in defence, a partnership which appears to hold plenty of promise. One of the visitors’ brighter players. Reuters
    Pascal Struijk, 7 – Linked up well with Cooper in defence, a partnership which appears to hold plenty of promise. One of the visitors’ brighter players. Reuters
  • Raphinha, 8 – Drove possession into the hosts’ penalty area and fronted defenders up. Ability to create chances from well-taken free kicks. Reuters
    Raphinha, 8 – Drove possession into the hosts’ penalty area and fronted defenders up. Ability to create chances from well-taken free kicks. Reuters
  • Tyler Roberts, 5 – Had a few early glimpses, but overall disappointing. First touch was off and general threat not up to the standard. A surprise he stayed on for the 90 minutes. AP
    Tyler Roberts, 5 – Had a few early glimpses, but overall disappointing. First touch was off and general threat not up to the standard. A surprise he stayed on for the 90 minutes. AP
  • Mateusz Klich, 6 – Sub-standard form continues as he failed to bring much to the table. PA
    Mateusz Klich, 6 – Sub-standard form continues as he failed to bring much to the table. PA
  • Jack Harrison, 5 – Gave away possession in dangerous areas too often. Subbed midway through the second half. Getty
    Jack Harrison, 5 – Gave away possession in dangerous areas too often. Subbed midway through the second half. Getty
  • Patrick Bamford, 6 – Quiet game where chances were at a premium. Did get the ball in the back of the net with a fantastic finish under pressure, but it was ruled out for offside. Getty
    Patrick Bamford, 6 – Quiet game where chances were at a premium. Did get the ball in the back of the net with a fantastic finish under pressure, but it was ruled out for offside. Getty
  • SUBS: Pablo Hernandez (for Shackleton, 66), 6 – Played well in midfield during the minutes he got. Getty
    SUBS: Pablo Hernandez (for Shackleton, 66), 6 – Played well in midfield during the minutes he got. Getty
  • Ezgjan Alioski (for Klich, 81), N/R – Something had to change with Klich struggling, but Alioski didn’t have enough time to make an impact. PA
    Ezgjan Alioski (for Klich, 81), N/R – Something had to change with Klich struggling, but Alioski didn’t have enough time to make an impact. PA
  • Helder Costa (for Harrison, 81), N/R – Couldn’t make an impression. AP
    Helder Costa (for Harrison, 81), N/R – Couldn’t make an impression. AP

Rui Patricio 8, Adama Traore 8; Jack Harrison 5, Patrick Bamford 6: Wolves v Leeds player ratings


  • English
  • Arabic

Manager Marcelo Bielsa refused to blame bad luck after Illan Meslier's own goal condemned Leeds to a 1-0 defeat at Wolves.

The goalkeeper unwittingly turned in Adama Traore's shot after it came back off the bar in the second half.

Wolves climbed above Leeds into 11th in the Premier League as the visitors suffered a third defeat in four games.

Bielsa said: "Luck is not a factor in the result. It's clear the result was defined by their efficiency. Luck and what you deserve is not always the same.

"Look at the chances we had, we had double they did, and we defended well, we attacked well. There were only a few moments in the game where we didn't dominate.

"We had 10 chances and we weren't able to score a goal, they had five and scored one. That explains the game.

"I can't be upset with the goal because it wasn't Illan's fault. The offensive game we had was sufficient to score at least one goal and in a game of small margins I had the feeling we were the superior side."

Mateusz Klich hit the post while Meslier twice denied Nelson Semedo in the first half at Molineux on Friday.

Liam Cooper forced Rui Patricio into a smart save from Raphinha's free-kick just before Wolves grabbed their fortunate winner after 64 minutes.

Traore shrugged off Luke Ayling on the left and burst towards goal with his rising 25-yard drive smacking the underside of the bar before hitting Meslier and rolling in.

Patricio saved Cooper's far post effort and Patrick Bamford's fine finish was ruled out for offside with 13 minutes left.

Wolves old boy Helder Costa wasted a fine chance in added time when he shot too close to Patricio as the hosts earned their first back-to-back wins since October.

Boss Nuno Espirito Santo said: "We are always trying to chase consistency. We have been consistent in the way we are approaching the games, it's really important for a team to perform better.

"It's something we've been chasing and we realise we are not at our best, we are trying to improve them day by day and today they gave a good answer.

"We are doing OK but the standards and expectations are high and that requires more responsibility from all of us.

"I'm very pleased, especially with the attitude we approached it with. It's very difficult to play against Leeds, you can go the same way and chase duels and press, but the boys did very well."