Wobbling Wolves face test of nerve to avoid another FA Cup giant-killing at Chorley

Reeling from a Premier League humbling against West Brom, and struggling to cope with loss of Jimenez, Nuno's team are firmly stuck in a rut

• 

  Matheus Pereira scores West Bromwich Albion's opening goal from the penalty spot during their 3-2 victory at Wolves on Sunday, January 16. AP

• 

  Referee Michael Oliver awards West Bromwich Albion their first penalty after Callum Robinson is fouled by Wolves defender Willy Boly. Getty

• 

  Wolves defender Conor Coady fouls Callum Robinson to give West Brom another penalty

• 

  West Brom's Matheus Pereira scores their third goal from the penalty spot. Reuters

• 

  Matheus Pereira celebrates with teammate Callum Robinson after scoring the Baggies' third. Getty

• 

  West Brom manager Sam Allardyce. AFP

• 

  West Bromwich Albion players celebrate after the final whistle. PA

• 

  West Brom's Semi Ajayi makes it 2-2 at Molineux. AFP

• 

  Semi Ajayi celebrates scoring for West Brom. AFP

• 

  Wolves' Fabio Silva, center, fires past West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper David Button to make the score 1-1. AP

• 

  Wolves' Willy Boly, centre, celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's second goal. AFP

• 

  Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo. AFP

After the worst result of their season, Wolves face a reminder of the most embarrassing setback in their history.

Saturday’s defeat to West Bromwich Albion – previously winless and largely hapless under Sam Allardyce – when Wolves had imagined revenge for 2012’s 5-1 thrashing stands out in the context of a campaign. Over 144 years, however, a 3-0 reverse to Chorley occupies a unique place in Wolves infamy.

That was in 1986. They reconvene on Friday with a second shock less likely now five divisions separate them.

Wolves were a fourth-tier club 35 years ago, at a historic low. Now they are 14th in the Premier League, which would feel better had they not finished the last two seasons in the top seven.

And yet regression and regret may go hand in hand. This is the toughest time of Nuno Espirito Santo’s spell at Molineux. Wolves have two points from six league games. The youth in their squad suggests it may be a season of transition, but the alternative scenario is simply that they are getting worse.

The old certainties have been destroyed. Wolves no longer automatically play with a back three, as they did for three years under the Portuguese.

Bywords for defensive solidity have conceded first in nine consecutive league games. Bastions of continuity have lost their status as untouchables.

Captain Conor Coady was substituted for the first time by Nuno against West Brom. Vice-captain Ruben Neves and his midfield sidekick Joao Moutinho then went off. It felt as though the spine of the side was being dismantled.

Wolves had already lost the most important component. Raul Jimenez's fractured skull may rule him out for the season.

It robbed them of a man who scored 27 goals last season and who was arguably the best all-round No 9 in England. But it also revealed the fault-lines in thinking, the failings in the business of a club who had been savvy spenders.

_____________________________________________________________

Gallery: Wolves beat Palace in FA Cup

• 

  Wolves striker Fabio Silva heads over during their FA Cup third-round win over Crystal Palace on January 8. Getty

• 

  Crystal Palace goalkeeper Jack Butland clears under pressure from Fabio Silva. PA

• 

  Adama Traore scores the winning goal. Getty

• 

  Adama Traore (second left) scores his side's winning goal. PA

• 

  Traore celebrates with his teammates. Getty

• 

  Adama Traore in action. Getty

• 

  Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo before the match. Reuters

_____________________________________________________________

Wolves sold Diogo Jota, who soon proved to be a revelation at Liverpool. Their only other senior specialist striker was not exactly senior: Fabio Silva, the 18-year-old scorer of a solitary goal for Porto. Wolves paid £35 million, way over the odds for potential.

Silva was suddenly propelled into a position of prominence. He scored and excelled against Albion, but it was his first goal in open play.

The proposed loan deal for Real Sociedad’s Willian Jose is an acknowledgement Wolves left themselves short-staffed in attack. Midfielders Owen Otasowie and Morgan Gibbs-White have been tried as false nines, neither with any great success.

And factor in their costly business at right wing-back, where Nelson Semedo cost more than Wolves recouped for Matt Doherty and has delivered less, and the strategy has seemed confused. Certainly Wolves have been luckless: previously almost immune to injuries, they have been hit hard.

But they have also been restless. Nuno has abandoned his tried-and-trusted 3-4-3 and 3-5-2. While effective change can take time, the evidence thus far is that, even though they beat Arsenal with a back four, Wolves are not a particularly good 4-2-3-1 team.

The paradox is that they have gifted passers, but are not a possession side; their successful blueprint was based on the counter-attack.

Now Moutinho feels a fading force. Perhaps Wolves’ dealings and their change of system were part of plans to evolve and, as they were sixth in October, maybe they would have proceeded smoothly with the pivotal Jimenez.

Without him, however, Nuno has cut a disgruntled figure. He lost his cool and got fined for a strange rant about referee Lee Mason at Burnley. Vague, patronising platitudes may not appease unhappy fans. The FA Cup could offer respite and a revival, or the ultimate humiliation.