Wolves debrief: Solid points return, key standouts and huge post-break opportunity

A draw at Wrexham earned Wolves a seventh Championship point in a week.

It was a decent return, and they remain unbeaten heading into the international break. Here are some thoughts from their final game before the pause.

Adam Armstrong

Adam Armstrong’s goalscoring return came under the spotlight early in the season. One goal in 10 games was not what Wolves would have expected from an experienced striker who knows this division so well.

But, in Raul Jimenez’s absence, he appears to have found his feet, with confidence growing and the goals flowing. That is exactly what Wolves need.

He may not be the tallest or most physical forward, but he will run, work tirelessly and stretch defences.

After missing his first chance at Wrexham, he took the second brilliantly, racing onto Nasser Djiga’s pass before producing a superb piece of skill and finish.

Three goals in four games is a welcome return. Wolves will hope he picks up where he left off after the break.

Frustrating response

Wolves’ lead lasted just a few minutes, making the equaliser all the more frustrating after Armstrong’s superb finish.

They were unable to find a winner in the second half and missed the chance to secure a fourth consecutive victory.

Issa Kabore had been a threat throughout, giving Toti a difficult afternoon down the flank. He was afforded too much time and space to deliver an excellent cross, and Wolves failed to deal with it.

It was a costly lapse, with the hosts taking full advantage.

Wide players

Peixoto rotated his wide options, explaining that some had covered more ground and were feeling the effects of fatigue.

Jackson Tchatchoua showed flashes of purpose, pace and directness from right-back. Wolves will hope to see more of that.

In front of him, Rodrigo Gomes struggled to impose himself as he continues to build up to full speed.

Mateus Mané, meanwhile, grew into the contest and became increasingly influential, but could not produce the decisive moment.

Krejci class

Ladislav Krejci has been showing the class and quality expected of a national team captain.

He has been increasingly influential at the back, proving instrumental to Wolves’ recent run. They will need him to maintain those levels.

He joked that he did not know what rest was as he headed off to represent the Czech Republic. Hopefully, he and the other internationals return fit and ready to pick up where they left off.

Momentum

Perhaps the biggest frustration for Wolves is that victory at the Racecourse Ground would have sent them into the international break top of the table.

Still, it is another point towards their promotion push. Only in April or May will the true cost of dropped points become clear.

Four wins and 14 points from their last six games represents an impressive response to a difficult spell. But Wolves have been here before.

Their challenge now is to return from this break with their momentum intact, rather than suffer another post-international slump.

Post-break opportunity

Attention now turns to what comes next. This international break is much shorter than the previous one, giving some players an opportunity to rest and recover.

What follows is a significant opportunity for Wolves, with three games against current bottom-six sides: Charlton Athletic and Derby County at home, followed by a trip to Lincoln City.

Those fixtures precede a tougher run on paper and represent a real chance to build momentum and collect maximum points.