Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Gillingham: Julen Lopetegui makes a successful start as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Gillingham: Julen Lopetegui makes a successful start as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers
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Ruben Neves started for Wolves after returning from World Cup action with Portugal
Julen Lopetegui got off to a flying start as Wolves manager as they progressed to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup at the expense of Gillingham.
The Premier League contenders finally broke through in the 77th minute through a Raul Jimenez penalty after Hwang Hee-chan was fouled.
Rayan Ait-Nouri then secured the win after an injury-time breakaway.
Gillingham, bottom of the second tier, was spirited but eventually outmatched by their hosts.
Former Real Madrid and Spain coach Lopetegui’s first game was a long time coming after he replaced the sacked Bruno Lage in November.
If he wants to lift Wolves out of the Premier League, the 56-year-old will have to solve one big problem – scoring goals.
His side have scored just eight league goals this season and struggled for a long time to beat Gillingham despite having the mass of shots and possession.
Ruben Neves came closest to Wolves in the first half when he missed a free-kick in the 35th minute before hitting the post with a shot from 20 yards just before half-time as Lopetegui became visibly frustrated on the touchline.
He had started Diego Costa, who was a key figure in Lopetegui’s Spain side that qualified for the 2018 World Cup, but the ex-Chelsea striker is still awaiting his first Wolves goal.
Instead, it was Jimenez, fresh from World Cup action with Mexico, who broke the deadlock in the 77th minute after Hwang – who himself had finished in the last 16 in Qatar with South Korea – fell from a corner.
Jimenez calmly sent Gills keeper Jake Turner the wrong way for his first goal since August 23, 119 days ago, when the 31-year-old scored against Preston in the second round of the EFL Cup.
Wolves’ victory was secured in added time when Ait-Nouri ended a skillful breakaway, but Lopetegui was visibly unfazed by his side’s performance and went straight down the tunnel after the final whistle.
The Molineux club are set to sign Atletico Madrid striker Matheus Cunha – for Lopetegui the prospect of more goals can’t come soon enough.
For Gillingham, their attention will again be focused on extending their 72-year tenure as a league club.
They have won just two of their 20 League Two games, are winless since October 1 and with just six league goals they are the only English league side to have scored fewer goals than Wolves.
Neil Harris’ side looked as if they could endure penalties after offering little in regular play after knocking out Premier League Brentford on penalties in the third round.
However, Jimenez and company ensured that would not be the case, although Gillingham could still cause another cup upset when they play Leicester City in the FA Cup third round next month.
lineups
wolves
Formation 4-3-3
1Sat
22Nelson Semedo4Collins23Kilman64Bueno
59Hodge8Neves28João Moutinho
17 Gonçalo Guedes 29 Diego Costa 10 Podence
1Sá22Nélson Semedo4Collins23Kilman64Bueno59HodgeSubstituted forTraoréat 45’minutes8Neves28João MoutinhoSubstituted forHwang Hee-chanat 61’minutes17Gonçalo GuedesSubstituted forNunesat 61’minutes29Diego CostaSubstituted forAït-Nouriat 81’minutes10PodenceSubstituted forJiménezat 69’minutesSubstitutes3Aït-Nouri9Jiménez11Hwang Hee-chan13Sarkic24Gomes25Ronan27Nunes37Traoré81Lembikisa
Gillingham
Formation 5-4-1
25 spins
2Alexander 4 Wright 5 Ehmer 23 Baggott 3 Tutonda
16 Jefferies 6 Williams 8 O’Keefe 21 Adelakun
9Mandron
25 Turner2Alexander4wright5hmer23baggott3tutonda16jefenda replacement for macdonaldat 73minuten 64’minuten8o’keefe replacement for 74’minuten21adelakun9mandron replacement for kashetate 64 -minute replacement7macdonald10lee
Referee: Michael Salisbury
Number of visitors: 26,943
live text
Game ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Gillingham 0.
Second half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Gillingham 0.
attempt failed. Hwang Hee-Chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the center of the box is too high following a fast break.
Foul by Rayan Ait-Nouri (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Will Wright (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal! The score between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Gillingham 0-0. Rayan Aït-Nouri (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the center of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Hwang Hee-chan.
attempt failed. Scott Kashket (Gillingham) left footed shot from the center of the box is high and wide on the right. Assisted by Ben Reeves with a cross.
Foul by Adama Traore (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Ben Reeves (Gillingham) wins a free kick on the left wing.
attempt saved. Ben Reeves (Gillingham) left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is saved in the bottom left corner.
Foul by Ruben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Olly Lee (Gillingham) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Matheus Nunes (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Olly Lee (Gillingham).
Foul by Nathan Collins (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Scott Kashket (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Adama Traore (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Hakeeb Adelakun (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Rayan Ait-Nouri replaces Diego Costa.
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Cashed in by Will Wright.
