Despite Wolves’ weekend loss to Manchester City, a number of players had outstanding performances. Wolves suffered a heartbreaking defeat to the Premier League winners, falling short at the last second due to a header from John Stones.
Gary O’Neil switched up Wolves’ lineup and adopted a back three, the same strategy he employed the previous campaign. Even if the club lost in the end, Wolves looked much better in the system on Sunday, and that was the trigger last term. Craig Dawson was one player who truly impressed former Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards during the intense defensive effort.
Wolves’ Craig Dawson hailed after another top showing against Erling Haaland
Last season, Dawson put in one of his best performances in a Wolves shirt against City at Molineux.
He kept Erling Haaland totally quiet that day in the 2-1 win for Wolves, and there was always going to be a focus on that battle again on Sunday. Steve Bull did suggest that Dawson’s battle with Haaland would be key, ahead of the pair’s latest battle.
As was the case last time, Dawson did a number on Haaland, who was limited to just 13 touches all game.
Dawson gave him nothing, and Edwards said in his latest E&S column: “Bueno did well, Toti was a little shaky at the start but I thought he really grew into the game and Dawson was back to his absolute best.
That’s two occasions now where he’s really got the better of Erling Haaland.
“You can see that Dawson’s straight next to him all the time. He’s trying to unbalance him. He’s trying to be physical with him. You can see Haaland getting very frustrated.”
Dawson has succeeded where so many have failed
Dawson was right at the heart of Wolves’ defensive effort on Sunday and he really did not deserve to end up on the losing side.
The veteran, as Edwards rightly states, was back to his very best, against one of the game’s most prolific marksmen in Haaland.
He has silenced the Norwegian phenomenon at Molineux for the second time. That is a rather impressive accomplishment that not many other players can match. The form and fitness of Dawson, a £45,000-per-week star, will be vital if Wolves are to move up the league. He is clearly the leader back there, and Wolves don’t seem to be able to maintain a back three and wing-backs. Wolves supporters will only hope that he can continue to be available for O’Neil since he is the glue that keeps everything together.
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