Nuno demands Wolves improve 'a lot of aspects of our game' following slender win against Chorley

Nuno Espirito Santo has warned his Wolves side they must improve multiple aspects of their game after their narrow FA Cup fourth-round victory against non-league Chorley.

A stunning first-half goal from Vitinha proved the only difference as the National League North side were edged out 1-0 by their Premier League visitors in a hard-fought tie at Victory Park.

But the 20-year-old’s screamer after just 12 minutes was the only shot on target the Molineux side mustered, while both Connor Hall and Andy Halls forced saves from John Ruddy at the other end in a rousing second-half display from the hosts. 

And speaking after the game, the Portuguese boss admitted the club want to do well in the competition but that their immediate focus should be on improvement ahead of their top-flight trip to Chelsea on Wednesday. 

‘The FA Cup means a lot for us,’ Nuno said. ‘We wanted to proceed and we achieved it but the team needs to work and perform better. A lot of aspects of our game need improvement.

‘The next one is Chelsea and we need improvement. Let us recover well and prepare the team. We need to perform better than we did today. We need to press better and react better.

‘The scene was set for us to lose this game. I will be honest, I don’t think many people will remember this game. The quality was not good.’

The 46-year-old however praised their sixth-tier opponents and admitted he realised what a huge game it was for the hosts. 

‘Credit to Chorley,’ he continued. ‘They are in the lower divisions but they were organised and had a good striker that fights and was strong in the duels and created problems.

‘I have been on the other side and played in the lower divisions against big teams, so I know what it meant for Chorley. I honestly think we should do better but not in terms of our attitude.’

Chorley boss Jamie Vermiglio felt his part-time side could have beaten the Premier League side.  

Vermiglio said: ‘Ultimately I’m disappointed because I think we could have won. If one of those headers had gone in, who knows?

‘We were fantastic. I feel really proud, of course I do, but I feel disappointed as well. I never thought I’d feel like that.

‘It’s a strange emotion because we have just taken a Premier League team all the way. They knew they were in a game until the last minute and I’m very proud.’