Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo hailed a job well done after his side set up a Europa League play-off showdown with Torino. Diogo Jota’s brilliant volley capped a 4-0 win at Molineux as the hosts breezed through against FC Pyunik 8-0 on aggregate.
Three goals in 10 second-half minutes from Pedro Neto, Morgan Gibbs-White and Ruben Vinagre put the hosts in total control in the West Midlands to secure progress in the competition.
Wolves must now travel to Turin next week for the first leg of the play-off, with the winners of the tie reaching the Europa League group stage.
The Portuguese tactician has admitted Pyunik did not make it easy for his side but he was delighted with how his players went about the performance.
Nuno said: “No, it wasn’t easy. Pyunik started the game very well again. I’ve spoken to their coach and wish them all the best for the future. I thought all my players did a very good job, not just the new players. “The second-half display was very good. It was a good game.
I think we started the game normally because some players take more time. As the game went by we started performing better and the second half was very, very good. I am pleased with all the team, all the players did a very good job.”
After a goalless first half Wolves went through the gears and debutant Neto opened the scoring when he converted Patrick Cutrone’s centre after 54 minutes.
Four minutes later it was 2-0 when Gibbs-White tapped in Neto’s pass for his first Wolves goal.
Vinagre made it 3-0 soon after and Jota sealed victory, coming off the bench to acrobatically volley in Raul Jimenez’s lobbed pass with three minutes left.
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Pyunik kept the ball well after their 4-0 defeat in Armenia last week but never troubled John Ruddy.
Neto, Cutrone, Real Madrid loanee Jesus Vallejo and youngster Max Kilman all made their full debuts for Wolves to please Nuno.
He added: “Because of the shape, the boys were very organised. There were some adjustments required but after they felt that first impact, it was very good work. “It’s not the first time they’ve played together, there have been many hours together in training sessions.”
Wolves will now focus their attentions on Monday’s Premier League encounter with Manchester United.
The Red Devils will head to Molineux full of confidence after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side secured a 4-0 win over Frank Lampard’s Chelsea on the opening weekend.
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