Nuno after madcap Wolves win: "Everything went crazy"
"Everything went crazy but we won," was how Nuno Espirito Santo succinctly summed it up after nine-man Wolves beat Middlesbrough 2-1 in a madcap game at the Riverside.
Nuno's team were 2-0 up and cruising but then had both Ruben Neves and Matt Doherty sent off in the second half.
Middlesbrough pulled a goal back in injury time and Wolves almost conceded another but held on, leading to barmy scenes at full time with Nuno sprinting onto the pitch and he and his players celebrating wildly in front of almost 2,000 ecstatic supporters.
Nuno refused to blame Doherty or Neves, saying his players lost their emotions after referee Stuart Attwell gave no foul when Helder Costa appeared to be tripped as he ran through on goal.
Nuno said: "It's difficult to control emotions when you see injustices being made.
"The first half, there was only one team on the pitch. We showed we're better than Middlesbrough and things changed because we had two men less.
"That's why we celebrated like that, it was important for our fans too.
"I'm talking about the situation of Helder. It was a bad decision of the referee, then the players lose control of their emotions.
"Everything went crazy but we won.
"The players lose the focus, starting worrying about the referee and approaching the game in a different way.
"What I saw was a decision that changed the game and caused my players – and Middlesbrough's players – to lose control.
"I think it's the job of the referee to try and talk to them and calm them and explain to them.
"After that if you just turn your back and start whistling, players get frustrated. My players are used to dialogue.
"We're not an aggressive team with so many cards, we're not that kind of team (but) we should be more in control of our emotions, it's important."
Wolves survived a late onslaught with their defenders producing some Herculean blocks and John Ruddy making an outstanding save from Adama Traore.
Nuno added: "When we had the same men on the pitch we were better. Middlesbrough is a good team and we showed we are better than them.
"The mentality has been growing game by game and it began at the beginning of July.
"When a team cannot play football it has to defend – and we are ready to do that."
It was also Wolves' first win at Middlesbrough since 1951 – a run of 25 draws or defeats in 67 years.
"It means a lot for the boys and the fans," Nuno said. "The way they celebrated here means a lot.
"We're here for our fans – the fans are who we work for. It was fantastic to see their smiles, I don't get tired of saying thank you to them."
