AliousWolves secured a vital 1-0 victory over Bournemouth in the Premier League, giving fans their first look at new signing Nasser Djiga in action.
Matheus Cunha’s first-half goal proved decisive after Bournemouth’s Illian Zabarnyi was sent off for a reckless challenge on Rayan Ait-Nouri. Although the match had been an open contest before the red card, Wolves capitalized on their numerical advantage under Vitor Pereira’s tactical guidance. Recognizing the risk of playing with a booked Joao Gomes, Pereira substituted him at halftime and later introduced Djiga to help see out the win.
The 22-year-old defender, signed from Red Star Belgrade for £10 million on deadline day, wasn’t initially expected to feature prominently this season. However, an injury to Emmanuel Agbadou has accelerated his path to first-team involvement. Djiga began the match on the bench but replaced Santiago Bueno for the final 17 minutes, making his Premier League debut under challenging circumstances.
Wolves fans had mixed reactions to Djiga’s performance. Some supporters felt he appeared nervous, making a few clumsy clearances and passes. One fan admitted that Djiga’s touches were nerve-wracking, while another pointed out an almost costly moment that Marshall Munetsi had to recover. Others, however, were more optimistic, praising his composure and ability to handle the pressure.
Despite the debate, Djiga’s stats from the brief cameo painted a reassuring picture. He completed 100% of his passes (9/9), made two clearances, two interceptions, and won an aerial duel while managing 16 touches in his limited time on the pitch.
With Agbadou sidelined, Djiga now has an opportunity to stake his claim for a starting spot, potentially challenging Bueno for a more prominent role in the Wolves defense.
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