Wolves 1-0 Leeds United: Boubacar Traore’s strike sees hosts advance to the Carabao Cup fourth round

Julen Lopetegui will have a tie in the Carabao Cup for this first game as Wolves manager after substitute Boubacar Traore’s late strike was enough to send them into the last 16.

The Spaniard’s coaching team watched from the stands in Molineux, and Lopetegui was expected to take formal control this weekend and watch Saturday’s clash with Arsenal here.

Despite Wolves’ struggles in the Premier League, progress in this league will at least give Lopetegui something to build on when domestic action returns after the World Cup. Leeds could have new owners by then, with the US-based 49ers group now thought to have the financing in place to complete their highly anticipated takeover of the Elland Road club.

Boubacar Traore (center right) was Wolves’ hero when they beat Leeds United in the Carabao Cup

Despite most of their key men resting, Jesse Marsch’s team still created the better chances and was a bit unlucky not to take them to penalties. But Wolves will take everything they can get as caretaker boss Steve Davis prepares to hand it over to Lopetegui.

With four debutants in the starting XI and up against a strong Wolves side, Leeds could be expected to start cautiously. Quite the opposite.

Matija Sarkic, brought in by Wolves to give Jose Sa a break, did well to push behind Jack Harrison’s deflected free kick, before Diego Llorente’s header went wide from the corner.

Moments later, from another corner, Llorente was again first to the ball and Sarkic made a fine stop before the ball was hacked away.

Leeds front four had two players – Sonny Perkins and Mateo Joseph – making their first appearances in the seniors, and both were lively, while the other outfield debutant, Darko Gyabi, did a solid midfield job.

In the early stages, Leeds flew but slowly the wolves stopped their flow, never producing a sustained period of pressure of their own.

Skipper Ruben Neves shot a free kick wide from 25 yards, Adama Traore’s angled attempt just past the post and Hwang Hee Chan shot high from just outside the penalty area.

Wolves attacked Molineux’s South Bank in the second half and almost made the perfect start when Goncalo Guedes held off his marker and Kilman set up, forcing Joel Robles to save with his feet. On the other hand, Harrison slipped into the penalty area and Sarkic was relieved to see his delicate effort narrowly miss.

Wolves came back. Guedes drove ahead, feeding Rayan Ait-Nouri on the left who crossed over to Connor Ronan. The midfielder nearly marked his first start in five years with a goal, only for Robles to claw his volley away. Then Kilman made an equally important intervention to deny Joseph a run on target.

Wolves finally made their mark six minutes from time when Daniel Podence ran to the right and squared in front of fellow sub Traore, who shot past Robles from 20 yards.