Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-0 Blackpool: Matt Doherty scores twice as hosts progress

Matt Doherty marked his second debut at Wolverhampton Wanderers with two goals as they comfortably beat League One side Blackpool to reach the third round of the Carabao Cup.

Fabio Silva turned in the second after Blackpool’s Kenny Dougall hit the post.

Wolves then added three more after the break with Doherty’s double and a Nathan Fraser strike.

Irishman Doherty, who spent 10 years at Wolves from 2010 before leaving for spells with Tottenham Hotspur and Atletico Madrid until returning this summer, got his first with a header, before guiding in his second soon after.

Wolves improving after disappointing start

Things have picked up for Wolves after a poor start to the season in which they lost their first two Premier League games, conceding five goals and scoring just one.

But it is now back-to-back wins for Gary O’Neil’s side, scoring three times without reply and that will give them encouragement after perhaps fearing a difficult campaign ahead.

So will news that midfielder Matheus Nunes could stay, despite interest from Manchester City.

O’Neil made nine changes for this game but still had far too much for a Blackpool side that was relegated to League One last season.

Five goals will be the hugely satisfying aspect of the victory for the home fans, with Wolves having previously struggled to put away chances.

Austrian Kalajdzic’s strike was his second in as many games after grabbing the winner against Everton at the weekend, while Doherty’s double were his first goals for Wolves since a 3-2 win at Tottenham in March 2020.