"We began 18 months ago, it's a growing process," he said. "The same people, the same players, always trying to find solutions and grow in our game.

"This team today, 70 per cent of them were with us in the Championship. We don't forget where we came from. We came from the Championship. We still have a long way to go.

"That's the only way to play football. If you have desire and hunger you are always able to finish. If not, then you wish and you expect. I believe in work."

Wolves needed only seven minutes to take the lead from the penalty spot through Ruben Neves, and though Andre Gomes lashed in an equaliser for Everton, Raul Jimenez headed the visitors back in front just before the break and Leander Dendoncker's first Wolves goal in the second half made sure.

"I'm very proud of the boys, the way they stayed organised," Nuno added. "The first half was better, in the second half the tempo dropped too much but we were still compact and didn't allow too many chances and controlled the game, so in general I'm very happy."

His fellow Portuguese Marco Silva was left to pick the bones out of another disappointing result for Everton, who have lost four of their last six in the league.

Jimenez's header means 16 of the 41 goals Everton have conceded in all competitions this season have come from set-pieces, a problem which urgently needs addressing.

"It's something we knew, something we planned for that Jimenez will attack the ball," Silva said. "It was a floated ball and we didn't even put 50 per cent of the aggressiveness that we have to put into that moment.

"If I can see Jimenez challenge the ball and there is not even one player there with him, no, it is not something that is part of our plan and it is not what we want to do."

Everton rarely looked like finding a way back into the match before Dendoncker made it 3-1, with the sight of a black cat crossing Wolves' goalmouth – and causing a lengthy delay – not proving to be an omen of anything changing for the hosts.

By the time referee Lee Mason blew the final whistle at the end of seven minutes added on, the Goodison Park stands were half-empty as restless fans voted with their feet, a fact not lost on Silva.

"It is now our obligation to turn things to our favour to give something back firstly to ourselves but of course to our fans," he said.

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