WOLVES boss Nuno Espirito Santo usually spends Boxing Day lounging on the sofa watching the Premier League games on TV.
Well, if his side keep up their push for a return to the top-flight, he can forget about returning to that sofa any time soon.
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Nuno has assembled arguably the best side the Championship has ever seen, and they showed glimpses of their class after being made to fight hard by Millwall.
The likes of Portugal international Ruben Neves, former Monaco winger Helder Costa and on-loan Athletico Madrid forward Diogo Jota oozed class.
But Nuno has told them to forget about winning promotion to the Premier League just yet after they were held to a draw at The Den.
He said: “It was my first taste of Boxing Day football. Normally these days we are on the couch watching English football, so it was nice to enjoy it.
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“It was tough. It was a test for us and that is what this competition is about.
“We knew it would be a challenge for us coming here but that is important for my players’ development and how they adapt to these solutions because we still have a long way to go.
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“We always wanted three points, especially when you are winning 2-1 away from home and controlling the game.
“Then we concede a goal from a corner, you are thinking ‘ah, we’ve had it’.
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“But the results will come. Nothing is decided in January. No competition in the world, so don’t look at the table.
“My message to my players is that we have to stay humble and we have to recognise that. We don’t get carried away. Tomorrow we will work and prepare for Bristol, this is over now.”
Millwall took the lead in the 14th minute after their keeper Jordan Archer had pulled off a fine save to deny Matt Doherty.
Former Wolves midfielder Jed Wallace raced up the other end and teed up Lee Gregory, who slotted past John Ruddy.
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Aiden O’Brien then came agonisingly close to doubling Millwall’s lead with a volley at the far post that was just off target.
But Wolves began to find their way back into this fixture with Costa going close before he then set up Jota for an equaliser in first-half stoppage time.
Romain Saiss looked to have completed the comeback when he thumped in from 25 yards after Costa again supplied the pass.
But Millwall levelled through giant defender Jake Cooper when he headed home through a packed penalty area.
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A point was no less that Millwall deserved after creating their own fair-share of opportunities to score.
Lions’ boss Neil Harris was pleased with a point of the Championship table-toppers and backed Nuno to win promotion to the Premier League.
He added: “I would not expect to see Wolves here next year. I hope they will be in the Premier League.
“Nuno has a very good side. People always say they have spent a lot of money but he has spent it wisely.
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“He has got the right balance between foreign players with flair and quality and a good backbone of British players.
“I was really pleased with a point and certainly no-one who paid to come in today was short-changed.
“It was a typical Millwall performance. We had to be patient against a top Wolves side and when we did get the ball, we had to use it wisely.”
