3 years ago
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Wolves took an early lead thanks to Joachim Andersen's own goal and then saw out a crucial winWolves took a huge step towards securing their Premier League status for next season with victory over Crystal Palace at Molineux.
In a match low on clear-cut chances, Wolves went in front after three minutes when Ruben Neves' corner bounced off the knee of Palace centre-back Joachim Andersen and in off the crossbar.
The goal came in a lively opening few minutes that quickly gave way to an altogether more scrappy and tetchy affair that was settled by Neves' stoppage-time penalty.
Albert Sambi Lokonga came closest to providing a Palace equaliser before half-time but his snapshot from eight yards out was saved by Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa.
Palace were on top for much of the second half but struggled to create any real opportunities of note with Eberechi Eze's dipping left-footed effort from distance, tipped over by Sa, the closest they came to scoring.
Wolves offered next to nothing going forward in the last half hour but held on before Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone brought down Pedro Neto as he tried to atone for his own poor touch.
Neves made no mistake from the spot and sealed a win that move Wolves level on points with 12th-placed Palace and, crucially, nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Wolves on the brink of safety
This was not a game that will live long in the memory, but for Wolves it could be among their most significant of the season.
Players and management may not admit it but the three points should all-but guarantee they will be playing Premier League football again next season.
It has been an impressive turnaround under Julen Lopetegui, who took over during the World Cup break with Wolves bottom of table on just 10 points from 15 games.
Tonight's triumph makes it 27 from 18 under the former Spain boss and lifts them to 13th.
The game rather encapsulated Lopetegui's spell so far with Wolves sturdy, solid but far from sparkling.
No-one could doubt their fight, though, and while Lopetegui despaired of his team's inability to keep the ball late in the game and invited pressure, that is something he can work on with his team over the summer as they - surely - prepare for another year in the top flight.
More to follow.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers
Squad number1Player nameJosé Sá
Squad number22Player nameNélson Semedo
Squad number15Player nameDawson
Squad number23Player nameKilman
Squad number64Player nameBueno
Squad number11Player nameHwang Hee-chan
Squad number8Player nameRúben Neves
Squad number5Player nameLemina
Squad number27Player nameMatheus Nunes
Squad number12Player nameMatheus Cunha
Squad number29Player nameDiego Costa
Squad number4Player nameCollins
Squad number7Player namePedro Neto
Squad number24Player nameToti
Squad number35Player nameJoão Gomes
Squad number37Player nameTraoré
Crystal Palace
Squad number21Player nameJohnstone
Squad number26Player nameRichards
Squad number16Player nameAndersen
Squad number6Player nameGuéhi
Squad number3Player nameMitchell
Squad number8Player nameSambi Lokonga
Squad number4Player nameMilivojevic
Squad number19Player nameHughes
Squad number7Player nameOlise
Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
Squad number10Player nameEze
Squad number2Player nameWard
Squad number14Player nameMateta
Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
Squad number22Player nameÉdouard
Line-ups
Wolves
Formation 4-4-2
- 1SáBooked at 76mins
- 22Nélson Semedo
- 15Dawson
- 23Kilman
- 64BuenoSubstituted forGomesat 79'minutesBooked at 84mins
- 11Hwang Hee-chanSubstituted forTraoréat 79'minutes
- 8NevesBooked at 90mins
- 5Lemina
- 27NunesSubstituted forNetoat 89'minutes
- 12Matheus CunhaSubstituted forJoão Gomesat 68'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 29Diego CostaBooked at 75minsSubstituted forCollinsat 89'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Collins
- 7Neto
- 10Podence
- 21Sarabia
- 24Gomes
- 25Bentley
- 28João Moutinho
- 35João Gomes
- 37Traoré
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-3-3
- 21JohnstoneBooked at 90mins
- 26Richards
- 16AndersenSubstituted forWardat 45'minutes
- 6Guéhi
- 3Mitchell
- 8Sambi LokongaBooked at 36minsSubstituted forÉdouardat 65'minutes
- 4MilivojevicBooked at 13minsSubstituted forSchluppat 65'minutesBooked at 70mins
- 19HughesSubstituted forMatetaat 89'minutes
- 7Olise
- 9J Ayew
- 10Eze
Substitutes
- 2Ward
- 5Tomkins
- 13Guaita
- 14Mateta
- 15Schlupp
- 18McArthur
- 22Édouard
- 28Doucouré
- 44Riedewald
Live Text
Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Crystal Palace 0.
Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Crystal Palace 0.
Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for excessive celebration.
Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Crystal Palace 0. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
João Gomes (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card.
Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Penalty conceded by Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace) after a foul in the penalty area.
Penalty Wolverhampton Wanderers. Pedro Neto draws a foul in the penalty area.
Attempt missed. Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Joel Ward with a cross.
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jean-Philippe Mateta replaces Will Hughes.
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Pedro Neto replaces Matheus Nunes.
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Nathan Collins replaces Diego Costa.
Attempt blocked. Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Eberechi Eze.
Attempt blocked. Joel Ward (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Eberechi Eze.
Toti (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Michael Olise (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Toti (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Toti.
Attempt blocked. Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joel Ward with a cross.
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Toti replaces Hugo Bueno.
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