Counter attacking Wolves seal win

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 v AFC Bournemouth 0

Can there be two more contrasting managers in the Premier League? The one short, blond and clean shaven. The other tall, dark and munificent of beard. Yet from such divergent physical manifestations comes a common purpose in the way that the game should be played. Expansive, attacking, easy on the eye football. Wolves fans are familiar with Nuno. Less so with Eddie Howe. In his nine years in charge at AFC Bournemouth he not only rescued them from potential relegation out of the Football League but he then embarked on a rise to the top. And after three years in the Premier League Howe is now building a team where the balance in favour of them staying up is greater than them going down. By any reckoning a remarkable achievement and an indication that on a rare Saturday outing, Wolves were in for a difficult afternoon.

Whether difficult is the correct description, now that the game is over, is moot. Yes Bournemouth dominated possession with their neat pass and move game. Yes they were quicker to the second ball. And yes they pressed Wolves who were once again too profligate when in possession. But for all their seeming dominance it took the visitors a full hour to really trouble Rui Patricio when he was forced into parrying Junior Stanislas’s edge of the box free kick.

By then Wolves were 1-0 up having been gifted a goal in minute ten when Diogo Jota received an errant pass from Charlie Daniels. The Portuguese forward accelerated passed two Bournemouth defenders before his cross cum shot was met by Raul Jimenez who side footed home into an empty net. Throughout the rest of the first half Jota would prove a constant threat with his pace on the break and it was just a shame that he had to go off at half time.

Indeed it was the home side’s ability to threaten on the counter attack that contrasted with Bournemouth’s more studious approach. In minute 57 Helder Costa – a replacement for the injured Jota - was set free on goal. But in a scenario that is becoming all too familiar he failed to convert, lifting his head at the crucial moment and blasting the ball high into the South Bank. After some stick from the crowd he went close again in the 86th minute with a fine left foot strike which was well saved by Asmir Begovic.

Then in time added on an Ivan Cavaleiro Helder Costa one two on the half way line set Cavaleiro free on goal. With a deal more composure than his fellow countryman, the Portuguese forward made no mistake, side footing past an advancing Begovic to seal the victory. This curate’s egg of a win moves Wolves up to seventh in the table with 25 points.

Unlike Brexit, the blip is now a distant memory.

Wolves: Patricio 6, Bennett 7, Coady 6, Boly 7, Doherty 7, Moutinho 7, Neves 6, Gibbs White 7 Sub Saiss, Jonny 6, Jota 6 Sub Helder Costa 6, Jimenez 7 Sub Cavaleiro

AFC Bournement: Begovic 6, S Cook 6, Ake 6, Mings 6 Sub Rico 6, Ibe 6 Sub Wilson 5, Surman 7, Lerma 7, Daniels 6, Stanislas 6 Sub Mousset, Fraser 6, King 6

Attendance: 30,997
Referee: Simon Hooper 8

©Mark Brennand