Report & Highlights: Eagles down Wolves with convincing win at Molineux

Summary:

• Two changes for Palace, with Guéhi back from injury and Pino returning.
• 12: Palace see strong early penalty appeal turned down by VAR.
• 16: Mateta races through from Pino’s pass, but places his effort wide of the post.
• 21: Kamada is denied by Johnstone as Palace press for the opener.
• 26: Henderson keeps out Gomes’ free-kick and Krejcí spurns the rebound.
• 45: The remainder of the half is light on chances, but Palace’s build-up play is positive.
• HT: Wolves 0-0 Palace
• 48: Munetsi pokes a loose ball over the bar after Wolves started the second-half brightly.
• 58: Sarr sidefoots a finish over the bar after being well found by Pino.
• 63 – GOAL: Muñoz reacts sharply to swivel and sweep Palace into the lead following a deflection.
• 68 – GOAL: Pino scores spectacular first Premier League goal to put Palace in command.
• 76: Arias drags a clear chance wide for Wolves from close-range.
• 80: Lacroix makes a brilliant block on the slide to preserve a clean sheet.
• FT: Wolves 0-2 Palace

Palace were looking to build off the back of three wins from their four matches immediately preceding the international break, and were bolstered by the return of captain Marc Guéhi from the injury he sustained against AZ Alkmaar. Yéremy Pino also returned to the starting XI.

For Wolves, there was a galvanising factor too: former player Rob Edwards, who played over 100 times for the hosts in the early 2000s, was making his first appearance in the dugout after competing his mid-season move from Middlesbrough – and the Molineux crowd duly responded as they sought a first win of the Premier League season.

There was a resounding atmosphere at kick-off – but the early pacesetters were Palace.

The Eagles had looked sharp in training after their 12 senior internationals had returned earlier this week, according to Oliver Glasner – and so the case proved early on with some particularly incisive approach play, the ball zipping from back to front rapidly amidst the rainy conditions.

It was on the 12-minute mark that the first moment of note arrived after Ismaïla Sarr – Palace’s leading scorer in all competitions this season – made a sharp turn in midfield and drove towards the box. As he prodded the ball beyond David Wolfe in the corner of the box, the Wolves man dove in. It took a VAR review to call that the challenge took place right on the edge of the area, rather than just inside it.

Moments later, the clearest chance of the half: two lovely quick passes into feet, the latter from Yéremy Pino, set Jean-Philippe Mateta racing through on goal. The Frenchman adjusted his run to meet the pass but, with just Sam Johnstone to beat in the Wolves goal, placed his finish beyond both the goalkeeper and the far post.

Kamada was next to come close five minutes later, as a looping Daniel Muñoz cross was only headed out as far as the edge of the box. From a similar position to his goal for Japan in midweek, Kamada adjusted well and struck a sweet volley – but Johnstone, to the Wolves’ keeper’s credit, produced a strong save to turn it round his right-hand post.

Palace were certainly on top, save for the final ball – but Wolves did have a clear opportunity after 26 minutes when Tolu Arokodare won a free-kick on the edge of the box.

Joao Gomes bent a low effort around the wall, Dean Henderson adjusted his feet quickly to kick away – and the ball ricocheted off the advancing Ladislav Krejci, thankfully over the crossbar.

The remainder of the half continued in a similar manner – the Eagles getting the ball into good positions, but struggling for a final ball, whilst Wolves offered little as an attacking threat.

But the hosts came out with renewed vigour for the second-half and looked dangerous in the opening exchanges; one set-piece reached Marshall Munetsi in clear space, albeit from a tight angle, and the midfielder unconvincingly skewed a finish over the crossbar.

At the other end, Palace were beginning to click into another gear as well, and Pino – ever a threat throughout – picked out Sarr with a lovely first-time ball from Wharton’s diagonal. The Senegal forward galloped to meet it on his weaker left foot, and ended up steering over the bar.

The first goal was always going to be crucial in such a contest – and, thankfully, it went to Palace on 63 minutes.

There was a touch of fortune, maybe, as a short corner saw Pino roll it to Wharton on the edge of the box, and his shot took a huge deflection on its way through – but there was nothing fortunate about Muñoz’s swivel and strike into an unguarded net, with Johnstone already committed to the dive.

The passage of play required a lengthy VAR check for offside in the initial deflection – but there was none, and so the goal stood.

Hwang-Hee Chan, fresh off the bench for Wolves, ceded possession in his own third, and Wharton zipped it into Pino’s feet. The Spaniard took a touch, set himself, and curled the sweetest of strikes from 25 yards into the far top corner – in off the underside of the bar, to add to the aesthetics – for an unforgettable first Premier League goal.

It was no more than Palace deserved, as their overall pressure eventually told.

Wolves did mount a late surge as they sought a route back into the game; Jhon Arias ought to have scored from close range after being found by Wolfe, but scooped wide, and then Maxence Lacroix was forced to make a brilliant slide in to keep out Hwang’s low placed effort.

But the three points were Palace’s – fully-deserved – as they began their run of winter fixtures by continuing their red-hot form of late.

Wolves: Johnstone (GK), Tchatchoua, Agbadou, Krejci (Arias, 75), Toti, Wolfe (H Bueno, 88), Andre, J Gomes, Munetsi (Bellegarde, 66), Strand Larsen, Arokodare (Hwang, 66).

Subs: Sa (GK), Hoever, Mosquera, S Bueno, Lopez.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Richards (Canvot, 83), Lacroix, Guéhi, Muñoz, Kamada (Lerma, 81), Wharton (Hughes, 90+1), Mitchell, Pino (Devenny, 81), Sarr, Mateta (Nketiah, 60).

Subs: Benítez (GK), Clyne, Sosa, Uche.

As It Happened