Wolves 0-1 Bournemouth: Marcus Tavernier’s knee gives the Cherries three points

Talk about winning ugly. Bournemouth barged, niggled and time-wasted their way to a precious victory and if it keeps them up at the end of the season, nobody will care a jot.

The Cherries had lost their previous six on the road and won only once away from the Vitality Stadium all season. But thanks to a goal early in the second half from Marcus Tavernier and a sensational display at the back from Jack Stephens, Bournemouth’s chances of Premier League survival are alive and kicking again.

Referee Michael Salisbury never had control of a bad-tempered game and Wolves will moan long and loud about their opponents’ gamesmanship – but had only themselves to blame. 

They could not make it count when they were dominant in the first half and during the second boss Julen Lopetegui bizarrely took off Adama Traore, who had been by some distance his most dangerous attacker. Wolves were strong favourites to make it three straight wins here but ultimately fluffed their lines.

Wolves’ last home game was a 3-0 win over Liverpool while Bournemouth had not scored in their previous four fixtures on the road, so it was no surprise to see Lopetegui’s men begin on the front foot.

Marcus Tavernier (left) tapped the ball around Jose Sa with his knee to put Bournmouth 1-0 up

The win lifts Bournemouth out of the relegation zone, with a points difference on West Ham  

Cherries goalkeeper Neto punched tentatively at Joao Moutinho’s corner and the ball rebounded off Marcus Tavernier – though luckily for Bournemouth it did not fall to a Wolves boot.

Then Stephens produced an important block to stop Pablo Sarabia turning in Nelson Semedo’s cross at the near post.

The moment of the half was provided by Traore, who showed a stunning first touch to control Matheus Nunes’ overhit pass in mid-air. The winger charged goalwards and Matheus Cunha was stopped by Stephens from making clean contact with the cross.

As has been the case so often since Raul Jimenez’s career-threatening injury at Arsenal in November 2020, Wolves have lacked a No9 in his prime. Lopetegui showed his exasperation on the touchline when Hugo Bueno crossed dangerously from the left and no Wolves player was there to attack it.

Wolves had won two of their past two matches including a 3-0 win against Liverpool

The frustration grew for Wolves. Moutinho headed Semedo’s cross over and then his return pass was drilled against Neto by Sarabia.

And it got worse for Wolves straight after half-time when Bournemouth took a shock lead. With the Wolves defence static, Dominic Solanke drifted into space inside the box and drilled across goal. Marcus Tavernier had nipped in front of Semedo and when the ball flicked his left thigh, it was enough to take it beyond Jose Sa.

Lopetegui’s men tried to respond immediately as Traore gave Jordan Zemura the slip, but Cunha’s attempted header at the near post was poor.

Bournemouth had been happy to run down the clock even with the score goalless and they did so with greater eagerness now. To boos from the South Bank, Tavernier took an age to leave the pitch after picking up a knock that ended his afternoon.

But it was a frustrating afternoon for the midlands club, who failed to convert their chances

Diego Costa came on for Matheus Cunha to make his 100th Premier League appearance

When Philip Billing went down soon afterwards to force another delay, Lopetegui had had enough and marched over to fourth official Tim Robinson to make his point.

Stephens was having a magnificent game at the back for Bournemouth and after Traore had escaped again, he denied Cunha with another superb challenge. No wonder Stephens celebrated as though he had scored.

Tavernier’s excellent finish was his third Premier League goal of the season for the Cherries

Adama Traore was a handful for Bournemouth, breaking down the left side several times

Wolves were getting tetchier and tetchier and at this point Lopetegui opted to send on Diego Costa, hardly a man to lower the temperature, for his 100th Premier League appearance. Sure enough, the former Chelsea man was soon bumping into Marcos Senesi off the ball, and remonstrating with fellow sub Daniel Podence when the Portuguese failed to read Costa’s header across goal.

Lopetegui played another card by replacing Traore with Jimenez as Craig Dawson’s header was flicked over by Neto. Wolves’ chances disappeared in stoppage time when Neto did well to cling on to Ruben Neves’ volley from distance. When Podence and Sarabia then ran into each other and Jimenez lost his footing in the area, Wolves knew it would not be their day.