Wolves 2-0 Crystal Palace: Hosts go nine points clear of relegation zone after early own goal

Returning captain Ruben Neves inspired Wolves to a victory that represented a giant step to securing their Premier League status.

Neves, surprisingly put on the bench for last Saturday’s defeat at Leicester having previously served a two-match ban, underlined his importance to Julen Lopetegui’s side with a goal and assist.

The Portuguese midfielder’s corner panicked Joachim Andersen into an own goal after three minutes and when Palace pushed for a late equaliser, he showed composure to slot home a penalty after Sam Johnstone had careered into Pedro Neto.

Following their third home win in a row, all with clean sheets, Wolves have joined Palace on 37 points, almost certainly enough for this to be a Premier League fixture again next season even though manager Julen Lopetegui won’t take anything for granted.

For Palace, it was a first defeat for 75-year-old manager Roy Hodgson since he returned to the club to replace Patrick Vieira.

Wolves are now nine points clear of the relegation zone following their win over Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace got off to an awful start as Joachim Andersen couldn’t sort his feet out and put the ball in the back of his own net just three minutes into the contest at the Molineux

Ruben Neves then ensured the three points for Wolves with a penalty deep in stoppage time

The result effectively secures Wolves’ Premier League future as they are nine points clear of the relegation zone

He could point to fantastic saves from Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa from Albert Lokonga and Eberechi Eze when the score was 1-0 but now faces an anxious wait concerning Andersen who was replaced at half-time feeling a muscle strain.

‘Our fans can sleep a little better than the day before but of course we still have a lot of work left to achieve our aim,’ said Lopetegui. ‘People thought we were in an impossible position but now we have hope.

‘Neves played at a very good level with good energy, focussed to help the team. He is an important player for us and we are happy with his return but it was also good for our confidence to show we could when he wasn’t available.

After a run of 10 points in four games, this was a minor setback for Hodgson. ‘Some defeats make you gloomy but I thought there were good things in our game and 2-0 wasn’t a fair reflection,’ he said.

‘I haven’t set the players a target but if we play like that, we will pick up points. We just hope Joachim is OK, I don’t want to lose the partnership between him and Marc Guehi.’

Neves made an instant impact, starting the move that saw Diego Costa foiled by Johstone to allow the game’s first corner.

The skipper’s outswinger caught Andersen facing the wrong way near the penalty spot and the ball bounced up off his left knee to run past his startled goalkeeper.

Unfortunately, the Dane is making a habit of bad luck. This was his fourth Premier League own goal, putting him joint-fifth in the all-time list, and his previous one was as recently as last month at Aston Villa.

Wolves had the best of the first half with Johnstone saving from Nelson Semedo but they were mindful Palace had overturned a 1-0 deficit at Leeds earlier this month to win 5-1.

They flexed their muscles after 39 minutes with Sa making a great reflex save from Lokonga and Hodgson showed his intent by sending on forwards Odsonne Edouard and Jeffrey Schlupp for his two holding midfield players besides having to replace Andersen.

Eze was also denied by Sa’s fingertips as Wolves hung on nervily but Johnstone then gifted a second with a poor touch in his haste to boot the ball upfield.

Crystal Palace applied pressure on Wolves with forward Jordan Ayew having a shot

It was a highly competitive game between two sides who have improved in recent weeks

Referee Robert Jones brandished the yellow card on nine occasions as both sides pushed for a goal

He caught Neto high up in a bid to retrieve his mistake and Robert Jones had no hesitation pointing to the spot with Neves coolly converting low to the ‘keeper’s left, though Johhstone could also be grateful to be shown a yellow rather than red card.

The Molineux fun including Costa charging around like the centre-forward of old, earning a rebuke from the referee at one point for an aggressive barge into Luka Milivojevic.

‘He is not here for a holiday,’ smiled Lopetegui, who also thanked the crowd for their part in Wolves’ good home form . ‘They have our back. They are our 12th man,’ he added.