Wolves beat Bournemouth in their best top-flight run for 38 years
Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - December 15, 2018 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Helder Costa in action with Bournemouth's Steve Cook REUTERS/Darren Staples
Wolverhampton Wanderers continued their surge in form by beating Bournemouth 2-0 with goals from Raul Jimenez and Ivan Cavaleiro at Molineux to record a third successive top-flight win for the first time since 1980.
The contrast in form between the two sides could not have been more marked, with Bournemouth suffering a sixth defeat in seven Premier League games.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - December 15, 2018 Bournemouth's Tyrone Mings in action with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Diogo Jota Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
Manager Eddie Howe had stressed the need to quickly forget the 4-0 thumping by Liverpool last time out but the visitors soon fell behind to a calamitous chain of events when Charlie Daniels misplaced a pass straight to Diogo Jota, whose mis-hit shot fell for Raul to tap home at the far post for his fifth goal of the season.
Raul turned provider for Jota with a superb through ball but Steve Cook was alert to the danger and bounced the winger off the ball, a challenge that injured the Portuguese and led to his halftime substitution.
Jota's replacement Helder Costa sliced his shot when put through by Morgan Gibbs-White as Wolves pushed for the goal that would have put them out of sight.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - December 15, 2018 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Ruben Neves in action with Bournemouth's Junior Stanislas Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
Bournemouth introduced top scorer Callum Wilson from the bench but his best chance was deflected for a corner and the victory was sealed by Cavaleiro with a cool finish in injury time.
The game was the first ever top-flight clash between the clubs and there is no doubt which of them is currently looking more comfortable at this level.
Wolves' previous top-flight campaign in 2011-12 ended with just 25 points and relegation. Now they are seventh, one point behind Manchester United.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - December 15, 2018 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Raul Jimenez scores their first goal Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo was predictably delighted with his team on a bitterly cold day.
"In this weather, with the wind, cold and rain and against Bournemouth -- I'm very proud. We did a fantastic job," he said.
"Before we were in a bad moment. Now we're in a good moment. It's important to realise why. The boys' character, the way they commit to the work on a daily basis, well done to them."
Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - December 15, 2018 Bournemouth's Steve Cook in action with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Morgan Gibbs-White Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine
(Reporting by Neil Robinson; editing by Clare Fallon)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - December 15, 2018 Bournemouth's Ryan Fraser in action with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Diogo Jota Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - December 15, 2018 Bournemouth's Ryan Fraser in action REUTERS/Darren Staples Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - December 15, 2018 Bournemouth's Lys Mousset in action with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Ruben Neves Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - December 15, 2018 Bournemouth's Tyrone Mings receives medical attention after sustaining an injury Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v AFC Bournemouth - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - December 15, 2018 Bournemouth's Joshua King shoots at goal REUTERS/Darren Staples
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