NEVES SAY NEVER
Jota 6, Neves 51 RUBEN NEVES scored a sensational volley to help ensure Wolves can clinch a return to the Premier League this weekend.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s touchline antics and Wolves’ use of superagent Jorge Mendes has not endeared them to all.
But there is no denying their irresistible skill and quality which is destined for the top flight, where it will not look out of place.
They led from the sixth minute against Derby after a cool finish by top scorer Diogo Jota, his 16th goal of the season with.
Star midfielder Neves notched his sixth of the season with a brilliant flick and dipping volley from 35 yards in the 51st minute.
It was a breathtaking piece of skill to control the ball, turn and shoot for his latest goal from outside the box.
Now Wolves just need to beat Birmingham at home on Sunday to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2012.
The wealthy Chinese-owned club could also have their return rubber-stamped on Saturday if second-placed Fulham fail to beat Brentford at home.
Wolves started brightly chasing back-to-back wins over promotion rivals after winning at Cardiff last Friday when Neves scored the winner.
Jota made an early impact as defender Willy Boly split County’s defence with an angled pass which caught out left-back Chris Baird. Jota, on loan from Atletico Madrid, controlled it beautifully on his thigh and turned to strike it left-footed past Scott Carson.
It left exasperated Carson bemoaning the visitors’ slack marking. And soon after Benik Afobe headed over Ivan Cavaleiro’s cross.
Carson had to palm over Neves’ right-foot free-kick after NEIL WARNOCK is relishing the prospect of hunting Fulham down to snatch a Premier League place.
Cardiff surrendered their top-two spot after Slavisa Jokanovic’s men capitalised on their 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa by grabbing three points with a dangerman Jota was cynically fouled. Neves, a £15.8million summer signing from Porto, is short-listed for EFL Player of the Year and all six of his goals this season had been from outside the penalty area.
Derby briefly rallied after a lacklustre first half in front of unimpressed boss Gary Rowett.
But Wolves soon restored their stranglehold with Neves’ screamer after Derby could only partially clear the corner.
Tom Lawrence smashed a freekick for Derby into the wall at the other end as he sought to score for the third successive game.
But Wolves easily held out as fifth-placed Derby’s promotion ambitions remain in the balance with the chasing pack outside the top six two points behind them. 1-0 win over Reading. But Cardiff have a game in hand on their promotion rivals – who have now gone 20 games unbeaten.
Warnock (left) said: “I think it’s nice to be the hunter rather than the hunted. I thought they might have scored more than one goal, Fulham, so it just shows you. Things are going to happen between now and the end of the season.
“Fulham are a very good team, they talk a good game as well. So we’ve just got to concentrate on ourselves and it’s different when you’re out front.”
Warnock’s men have five matches to overtake Fulham, although they include trips to Norwich and Derby.
But Warnock reckons they can still make it to the promised land even if they have to do it via the play-offs.
“Wherever we finish, playoffs or automatic places, we’ve got a great chance,” he said.