15 love for Jimenez to leave Wolves looking up

BOSS Nuno Espirito Santo praised “special” striker Raul Jimenez after the forward maintained Wolves’ Champions League charge.

The Mexico international’s second-half header secured victory which leaves Wolves sixth, just two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea who now have a game in hand, and they travel to Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season.

Jimenez’s 15 league goals is also the most by a Wolves player in the top flight since John Richards scored 17 in 1975-’76, leaving Nuno impressed. The Wolves boss said: “He has been working very hard and he is a special player. His motivation is to improve, he has broken the club record (most goals in a Premier League season) and he is challenging himself again and again every day.

“He has improved in a lot of things, I cannot be specific with one, but if you asked me the other way around there is also a lot of room to improve. He can be better.”

Nuno joked that he would talk to the striker after Jimenez said the club should dream big following two straight wins after the restart.

He added: “Our players think, they get excited after a game. I’ll put him in his place.”

In a game of few chances, Jimenez and Adama Traore combined for the 10th time this season to seal victory on the hour. Traore swung in a cross from the right and Jimenez rose about Jack Stacey and Steve Cook to head home from six yards.

Bournemouth never looked like recovering and are now without top scorer Callum Wilson for their next two games against Newcastle and Manchester United after his 10th booking this season.

They remain in the drop zone on goal difference.