Neves gem puts Wolves on the brink
A STUNNING goal by Ruben Neves helped put Wolves on the brink of a return to the Premier League last night.
Nuno Espirito the ball behind for a Santo’s men could seal corner. Tom promotion at the Huddlestone had a weekend after their deflected shot that two star turns – Neves was held by Wolves and Diogo Jota – keeper John Ruddy but scored the goals that the hosts were soon saw off Derby. back on the front foot
Portuguese winger with Benik Afobe Jota opened the heading just over. scoring after six After a lull in the minutes with his 16th tempo, Wolves won a goal of the season free-kick 12 minutes before compatriot from half-time when Neves brought the Jota was tripped. house down six Neves’s free-kick was minutes into the saved by Carson and second half with a Ryan Bennett headed strike from distance. over from the corner.
The defeat dealt a Derby won a blow to Derby’s free-kick of their own play-off hopes but near the end of the first Wolves could now be half but it was wasted promoted before they by Tom Lawrence, who play again if Fulham blasted it directly into drop points against the wall. Jota curled a Brentford on shot over the Saturday. crossbar as Failing that, the first half Nuno’s side petered out. can seal a It was 2-0 top-flight early into the return by second half beating when Neves Birmingham sent on Sunday. Molineux
The first wild with chance fell to a moment Derby when of magic. a corner was JOTA: Got the first A Barry delivered to Andreas Douglas corner was Weimann on the edge headed out of the of the Wolves area but penalty area, Neves’ the Austrian sent a first touch chipped the shot high. ball in the air and his
Wolves were soon on second sent it curling the attack and, after brilliantly over a forcing a couple of helpless Carson and corners, they were into the top corner. ahead. Derby tried to
Willy Boly chipped a respond with clever pass towards Lawrence weaving Jota, Chris Baird kept his way to the byline him onside and he kept before having his cross his composure to turn blocked. away from Scott Carson But there was little and plant a shot into sign of Wolves the empty net. squandering their lead.
Wolves might have doubled their lead after 14 minutes when Neves advanced from midfield and let fly with a 25-yard shot that Carson could only parry.
Jota looked set to pounce on the rebound but Curtis Davies reacted quickly to turn
WOLVES WOLVES (3-4-3): Booked: