CAV A BIT OF THAT
Ivan the clinical pounces late on to secure best top-flight run in 38 years
WOLVES got away with this one on a cold, sleety day in the Black Country.
It is now the best Wanderers run in the top flight for 38 years – but you would not have guessed it by the performance.
All those worries about the fair-weather foreigners at Molineux not fancying it come the cold winter months returned.
Instead they relied on a Charlie Daniels mistake and a late Ivan Cavaleiro strike to win their third successive Premier League game for the first time.
They have not been as good as this since 1980 in the First Division, back when Bournemouth were a struggling little club and Wolves had John Richards banging in goals. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo said: “I am very proud of the boys. They have made this possible. Before we were in a bad moment but now it is good.” Wanderers went six league games without a win prior to this run and Nuno added: “We are trying to create something special in the most difficult competition in the world. “But we are not looking at the
table, just like we did not look at it last season when we were in the Championship.” Bournemouth were worth at least a point in this damp encounter played in shocking conditions.
Junior Stanislas smacked a free-kick against the crossbar in the second half and Wolves rarely had control.
But the facts will tell you that they are now seventh, a point behind Manchester United, while Bournemouth are on a damaging run of one victory in seven games.
They have lost six of those as well and that bright start they made when the ice creams were still melting in the early season warmth is now forgotten.
Cherries boss Eddie Howe said: “We have made a bad mistake for the first goal but we have controlled the match.
“I didn’t see a team there that was lacking in identity. We have our identity, a way of playing. I will always back us to come good eventually.
“We are kicking ourselves with the goals we are conceding.
“You don’t like losing and the players have done so well historically when we have been out of form and that will hopefully be the case again.”
Sub Cavaleiro finished off Bournemouth four minutes into added time with a solo breakaway, but it was
Raul Jimenez’s strike in the 12th minute that set up the hosts for this victory.
And when things are not going for you, like they are not for Howe’s men at the moment, you do not need a huge mistake like the one Daniels came up with.
The defender took a throw-in, got the ball back and then tried to play a ridiculous pass across the pitch that and turned it into a suicide ball when Diogo Jota intercepted it.
Jota had a lot to do, running at Bournemouth and bringing four players around him. That left Jimenez free and lurking. Whether Jota meant to get the ball to him or it was a screwed attempted at goal, only he will know. But the final outcome was that Jimenez ended up with the ball and found himself unmarked – and tapped home his fifth goal of the season. Jota, with two strikes in his last two games, looked full of confidence and danger.
Both Steve Cook and Jefferson Lerma were booked for fouls on him as the Portuguese ace became the most threatening player on the pitch.
But he did not see out the first half, which must have been a relief to Bournemouth.
Just before the break Jimenez sent his team-mate away with a terrific pass.
Cook saw the danger and bounced Jota off the ball with his shoulder as they headed towards the penalty area.
Referee Simon Hooper decided it was not a foul, which saved Cook from being sent off for a second yellow, but the outcome was Jota flat out on the turf and out of the action.
The game needed a new hero. Helder Costa came on and had an early chance to take over as the star of the show but shot wide.
Costa had another shot that was saved and it was left to Cavaleiro to clinch it.
Nuno added: “In this weather, with the wind, cold and rain, I’m very proud.”
But he will know his team will have to perform better than this to keep climbing the table when luck is not going their way.