THE VERDICT: WOLVES 0 TOWN 2 Terriers are jumping for MOOY after Wolves win
TOWN RATED
Had a tremendous match, not only in prompting much of Town’s best work but also in clearing one off the line Isaac Mbenza: (for Pritchard 90) - NA Danny Williams: (for Billing 90) - NA Jon Gorenc Stankovic: (for Hogg 90) - NA Not used: Hamer, Kachunga, Ramadan, Depoitre. AARON Mooy scored a precious double which lifted tenacious Town out of the Premier League relegation zone.
In a performance packed with pride and intent from Town, Mooy notched on five and 73 minutes to give head coach David Wagner his first away win since West Brom last February.
Roared on by a travelling contingent of 1,838 in a crowd of 30,130, Town were at their bristling best from first minute to last and dominated to hand Wolves their third straight home defeat.
More importantly, it lifted Town off the bottom of the table and out of the drop zone to 14th in the standings as they prepare to face Brighton at home in their next assignment.
Wagner retained a five back line in the absence of suspended Mathias Jorgensen, with club captain Tommy Smith playing on the right of the centre-backs, alongside Terence Kongolo and Christopher Schindler, who became the first Town player to clock up 50 Premier League appearances.
Smith was making only his second top-flight start of the season while Erik Durm took the left-back slot in place of the injured Chris Lowe, with Flo Hadergjonaj on the right.
Aaron Mooy started despite returning from Australia only on Wednesday night, with Steve Mounie leading the attack alongside No10 Alex Pritchard.
Despite Town losing just once in nine visits to Molineux over the last 30 years, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side were 4/9 favourites to win, with Town at 13/2 and the draw 16/5.
Wolves made one change to the side which drew 1-1 at Arsenal, with Ruben Vinagre replacing the injured Jonny Otto at left wing-back.
Town made the perfect start with a goal by Mooy after only five minutes.
It was superbly created by Billing and Durm down the left and when the German full-back squared the ball, Mooy steered home a sublime low right-foot drive.
It was the midfielder’s first goal of the season and his first in Town colours since his double at Watford in December last year.
Kongolo then made a brilliant covering tackle on Ivan Cavaleiro to prevent Wolves recording an immediate response, referee Kevin Friend waving away appeals for a home penalty.
With 13 minutes on the clock, Pritchard had chance to break into the Wolves box, but his shot was blocked for a corner which came to nothing.
Town were looking comfortable as the first half progressed, snapping at Wolves heels - Smith was booked for a late lunge on Helder Costa - and winning plenty of ball from which to push forward.
Kongolo was a rock at the back and all the midfielders played their part in some promising counter-attacks.
Billing tried his luck from long range on the half-hour mark as Town continued to keep the home crowd quiet in the closing stages of an encouraging first half, which would have been so much better had Mounie not headed Mooy’s corner straight at keeper Rui Patricio after 36 minutes.
Soon after, the Portuguese keeper had to be alert again to gather Kongolo’s header follow-