Jimenez nets first Molineux goal since horror head injury as Wolves consign Benitez’s Everton to a third straight defeat
Raul Jimenez bagged his first Molineux goal for more than a year to inspire Wolves to a narrow 2-1 win over Everton.
The forward, fit again after recovering from a life-threatening fractured skull 12 months ago, scored at home for the first time since October 2020.
Max Kilman’s first goal for the hosts set them on their way and Wolves moved above Everton in the Premier League table, despite Alex Iwobi’s second-half goal threatening a comeback following the Toffees' aimless first half.
Rafa Benitez’s Everton were clearly smarting from last week’s 5-2 humbling at home to Watford and appeared to have picked up where they left off during the chaotic late defeat.
Then, the Toffees conceded four in the final 12 minutes and they imploded again by conceding two in four minutes.
After 28 minutes, Jimenez won a corner for Rayan Aitnouri to sling in and Kilman beat Michael Keane, Andros Townsend and Ben Godfrey to head past Jordan Pickford.
Then Jimenez got the goal he had waited more than a year for when Godfrey giftwrapped it for him.
The defender’s woeful back pass lacked any weight to reach Pickford and Jimenez caught Holgate on his heels to race through and dink the ball over the exposed goalkeeper.
Despite Wolves’ dominance, Demarai Gray and Holgate missed fine chances at the end of the half.
Anything above the lacklustre first half would have been an improvement and the Toffees showed glimpses of a fightback, Kilman blocking a Gray drive, before Jose Sa escaped embarrassment 10 minutes after the break.
The goalkeeper’s clearance was charged down by Richarlison,
but he recovered in time to deny the striker.
The much-improved visitors then survived when Jimenez’s header hit a post, before Iwobi struck to test Wolves’ nerves with 24 minutes left.
Godfrey’s speculative drive from distance was blocked by Coady, but it fell straight to the previously anonymous Iwobi to finish under Sa.
Wolves regrouped and Trincao poked wide, while referee Martin Atkinson changed his mind after initially awarding a penalty for Holgate’s foul on Trincao, only to give a freekick outside the box.