COSTA CORKER
Veteran Diego finally ends his goal drought
IT has taken a while but Diego Costa has finally arrived at Wolves.
A goal, a standing ovation and a pat on the back from boss Julen Lopetegui combined to make it a day to remember for the Brazilian-born striker.
Costa was shipped in from semiretirement in Brazil last year as an emergency striking option, more in desperation than expectation.
He is not the player he was at Chelsea – or Atletico Madrid – but the 34-year-old has a wealth of experience to draw on with the right players around him, despite a nine-month spell without playing. And it all finally came good yesterday. Lopetegui said: “He has a big heart, he is a very competitive player. In the bad moments he continued working because he has his spirit. You can’t buy this spirit.
“That’s why he’s made the career he’s had. He has always put in his best here. I hope he is going to continue.”
Wolves started the afternoon probably needing one more win to make sure they survive. They are seven points clear of the relegation zone with seven games left.
Lopetegui added: “We are in the middle of the river (in terms of survival).
“We have a lot of crocodiles around us. It’s not enough yet.”
Costa has a reputation for operating on a short fuse and at Brentford his headbutt on central defender Ben Mee cost him a three-match suspension.
This was the other side of the coin. Costa was involved in everything positive about Wolves, including his first goal for the club. It was also his first goal in English football since the FA Cup Final in 2017.
No matter that it was a short-range fumbled rebound which beat David Raya because the build-up was classy from the moment Nelson Semedo punted the ball from right-back to Toti who provided the pass.
Sub Hee-chan Hwang grabbed the spotlight after another fabulous run from Matheus Nunes to score the second.
Brentford are on the crest of a slump with one win in seven and three defeats on the trot but boss Thomas Frank said: “Look at the performance not the results.
“Of course I hate losing and there are things we could have done better but I thought it was an even game.
“Football is decided by moments but the boys showed heart – what an effort.
“Their two goals are two ricochets. Their second goal killed it.” WOLVES: Sa 7; Semedo 7, Dawson 6, Kilman 6, Toti 7; Nunes 9, Gomes 6 (Traore (71) 6), Lemina 6 (Neto (87) 5), Sarabia 7 (Hwang (63) 6); Costa 8 (Moutinho (71) 6), Cunha 6 (Bueno (87) 5) BRENTFORD: Raya 7: Hickey 6 (Baptiste (73) 6), Pinnock 6, Mee 7, Henry 6 (Ghoddos 73) 6); Dasilva 6 (Damsgaard (60) 5), Norgaard 7, Jensen 6 (Janelt (60) 5); Mbeumo 6, Toney 6, Schade 6 (Wissa (60) 5) STAR MAN: Matheus Nunes – Stand-out player with his passing and his vision an inspiration. REF: Paul Tierney 6