Relentless Wolves open 12-point gap
WOLVES moved 12 points clear at the top of the Championship after three second-half goals blew away Brentford.
Record-signing Ruben Neves opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick before Barry Douglas and Diogo Jota added to the tally for the runaway leaders.
And boss Nuno Espirito Santo is set to further bolster his options with the £1.5million signing of striker Rafa Mir from Valencia as the Molineux club look to hammer home their huge advantage at the top.
Wolves started at a high tempo and could have led in the second minute when Helder Costa surged clear and crossed to the near post for Leo Bonatini, whose first-time effort struck the post.
Neves then tried his luck from distance but Daniel Bentley saved easily for Brentford.
There was no let-up as Wolves twice went close again inside the opening 15 minutes. First Jota leapt to meet a Douglas corner but saw his powerful header nodded off the line. Then Bentley made a smart, low save from Matt Doherty.
It was Bentley to the rescue again after 24 minutes when Costa raced through the middle for Wolves, only to be halted by the goalkeeper’s brave dive at his feet just inside the area.
And when the visitors finally manufactured an opening, Sergi Canos fired wide from the edge of the 18-yard box. But Wolves had lost their early momentum and the Bees should have led 11 minutes before half-time when Ollie Watkins delivered a freekick from the right and Yoann Barbet’s header was deflected inches wide.
The hosts should still have led before half-time, though, as Douglas teed up Jota for a shot that drew a fine, flying save from Bentley.
Bentley was again in the action just seconds after halftime, saving well from Bonatini following a weaving run. But Wolves’ pressure finally told with two goals in three minutes that transformed the game.
Brentford midfielder Ryan Woods was booked for a foul on Jota on the edge of the area and Neves exacted an even tougher punishment as he curled a brilliant free-kick into the top corner. Two minutes later, Wolves struck again, substitute Ivan Cavaleiro tearing down the right and crossed for Douglas to score.
And the third goal was less pretty but no less important as, with 10 minutes left, a scramble in the Brentford goalmouth ended with Jota forcing in from close range.