Nuno in seventh heaven as Howe’s men fail to make possession count
NUNO Espirito Santo gave Bournemouth respect and was rewarded with a third victory in succession, the first time Wolves have enjoyed such a run in the top-flight since 1980.
Wolves set out with the same system used to beat Chelsea and Nuno was right to think it might work once more against another team built around controlling possession.
Bournemouth had a much greater share of the ball, but Wolves were decisive when they got it and made this win certain with a classic counterattack in stoppage time.
Conor Coady headed clear a deep free- kick, and Ivan Cavaleiro and Helder Costa exchanged a 20-yard one-two. Cavaleiro sprinted clear and struck a clinical finish past Asmir Begovic.
Wolves move up to seventh with the three points, and level with the tally from the entirety
of their last Premier League campaign in 2011-12.
For Bournemouth it was a sixth defeat in seven games and Eddie Howe has a fixture list that includes Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United before New Year.
Wolves experienced a similar barren run before this recent revival and Nuno said: ‘Now we’re in a good moment, it’s important to realise why. The boys’ character, the way they commit to the work on a daily basis.
‘ We are trying to create something special in the most difficult competition in the world.’
Howe said: ‘We had a lot of ball, but we are kicking ourselves with the goals we conceded. You don’t like losing. The players have done so well historically when we have been out of form and that will hopefully be the case again.’
Bournemouth’s only real chance came in the third minute when Andrew Surman slipped in Josh King, whose firm shot was blocked by Coady.
Nine minutes later Bournemouth created a goal for Wolves. Charlie Daniels played a poor crossfield pass straight to Diogo Jota, who cruised past Nathan Ake, then pulled the trigger as he entered the box. Jota’s shot turned into the perfect cross, bypassing Steve Cook and falling to Raul Jimenez for the easiest of tap-ins.
Half-time substitute Helder Costa hit high and wide when sent clear by Morgan Gibbs-White.
Junior Stanislas struck the bar with a free- kick and Begovic saved smartly from Costa, before Cavaleiro’s late clincher.