Sam Murphy reports on Wolves win against Brentford.
Wolves went twelve points clear at the top of the table with a convincing 3-0 performance against Brentford with goals from Douglas, Neves and Jota.
The only change for Wolves saw Ryan Bennett return to the side following Danny Batth’s controversial sending off against Bristol City. Brentford came into the game in good form winning their last three games, climbing up the table in search of a playoff place.
Wolves had several really good chances to take the lead in the first half and could have been 5-0 up at the break.
Bonatini hit the post from close range and Jota had a header cleared off the line from a corner.
Wolves without really leaving third gear created the best chances of the half.
Brentford played tidy football, attempting to play out from the back and went close twice to taking the lead with some neat interplay. Despite some good football at times Brentford lacked quality and the clinical edge to ever trouble Wolves seriously.
Daniel Bentley, was the best player on the pitch for The Bees as they struggled to gain any foothold in the game. The ex-southend keeper made a smart save from a Diogo Jota volley which was heading into the top corner.
Following the break Wolves came out with more energy but It took a superb strike from Ruben Neves, direct from a free kick, to give Wolves the lead. This man doesn’t score rubbish goals. All three of his goals for Wolves have come in some style and this was no different.
Neves struck the ball from a few metres outside the box on the left hand side, placing it elegantly into the top corner. Neves’ ability to place, pass or shoot the ball seemingly on a five pound note is a gift to watch at Molineux.
Two minutes later Wolves were two up with a rifled shot into the roof of the net from Barry Douglas. Ivan Cavaleiro had only been on the pitch a few minutes but had added an important impetus to Wolves play.
For the second goal it was his interchange down the right hand side with Bonatini that led to him pulling the ball back for Douglas to score with his weaker right foot.
Ten minutes from time Wolves went three up with one of the scrappiest goals of the season. Following a corner, the ball dropped in the six yard box following a challenge on the Brentford keeper. Jota was able to scramble the ball over the line even when he was almost lying on the floor, having missed the ball on his first attempt.
Molineux welcomed 28475 fans on a rain soaked Tuesday night, showing the excitement around the club after a season defining win at Bristol City last week.
As the game came to its inevitable conclusion, the South Bank ironically sang ’S***’ in the Winter’ which saw Nuno raising his hands in encouragement to the crowd.
Over the Christmas fixtures, since the 1-0 over Ipswich, Wolves have gained ten points from a possible twelve, beating a promotion rival in the process.
There were several skeptical comments in the early parts of the season ranging from can this team win on a cold Tuesday night in December, cope with the Christmas fixture list and play football in the rough and tumble of the Championship.
Wolves have answered all the questions they have been posed and more. They are unbeaten since October and on a relentless run of results.
Before the game the news broke of the imminent signing of Rafa Mir, a forward from Valencia, and with other signings inevitably to follow Wolves are marching to a confirmed promotion place in double quick time.
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