Wolves 4 (Douglas 15, Cavaleiro 26, Jota 72, Costa-pen 75)
Leeds United 1 (Alioski 48)
Wolves moved past the 40 points mark in the Championship table after a 4-1 Molineux victory over Leeds United. Whilst the final scoreline may have been a touch flattering, there was no doubt that Nuno’s men were fully worthy of the win.
Barry Douglas returned from suspension in place of Ruben Vinagre as the only change to the Wolves starting line-up.
United kicked-off attacking the South Band end and inside the first minute John Ruddy dived to cut out a low cross-shot from Luke Ayling.
Former Molineux keeper Andy Lonergan turned away a cross from Ivan Cavaleiro at the near post but the winger was to feature as Wolves moved into a 15th minute lead.
Cavaleiro won the ball on the right and was blatantly obstructed by Liam Cooper as he cut inside. From two-yards outside the box Douglas hit a superb free-kick over the wall and beyond the dive of Lonergan.
Just a minute later it was so very nearly two as Leo Bonatini’s glancing header from Cavaleiro’s cross flew narrowly wide of the mark.
The pair figured again in the 19th minute as Cavaleiro ran to the by-line and pulled the ball back for the striker who steered it the wrong side of the near post.
Lonergan had to be at his best to keep out a fierce drive from Cavaleiro but the fans’ favourite wasn’t to be denied and he deservedly got onto the scoresheet himself in the 26th minute as he hammered a left foot drive past Lonergan after Matt Doherty had played the ball through to him on the edge of the box.
Ronaldo Vieira was booked for felling Diogo Jota who was in full flight before Conor Coady was penalised for a foul on Kemar Roofe near the right-hand corner flag. Pablo Hernandez’s free-kick was half cleared to Ezgjan Alioski whose low shot was blocked in the crowded area.
Cavaleiro was close to scoring a classic goal in the 33rd minute. He took a pass from Jota and raced into the area before flicking the ball with the outside of his boot across the face of Lonergan’s goal but just wide of the far post.
Just before the break Ruddy punched out a cross-shot from Roofe end then dived low to save Samuel Saiz’s follow up shot.
Half-Time: Wolves 2 Leeds 0
Wolves won a corner seconds after the restart but it was Leeds that reduced the deficit in the 48th minute as Alioski lashed the ball into the top corner from ten-yards out following a through ball from Saiz.
After Kalvin Phillips had been booked for a foul on Ruben Neves, Leeds found themselves down to ten men on the hour mark when Vieira needlessly tripped Jota near the halfway line and was shown a second yellow. Two minutes later Alioski went into the book for a late challenge on Douglas.
Saiz tested Ruddy with a long-range shot that skidded across the wet surface but the keeper got everything behind the ball.
Midway through the half, Leeds made a double change with Caleb Ekuban and Eunan O’Kane taking over from Roofe and Hernandez whilst, at the same time, Helder Costa replaced Cavaleiro for Wanderers.
Wolves grabbed a third goal on 72 minutes when Bonatini nodded the ball into the path of Jota who ran into the area before calmly chipping the ball beyond Lonergan.
Two minutes later it was four after Lonergan felled Bonatini in the area. The striker needed treatment and watched from the sideline as Costa converted the penalty with Lonergan getting a hand to the ball but failing to keep in out.
Wolves: Ruddy, Doherty, Douglas, Coady (capt), Boly, Bennett, Cavaleiro (Costa 68), Saiss (N’Diaye 80), Bonatini, Neves (Price 80), Jota.
Unused subs: Norris, Batth, Miranda, Enobakhare.
Leeds: Lonergan, Ayling, Cooper (capt), Roofe (Ekuban 68), Alioski, Jansson, Hernandez (O’Kane 68), Saiz (Dallas 76), Phillips, Vieira, Berardi.
Unused subs: Wiedward, Pennington, Anita, Shaughnessy.
Bookings: Phillips (52 – foul), Vieira (28 – foul), Alioski (62 – foul).
Sending-Off: Vieira (60 – foul, second bookable offence).
Referee: G. Eltringham.
Attendance: 28,914 (2,382 away supporters).
