Wolves 2 (Costa 27, Hwang 69) Brentford 0
Diego Costa’s first goal in old gold set Wolves on their way to three points against Brentford, which secured back-to-back victories in the Premier League at Molineux.
Substitute Hwang Hee-Chan doubled the advantage for Julen Lopetegui’s side in the second half, capitalising on Ethan Pinnock’s failure to deal with Matheus Nunes’ cross after the Portuguese had turned the Brentford backline inside out.
Wolves started well and came close with just over two minutes on the clock as Mario Lemina was teed up by Pablo Sarabia’s neat back-heel before placing an attempt that was heading into the top corner, as David Raya sprung to his left to tip the ball over the crossbar.
An excellent flick from Costa then found Matheus Cunha with space in behind and with the flag staying down, the forward had the option to pick out a teammate in the centre or go for goal. Cunha opted to go with the latter, looking to catch Raya out at his near post, but the Bees stopper was quickly down to hold.
The old gold were threatening in the final third and after combination play down the left featuring Cunha and Nunes, Costa turned in the box and forced Raya into a save down low to his left.
Brentford’s first clear-cut chance in front of goal came on the break when Bryan Mbuemo made tracks before cutting the ball back for Ivan Toney. His goal bound effort was bravely blocked by Maximilian Kilman who helped it on its way, before Josh Dasilva poked over from close range.
Lopetegui’s men were rewarded for their positive opening on 27 minutes, and it was started and finished by Costa, who had the bit between his teeth from minute one. The Spaniard picked up the ball on the halfway line before spreading it out to Toti and making his way into the box. Toti delivered a cross into the penalty area, picking out Costa in space who took a touch and, after the ball deflected back off Brentford’s Christian Norgaard, was able to prod the ball beyond Raya and into the corner for his first Wolves goal.
Half-time | Wolves 1-0 Brentford
Wolves came out for the second half and matched their intensity of the opening 45, with Costa leading the way once again. After Cunha had spotted the run of Nunes on the right-hand side, Costa pointed to where he wanted it played in behind and duly received the ball before smashing an attempt towards the near post that Raya batted away.
The home side were incensed when they were denied the opportunity to double their advantage from what looked like a nailed on penalty. Toti nipped in following a loose back pass to Raya, who was second to the ball and swiped a leg at the Wolves defender who went down. Referee Paul Tierney waved away the appeals and the VAR check backed-up the on-field decision as no penalty was given.
Brentford’s triple change on the hour mark gave the visitors slight encouragement and when Jose Sa was unable to hold a cross, the ball was recycled back to substitute Yoane Wissa. He took one touch out of his feet and looked to curl beyond Sa, but the Portuguese was right behind the strike.
However, Wolves weren’t in any mood to allow the Bees back into the game and it was a substitute of their own who doubled the lead in front of the South Bank. Fantastic work on the right from Nunes saw him weave his way past Rico Henry and two other Brentford defenders before his low cross was cut out by Pinnock, but only to the feet of Hwang who nipped in to slot home from a few yards out.
Sa had to be at full stretch to deny Vitaly Janelt when the substitute rose highest in the box from an Mbuemo free-kick, heading towards the far corner where Sa was equal to it, diving to his left and holding well to prevent the Bees from halving the deficit.
The visitors threatened again in stoppage time, but Sa was there to produce a stunning fingertip save, this time thwarting Toney whose effort was flicked by the gloves of the goalkeeper onto the underside of the bar as Wolves held onto the points and another clean sheet.
Full-time | Wolves 2-0 Brentford
Wolves | Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Toti, Lemina (Neto 89), Gomes (Traore 73), Nunes, Sarabia (Hwang 64), Cunha (Bueno 89), Costa (Moutinho 73).
Unused subs | Bentley, Collins, Podence.
Brentford | Raya, Hickey (Baptiste 74), Pinnock, Mee, Henry (Ghoddos 74), Norgaard, Jensen (Janelt 61), Dasilva (Damsgaard 61), Schade (Wissa 61), Mbuemo, Toney.
Unused subs | Strakosha, Zanka, Onyeka, Roerslev.
