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Diego Costa’s first Premier League goal in almost six years set Wolves on the way to a priceless victory over Brentford that gives them breathing space in their relegation battle.
Costa capped his best performance since coming out of retirement in September by scoring his first Wolves goal, with substitute Hwang Hee-chan adding a second midway through the second half at Molineux.
It completed successive league victories for the home side for only the second time in 13 months but, tellingly, for the second time since Julen Lopetegui’s arrival in November, which has transformed Wolves’ fortunes.
Bottom of the table when the season stopped for the World Cup, Wolves have picked up 24 points in 16 games since Lopetegui’s arrival and are now seven clear of the drop zone.
And another clean sheet means another meal out for Lopetegui and his squad, something the former Real Madrid boss committed to as an incentive to improve a squad that looked destined for the Championship.
Matheus Nunes was outstanding for the home side and created Hwang’s goal with a surging run into the box.
Defeat was Brentford’s third in a row, while a run of two points from five games is their worst this season.
More to follow.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers
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Squad number1Player nameJosé Sá
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Squad number22Player nameNélson Semedo
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Squad number15Player nameDawson
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Squad number23Player nameKilman
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Squad number24Player nameToti
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Squad number27Player nameMatheus Nunes
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Squad number35Player nameJoão Gomes
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Squad number5Player nameLemina
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Squad number21Player nameSarabia
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Squad number12Player nameMatheus Cunha
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Squad number29Player nameDiego Costa
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Squad number7Player namePedro Neto
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Squad number11Player nameHwang Hee-chan
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Squad number28Player nameJoão Moutinho
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Squad number37Player nameTraoré
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Squad number64Player nameBueno
Brentford
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Squad number1Player nameRaya
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Squad number2Player nameHickey
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Squad number5Player namePinnock
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Squad number16Player nameMee
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Squad number3Player nameHenry
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Squad number10Player nameDasilva
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Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
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Squad number8Player nameJensen
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Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
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Squad number17Player nameToney
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Squad number9Player nameSchade
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Squad number11Player nameWissa
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Squad number14Player nameGhoddos
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Squad number24Player nameDamsgaard
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Squad number26Player nameBaptiste
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Squad number27Player nameJanelt
Line-ups
Wolves
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Sá
- 22Nélson Semedo
- 15Dawson
- 23Kilman
- 24Gomes
- 27Nunes
- 35João GomesBooked at 35minsSubstituted forTraoréat 73′minutes
- 5LeminaSubstituted forNetoat 89′minutes
- 21SarabiaSubstituted forHwang Hee-chanat 64′minutes
- 12Matheus CunhaSubstituted forBuenoat 89′minutes
- 29Diego CostaSubstituted forJoão Moutinhoat 73′minutes
Substitutes
- 4Collins
- 7Neto
- 10Podence
- 11Hwang Hee-chan
- 25Bentley
- 28João Moutinho
- 37Traoré
- 59Hodge
- 64Bueno
Brentford
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Raya
- 2HickeySubstituted forBaptisteat 74′minutes
- 5Pinnock
- 16Mee
- 3HenrySubstituted forGhoddosat 74′minutes
- 10DasilvaSubstituted forDamsgaardat 61′minutes
- 6Nørgaard
- 8JensenBooked at 12minsSubstituted forJaneltat 61′minutes
- 19Mbeumo
- 17Toney
- 9SchadeSubstituted forWissaat 61′minutes
Substitutes
- 11Wissa
- 13M Jorgensen
- 14Ghoddos
- 15Onyeka
- 22Strakosha
- 24Damsgaard
- 26Baptiste
- 27Janelt
- 30Roerslev
Live Text
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Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Brentford 0.
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Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Brentford 0.
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Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Maximilian Kilman.
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Attempt blocked. Ivan Toney (Brentford) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Yoane Wissa.
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Hwang Hee-Chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Christian Nørgaard (Brentford).
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Attempt saved. Ivan Toney (Brentford) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Vitaly Janelt.
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Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Hugo Bueno replaces Matheus Cunha.
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Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Pedro Neto replaces Mario Lemina.
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Foul by Matheus Cunha (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Saman Ghoddos (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Ivan Toney (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Mikkel Damsgaard.
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Foul by Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Attempt saved. Christian Nørgaard (Brentford) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Bryan Mbeumo with a cross.
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Foul by Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Ivan Toney (Brentford) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Attempt saved. Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by João Moutinho with a cross.
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Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Bryan Mbeumo.
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Attempt saved. Mario Lemina (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
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