Wolves Hand Palace First Defeat Since Hodgson Return

An early goal set the tone for Palace to chase the game and it was a very tight contest but the visitors just could not find an equaliser before the hosts sealed all three points in injury time.

TIME/ DATE/ VENUE

• 7.30pm
• 25th April 2023
• Molineux Stadium, Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton WV1 4QR

RESULT

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-0 Crystal Palace

PLAYER RATINGS

UNUSED SUBSTITUTES – 5 James TOMKINS, 13 Vicente GUAITA, 18 James McARTHUR, 28 Cheick DOUCOURE, 44 Jairo RIEDEWALD

OPPOSITION LINE-UP

UNSED SUBSTITUTES – 25 Daniel BENTLEY, 10 Daniel PODENCE, 21 Pablo SARABIA, 28 Joao MOUTINHO

TEB VERDICT

A changed starting line up for Palace took part in a scrappy yet frustrating game which really could have gone either way but the Eagles were on the back foot after an early own goal. There were chances to get back into the game but ultimately, Palace lost their first game since Roy Hodgson returned to the club.

Once again, Eberechi Eze shone for Palace and went close on a couple of occasions with excellent efforts from outside the box but this ended up being a second blank up front in a row.

Five games left to play and 9 points above the bottom three should be enough to see off any late season stresses but another win to make sure of that is a must in the coming weeks against favourable opposition.

POST GAME QUOTES

ROY HODGSON

“The team should be more than satisfied with the way they went about their business. We were unfortunate to concede so early. It gave Wolves something to hold onto. The way we came back into the game is worthy of a lot of credit. I’m pleased with the way the players worked in the second half.

I always believed the equalising goal was there. Credit to Wolves, they defended well. The second goal was one of those cold showers you have to accept from time to time. We made one or two tweaks at half-time to stop Neves getting as much of the ball. It was a good work-rate from the team, they never once dropped their heads or felt sorry for themselves. The team believed all the way through.

We had plenty of time to get ourselves back into the game. I was convinced we were going to get an equaliser but we didn’t manage it. The penalty was the icing on the cake for them having held on for so long.

Nobody could suggest the players’ mindset is that we’re safe. I thought it was a very energetic, intense performance. On a normal day they would have got a result. We have five more games – I want to see exactly what we did today.”

JULEN LOPETEGUI

“They are important points for us but they are not definitive. We have to get more points. It’s an important win for us. Maybe when you score so quickly sometimes you think a lot to defend this goal and sometimes you forget to do different things. We needed to have more of the ball. Palace are a good team. It’s a very difficult victory for us. We had to work hard. We’re happy.

Maybe they dominated us in the second half but I don’t remember them having clear chances. It’s not easy after a win or defeat you always have frustration but the next day you have to go to the training session with a big energy. That’s what we’ll do tomorrow. We’ll have to work every hard.”

MATCH STATISTICS

POSITION IN THE TABLE (at the final whistle)

UPCOMING FIXTURES

29/04/23 West Ham United (h) – Premier League (12.30pm)

06/06/23 Tottenham Hotspur (a) – Premier League (3pm)

13/05/23 Bournemouth (h) – Premier League (3pm)