Matt Doherty continues Wolves’ fast Premier League start as Crystal Palace struggle on

Crystal Palace 0-1 Wolves: The wing-back Matt Doherty broke the deadlock at Selhurst Park

Matt Doherty’s second half goal ensured Wolverhampton Wanderers maintained their impressive start to the campaign and inflicted more home misery on Crystal Palace.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have quickly made their mark following promotion from the Championship and their victory at Selhurst Park showed why they have made such a smooth transition. Able to withstand periods of home pressure - this was Wolves’ fourth clean sheet - they produced the most incisive move of the match to deliver Doherty’s 56th minute winning goal.

Palace had no response and Roy Hodgson’s side are now without a goal from their four fixtures at Selhurst park this season.

Wolves came into this match unbeaten in their previous five league games and positioned just three points outside of the top four. Nuno rewarded his players for their consistent form by naming an unchanged squad for an eighth successive game, a Premier League record.

The club’s success in remaining unbeaten throughout September earned Nuno a nomination for the manager of the month award while Willy Boly, the central defender, has been shortlisted for player of the month, adding to the growing sense of optimism at Molineux.

Facing a Palace side who had failed to score in their three previous home matches, Wolves were entitled to believes this match presented an opportunity to extend their positive start. Roy Hodgson’s side have struggled for consistency, particularly in front of goal, and the opening 45 minutes highlighted their problems up front.

Palace quickly established control of the midfield area, forcing Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho, Wolves’s highly-rated Portuguese central midfield pairing, to concentrate on their defensive duties in front of the back three. For all their early possession, however, the Eagles struggled to carve out a clear opening although Jordan Ayew came within inches of connecting with Wilfried Zaha’s low cross.

The home side’s reliance on Zaha was clear, but with the Ivorian finding space hard to come by, openings were few and far between and had Raul Jimenez shown more composure midway through the first half, Palace could have found themselves behind.

Matt Doherty opens the scoring against Crystal Palace (Getty)

The chance came after Diego Jota launched a rare counter-attack for the visitors, running from deep before releasing Jimenez on the left hand side of the Palace area. The Mexican cut inside but pulled his right-footed shot wide when he should have at least tested Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey.

An even better chance feel to Jimenez moments later with Jota again opening up the home defence. This time Jimenez was free 12 yards from goal having got in behind the back four but his angled shot was well saved by Hennessey.

The chances served as a warning to Palace who were similarly profligate when Jeffrey Schlupp shot over after Wolves keeper Rui Patricio flapped at a corner. And when the visitors started the second half more positively than they had the first, it became clear Hodgson’s side might regret their failure to make more of their first half dominance.

Jeffrey Schlupp reacts as Rui Patricio takes charge in the box (Reuters)

Moutinho and Neves were able to play further up the pitch and provide the Wolves forwards with more meaningful service. And Nuno’s side finally found a way through in the 56th minute when Doherty combined with Jimenez.

The Wolves right-back burst forward after finding space on the right hand flank and played the ball into the feet of Jimenez. Doherty continued his run to collect the return and delivered a low shot that caught Hennessey out at his near post.

Palace worked hard to get back into the game but when Patricio produced an excellent save to deny substitute Max Meyer and then blocked Schlupp’s follow-up, there was a growing sense this would not be the home side’s day.