Wolves vs Crystal Palace: Jordan Ayew and Luka Milivojevic score late to beat substandard Wolves
Wolves 0-2 Crystal Palace: Roy Hodgson's side recovered from two disappointing performances to win away
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Late goals by Jordan Ayew and Luka Milivojevic gave Crystal Palace fc a rare, comfortable victory as Wolves misfired at Molineux.
It was a cagey, uneventful affair in the Midlands.
But a Palace side who had failed to score in nine of their 20 previous Premier League games managed the contest superbly, blunting Wolves attacking prowess and striking twice late on.
Ayew struck with seven minutes remaining before Milivojevic converted a stoppage-time penalty.
Wolves had an early warning of the danger Palace’s pacy front trio posed when Jordan Ayew darted behind Willy Boly to trigger a threatening break for the visitors.
The threat was snuffed out, however, when Ayew’s cross, intended for Wilfried Zaha, was intercepted by Conor Coady.
When Boly was guilty of a poor, casual pass a few minutes later, Palace carved out the first clear chance of the evening.
The Wolves defender’s over-confidence on the ball allowed Andros Townsend to steal possession and centre for James McArthur, whose dipping shot was tipped over by Rui Patricio in the Wolves goal.
When Townsend made the most of more sluggish play by Wolves, weaving his way to the edge of the area and firing a shot over the crossbar, Palace were very much on top.
And only a heavy touch by Ayew prevented him delivering another testing cross from the byline after bursting clear on the left.
Having been second best for much of the first half, Wolves should have led eight minutes before the interval when Palace switched off from a corner.
They allowed Boly the freedom of the penalty area to meet Ivan Cavaleiro’s flag-kick, only for the Frenchman to make no contact with his head.
Matt Doherty arrived at the far post but he headed over.
Yet that was the sum total of Wolves’ threat in a half in which Palace had snuffed out their creativity and carved out useful openings of their own.
Only a handy block by Boly shortly before the interval denied James McArthur shot on target after Doherty had shanked a clearance from a Cheikhou Kouyate cross.
The second half began with Wolves in charge and their added intensity almost brought an own-goal from Palace shortly after the restart.
The visitors handed cheap possession to Cavaleiro, whose cross was bundled towards his own goal by Patrick van Aanholt, whose blushes were spared when goalkeeper Vicente Guaita saved low to his left.
Nuno turned his his precocious midfield talent, Morgan Gibbs-White, in an effort to alter the course of the game but the next chance fell to Palace.
Townsend released Ayew, who was battling for pace with Ryan Bennett when he fired a shot over the crossbar.
Zaha collected a pass from Milivojevic and wriggled free of two defenders but had his effort blocked, but Palace were looking more likely to break the deadlock.
The opening goal finally arrived with seven minutes remaining when Van Aanholt crossed and Ayew produced a cool finish.
And with Wolves pushing for an equaliser, they were hit on the break in stoppage time for the second.
Bennett tripped Zaha and Milivojevic made no mistake with the resulting penalty.
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