Wolves 0 Crystal Palace 2 – Report and pictures

In a poor first half Wolves' only chance of note came when neither Willy Boly or Matt Doherty could divert a free header goalwards.

They improved after the break but couldn't break the deadlock – and Palace scored twice in the final seven minutes through Jordan Ayew and Luka Milivojevic.

Analysis

At half-time in this game they showed a lengthy highlights reel of goals from what's been a great season for Wolves so far.

It's safe to say nothing from this encounter will be added to the compilation, writes Tim Spiers at Molineux.

Wolves' bugbear of failing to produce their big-game heroics against 'lesser' opposition came back to haunt them again as Crystal Palace nicked all three points from a tight and instantly forgettable encounter.

At Wembley on Saturday Wolves were bold, brave, heroic and dripping with quality. They got exactly what they deserved. At Molineux tonight they were none of those things – and got exactly what they deserved yet again.

There was no tempo, little creativity, a lack of urgency and, importantly, no answers to the questions posed at them by a resolute and organised Palace side who always carried a threat on the break.

Several players were below par, the home fans were quiet and it ended up being a nothing game – until Palace grew in stature and won the game late on.

It meant Wolves lost their first match of a calender year for the first time since 2013 when their opponents were, yes, Crystal Palace.

But more importantly than that, the issue of underperforming against teams below them in the table won't go away.

Wolves may be trying to sign a prolific striker, but their problems here lay in creating chances. Just when you think they can establish themselves at a top half side, as at Fulham, they play nowhere near their best.

Yes it may be being over-critical, but Wolves have set extremely high standards. Unless they meet them, they'll fall short of their lofty target this season.

Match report

Nuno made three changes from his victorious Wembley team. For the seventh game in a row he changed his midfield, with Romain Saiss and Joao Moutinho coming in for Ruben Neves and Leander Dendoncker, who dropped to the bench.

Helder Costa, who netted his first goal of the season at Wembley, replaced Adama Traore in the XI with the Spaniard having picked up a tight hamstring.

Crystal Palace came into the game six places and 10 points behind Wolves, but having beaten Manchester City just before Christmas it was clear they were a team not to be underestimated. Jordan Ayew came in for Jeffrey Schlupp in their only change.

Ahead of the game Nuno had called for his team to improve their home record.

He'll have wanted pace, urgency, tempo and creativity from his team in the first half. He got absolutely no of that.

At a quiet and freezing cold Molineux, Wolves were sluggish, careless in possession and created barely any chances of note.

Yes, organised Palace sat deep and tried to frustrate the hosts. But Roy Hodgson's side were far more assured in possession and looked more threatening going forward.

Rui Patricio had to tip over the bar from Luka Milivojevic's 18-yard effort after Willy Boly gifted the ball to Andros Townsend, while Townsend himself later fired over and Boly had to block from James McArthur after a mistake by Matt Doherty.

At the other end Raul Jimenez sent a decent 30-yard piledriver not too far over, but otherwise Wolves created barely anything in open play.

Joao Moutinho couldn't generate much from midfield (his half was epiand Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro struggled to isolate their full-backs.

Cavaleiro did set up the chance of the half, though, when his inswinging corner from the left was straight to Boly, dead central seven yards out having lost his marker. Boly sent it bouncing wide as if his head was a 50p coin and then Doherty couldn't divert it in from close range.

Wolves, then, didn't muster a shot on target in the first half, Possession was even in what resembled more of a chess game than a football match.

There was more hurry and haste in their play at the start of the second period as the atmosphere improved too.

Their passing improved – one 50-yard Coady ping had the Molineux crowd purring like George Galloway at a saucer of milk – and they pushed Palace back.

Jimenez almost teed up Costa for a tap-in before Patrick van Aanholt's crucial interception, while a Cavaleiro cross was almost diverted in by a Palace defender and then Jimenez was a precise pass away from releasing Costa through on goal, but it was blocked.

Wolves were much improved and in the ascendancy but still lacking incisiveness, Nuno called for Morgan Gibbs-White in place of Costa as he looked to inject more energy and positivity, tweaking the formation to 3-4-1-2.

Saiss, who was hobbling slightly, then came off to be replaced by Neves with just 17 minutes to go.

Palace made a rare venture forward and Boly had to be wise to clear the danger when Cheikhou Kouyate almost had a clear sight of goal from a mis-hit shot.

At the other end Cavaleiro chested a long Coady pass to Jimenez who himself chested before volleying over.

With 13 minutes to go the game was up for grabs, but you wouldn't exactly say it was on a knife edge, such was the rather drab and uninspiring fare on offer.

Palace sensed three points and advanced further forward. Bennett had to perfectly time a sliding tackle on Zaha in the box and the same player was alert to clear near his goal line after some scrappy pinball in the Wolves box.

Wolves were struggling to get out their area. Palace ramped up the pressure – and seven minutes from time they took the lead.

Van Aanholt's shot was heading wide before it hit Ayew six yards out, he controlled and prodded past Patricio before Boly or Coady could react in time.

Nuno called for Traore in place of Cavaleiro but Wolves were struggling to create an attack in response, let along find an equaliser.

Palace were finding it comfortable – and they sealed the win with the last kick of the game when Milivojevic netted from the spot after Bennett had brought down Zaha.

Key moments

20 - Boly gets caught napping, and Wolves are very nearly made to pay. The Frenchman has the ball stolen off him by Townsend. He breaks down the right before finding Milivojevic, whose curler is tipped over the crossbar by Patricio.

36 - Wolves should be in front! Cavaleiro whips in a corner and finds Boly, who has the freedom of the borough to head home. He cannot find the target though, and the ball flies to the far post for Doherty, who nods it over. Both should have scored.

47 - Jimenez does his best to give Wolves a perfect start to the second half. He bursts into the box and pulls it back to Costa but Palace left-back van Aanholt, crucially, gets there first.

83 - Goal! The visitors make the most of a spell of heavy pressure by getting a goal. Van Aanholt tries his luck from the edge of the area. His shot is heading wide but falls perfectly for the unmarked Ayew, who takes a touch and slots past Patricio from close range.

90 - Goal! Milivojevic wraps it up from the spot for Palace - after Zaha was fouled by Bennett. Emphatic penalty.

Teams

Wolves (3-4-3): Patricio; Bennett, Coady (c), Boly; Doherty, Saiss (Neves, 73), Moutinho, Otto; Costa (Gibbs-White, 64), Jimenez, Cavaleiro (Traore, 84)

Subs not used: Ruddy (gk), Dendoncker, Vinagre, Bonatini

Crystal Palace: Guaita; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt; Milivojevic (c), Kouyate, McArthur; Townsend, Zaha, Ayew (Wickham, 88)

Subs not used: Hennessey, Ward, Kelly, Riedewald, Schlupp, Meyer

Goals: Ayew (83), Milivojevic (90+4)

Attendance: 30,666 (1,457 Palace fans)

Referee: Roger East (Wiltshire)

League position

9th (29 points from 21 matches)

Next up

Wolves are in FA Cup action when they host Liverpool at Molineux on Monday night (kick off 7.45pm).

Their next Premier League match is away at Manchester City the following Monday (14th) at 8pm. However if Wolves or City draw in the FA Cup and need a replay, the Etihad clash will be brought forward to Sunday 13th at 1.30pm.