Wolves took a huge step towards securing their Premier League status for next season with victory over Crystal Palace at Molineux.
In a match low on clear-cut chances, Wolves went in front after three minutes when Ruben Neves’ corner bounced off the knee of Palace centre-back Joachim Andersen and in off the crossbar.
The goal came in a lively opening few minutes that quickly gave way to an altogether more scrappy and tetchy affair that was settled by Neves’ stoppage-time penalty.
Albert Sambi Lokonga came closest to providing a Palace equaliser before half-time but his snapshot from eight yards out was saved by Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa.
Palace were on top for much of the second half but struggled to create any real opportunities of note with Eberechi Eze’s dipping left-footed effort from distance, tipped over by Sa, the closest they came to scoring.
Wolves offered next to nothing going forward in the last half hour but held on before Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone brought down Pedro Neto as he tried to atone for his own poor touch.
Neves made no mistake from the spot and sealed a win that moves Wolves level on points with 12th-placed Palace and, crucially, nine points clear of the relegation zone.
