Wolves 0-2 Brentford: Bees claim first Premier League away win
Brentford claimed their first win on the road in the Premier League with a comfortable victory over Wolves at Molineux.
The newly-promoted London side, who arrived in the west Midlands with an unbeaten away record, took a first-half lead with a well-struck Ivan Toney penalty.
The Bees forward then turned provider to shrug off the challenge of Max Kilman and find strike partner Bryan Mbeumo at the back post for his first top-flight goal.
Wolves, who have failed to score in their opening three league defeats at home, did not register a shot on target in the west Midlands sunshine despite having more possession.
Adama Traore’s physicality and speed was a constant threat, and substitute Hwang Hee-chan impressed again on only his second appearance, but manager Bruno Lage will be concerned by his side’s lack of cutting edge.
The only negative for Brentford was the loss of Shandon Baptiste for a needless second yellow card, five minutes after his first, after he hauled down Francisco Trincao after losing possession.
Thomas Frank’s side climb to ninth in the table and face high-flying Liverpool in their next league outing, while Wolves slip to 14th with a trip to Southampton to follow.
Wolves rue missed chances… again!
If Wolves manager Lage was under any illusion as to the task at hand in trying to fill Nuno Espirito Santo’s rather large shoes at Molineux, he will no longer need any reminding.
The hosts have scored just two goals and lost four of their opening five league games under the new boss.
The silver lining for the Portuguese manager will be his side’s ability to throw men forward and create opportunities, as they did in narrow home defeats by Manchester United and Santo’s Tottenham, but these openings need to start translating into goals and points.
Traore was unplayable at times but his final delivery lacked accuracy, and on the one occasion it reached its intended target, Raul Jimenez could only guide his header narrowly wide.
The out-of-form Mexican striker has now produced 14 attempts without scoring – the most in the Premier League.
Brentford also slammed the door shut after going down to 10 men as Kristoffer Ajer made a crucial block with the goal at Trincao’s mercy late on.
By contrast, Brentford took their chances with aplomb to blow away the hosts in six first-half minutes.
Toney won the penalty after being wrestled to the ground by Marcal, before climbing to his feet and sending the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot.
He then slid the ball to Mbeumo for the second in what looks like an exciting strike combination for the Bees, who could have scored another when the Frenchman broke clear to smash his effort against the crossbar.
Player of the match
ToneyIvan Toney
Wolverhampton Wanderers
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Squad number26Player nameHwang Hee-Chan
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Squad number37Player nameTraoré
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Squad number10Player nameDaniel Podence
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Squad number8Player nameRúben Neves
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Squad number1Player nameJosé Sá
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Squad number16Player nameCoady
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Squad number28Player nameJoão Moutinho
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Squad number17Player nameFábio Silva
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Squad number9Player nameJiménez
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Squad number23Player nameKilman
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Squad number22Player nameNélson Semedo
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Squad number27Player nameSaïss
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Squad number11Player nameTrincão
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Squad number5Player nameMarçal
Brentford
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Squad number17Player nameToney
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Squad number20Player nameAjer
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Squad number19Player nameMbeumo
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Squad number6Player nameNørgaard
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Squad number18Player nameJansson
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Squad number5Player namePinnock
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Squad number3Player nameHenry
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Squad number27Player nameJanelt
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Squad number1Player nameRaya
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Squad number7Player nameCanós
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Squad number30Player nameRoerslev
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Squad number15Player nameOnyeka
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Squad number22Player nameM Jorgensen
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Squad number26Player nameBaptiste
Line-ups
Wolves
Formation 3-4-3
- 1Malheiro de SáBooked at 27mins
- 23Kilman
- 16CoadyBooked at 90mins
- 27SaïssBooked at 38minsSubstituted forHwang Hee-Chanat 45′minutes
- 22Nélson SemedoSubstituted forFábio Silvaat 82′minutes
- 8NevesBooked at 58mins
- 28João Moutinho
- 5MarçalSubstituted forPodenceat 72′minutes
- 11Machado Trincão
- 9Jiménez
- 37Traoré
Substitutes
- 2Hoever
- 3Aït-Nouri
- 10Podence
- 14Mosquera
- 15Boly
- 17Fábio Silva
- 21Ruddy
- 26Hwang Hee-Chan
- 32Dendoncker
Brentford
Formation 3-5-2
- 1Raya
- 20Ajer
- 18JanssonBooked at 74minsSubstituted forM Jorgensenat 82′minutes
- 5Pinnock
- 7CanósSubstituted forOnyekaat 68′minutes
- 26BaptisteBooked at 64mins
- 6Nørgaard
- 27Janelt
- 3HenryBooked at 46minsSubstituted forRoerslevat 75′minutes
- 19Mbeumo
- 17Toney
Substitutes
- 2Thompson
- 8Jensen
- 9Forss
- 11Wissa
- 14Ghoddos
- 15Onyeka
- 22M Jorgensen
- 30Roerslev
- 40Fernández
Live Text
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Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0, Brentford 2.
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Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 0, Brentford 2.
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Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Ivan Toney (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Mads Roerslev.
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Attempt missed. Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Maximilian Kilman.
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Foul by Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Vitaly Janelt (Brentford) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
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Attempt blocked. Frank Onyeka (Brentford) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ivan Toney.
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Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Mads Roerslev.
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Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Vitaly Janelt (Brentford).
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Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford) hits the bar with a left footed shot from the centre of the box. Assisted by Vitaly Janelt.
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Attempt missed. Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Adama Traoré with a cross.
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Attempt missed. Ivan Toney (Brentford) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Bryan Mbeumo with a headed pass.
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Attempt missed. Trincão (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right from a direct free kick.
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Daniel Podence (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Vitaly Janelt (Brentford).
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