C Palace 1 – 0 Wolves

Crystal Palace secured their first Premier League victory in four games as Ebere Eze’s fine second-half strike was enough to secure a 1-0 win over Wolves at Selhurst Park.

Following an opening half devoid of clear-cut chances between two sides short of form, the hosts took the lead on the hour-mark as Eze collected Jordan Ayew’s pass to flash a fierce shot beyond Rui Patricio.

Wilfried Zaha came close to doubling Palace’s lead when his effort struck the crossbar while Willian Jose went closest to salvaging a point for the visitors when Vicente Guaita kept out his close-range header.

The result moves Palace above Wolves into 13th place while Nuno Espirito Santo’s men have now gone eight league games without a win, the worst winless run of his tenure.

Wolves lack authority as slump continues

Palace and Wolves have matched each other stride for stride this term and entered the game locked on 23 points, the seventh time this season they have had an identical points tally ahead of a round of Premier League fixtures.

Roy Hodgson had made six changes to the Palace side which were beaten at home by West Ham in midweek, and the hosts made a bright start as Nathaniel Clyne collected Michy Batshuayi’s lay-off but the full-back’s right-foot shot from the edge of the box cleared Rui Patricio’s crossbar.

Wolves had been winless in seven league games – their worst league run under Nuno – and the visitors offered very little as an attacking threat in the opening period, with full debutant Willian Jose caught on his heels from Ki-Jana Hoever’s fine delivery the closest they came to an opening.

Instead, it was Palace who ought to have broken the deadlock three minutes before the break when another shot from Clyne deflected off Conor Coady and fell kindly for Batshuayi six yards out, but the striker sliced his right-foot effort over.

Sky Sports’ Efan Ekoku said on commentary: “Roy won’t believe what he is seeing. The Belgian fluffs his lines. He could have gone with the side-foot option to keep it down but that is what happens when you are lacking in confidence.”

Confidence has been an issue recently for both these sides, with not a single attempt on target from either team prior to the restart, but within 11 minutes of the second period Jose was denied a first Wolves goal when he met Daniel Podence’s cross but his half-volley on the turn was tipped brilliantly over by Guaita.

The save proved a turning point as four minutes later, Palace were in front. Jordan Ayew found Eze in space on the edge of the box, and after the former QPR winger lost Leander Dendoncker with a drop of the shoulder, his fierce left-foot drive flashed beyond Rui Patricio for his third goal of the season.

Sky Sports’ Paul Merson said: “What a big goal this is. He hit it as hard as he could, it wasn’t far from the goalkeeper, but it was a great strike. Eze is a class player.”

With Wolves facing the prospect of another disappointing result, Nuno turned to Adama Traore on the bench, but it was Palace who very nearly doubled their lead on the counter as Batshuayi fed Wilfried Zaha in a two-v-one situation but the forward’s effort came back out off the bar.

Afforded the reprieve, Wolves came close to levelling with 12 minutes remaining when Jose rose to meet Pedro Neto’s corner but Guaita was alert to keep out his firm downward header, but Wolves again lacked the authority shown in their previous two seasons as their poor form continued in the capital.

What’s next?

Crystal Palace travel to face Newcastle on Tuesday in the Premier League; kick-off is at 8.15pm. Wolves host Arsenal on the same night at Molineux; kick-off 6pm.