Scoring a goal worthy of Frank Lampard’s approval, Wolves’ marquee midfield signing Matheus Nunes has found consistency hard to come by at Molineux, but the Portugal international’s rocket was enough to spoil Lampard’s Chelsea homecoming.
With just over half an hour gone last Saturday, Nunes arrived in the right-hand side of the area and unleashed a thunderbolt of a half-volley across Kepa Arrizabalaga’s goal and into the back of the net, and a toothless Chelsea side could not come up with the required response.
By returning to winning ways after a dismal three-game victory-less run, Lopetegui’s side have opened up a four-point gap to the relegation zone in 13th place, but Wolves are not out of the woods yet as the chasing pack aim to close the gap in the coming weeks.
Since returning to domestic duties after the World Cup, Wolves have followed a specific pattern of results at Molineux – winning one then losing one across all tournaments – and such a streak is not a good omen for this weekend after their success over Chelsea.
However, all of West Ham United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have been sent back to London with no points from their trips to Molineux in 2023, and each of Wolves’ last eight home wins have been to nil, so the Bees would do well to bring their most potent sting to the West Midlands.
If at first you do not succeed, win another penalty and try again, and that was the mantra for Thomas Frank and Ivan Toney, who missed a spot kick for the first time in his Bees career during the visit of Newcastle before rectifying his dead-ball mistake later on.
Toney’s first 12-yard effort was comfortably kept out by Nick Pope before the England striker redeemed himself with a clinical penalty into the corner, but fluffing his lines earlier proved costly,
as a David Raya own goal preceded Alexander Isak’s fine winner as Eddieq Howe’s side came from behind to take all the spoils – marking the first time in Brentford’s short-lived Premier League career that they have lost after taking the lead
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Defeat to the Champions League-chasing Magpies marked Brentford’s second Premier League loss on the bounce, as well as extending their winless run in the top tier to four games – denting their European dreams as they lie ninth in the rankings – three points worse off than seventh-placed Brighton & Hove Albion, who have two games in hand.
With just one clean sheet from their last nine outings in the Premier League, it is easy to pinpoint where the Bees’ recent frailties lie, and they travel to Molineux with just three Premier League away wins to their name all season – prevailing in just one of their last six on the road.
From their three Premier League encounters so far, the points between Wolves and Brentford have been distributed equally – one win for each team last term and a 1-1 draw earlier this season – but the Bees have just one win from their last seven league contests with their West Midlands adversaries.
