Max Kilman and Raul Jimenez scores as Wolves beat Everton 2-1

Wolves beat Everton 2-1 in the Premier League fixture at Molineux stadium on Monday. The home side scored the opener before the half-hour mark through Max Kilman. Few minutes later, Raul Jimenez doubled the lead. Although Alex Iwobi pulled one back for the hosts in the second half, it proved to be just a consolation goal. Wolves’ fourth win in five games helped Bruno Lage’s men move up to seventh in the Premier League table. Meanwhile Benitez’s Everton are in poor form as it was their third consecutive league defeat.

Wolves started the game brightly and tested Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford from the outset. Ruben Neves’ volley from just inside the box forced a save from the English custodian, Conor Coady couldn’t quite get enough on the rebound.

Francisco Trincao’s left-footed curler was tipped over the crossbar by Pickford. The home side continued to push forward and Hwang Hee-Chan thought he  had scored the opener only to be ruled out for offside after a VAR check. However, on 28 minutes, the hosts broke the deadlock.

Rayan Ait-Nouri’s out-swinging corner from the left flank was headed home by Kilman. Benitez would have been disappointed by Everton’s set piece defending as they didn’t put enough pressure on the goal scorer.

Four minutes after the goal, Wolves extended their lead courtesy of a defensive error from the opposition and an impressive finish from Jimenez. Everton left-back Godfrey’s poor back pass was intercepted by Jimenez, leaving him clean through on goal. The Mexican striker chipped the ball over an advancing Pickford to score his 50th goal for Wolves.

Everton came out with a bit more intent in the second half and pushed men forward. Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sasa’s poor kick went straight to Richarlison but a combination of Sa and Coady managed to deny the Brazilian.

However the visitors were rewarded when Iwobi drilled home to halve the deficit on 66 minutes. Meanwhile at the other end, Hwang Hee-chan cut inside from the left and went past two Everton players before setting up Trincao inside the box. But the Portuguese footballer’s attempt from close range missed the target.

Everton pushed men forward for the equalizer and Anthony Gordon’s header from Andros Townsend’s corner was saved by Sa. But the hosts defended well to hold on to the slender lead and take all three points.

Bruno Lage, speaking to Sky Sports: “What we did in the first half we didn’t deserve to suffer a little bit in the second half. We did very well in the first 45 minutes.

“They changed a little bit for the second half, they tried to play with more midfielders to control our inside game and we didn’t adapt to that.

“We didn’t press the way we should press but even then we created a lot of chances. Overall for the 90 minutes it was three deserved points for us.

“This is the Premier League, the teams are top teams, the coaches are top coaches, we cannot forget Rafa Benitez won the Champions League, we need to be as a team for the full game and when the other team change we need to continue and adapt.

“He [Raul Jimenez] is the first guy to press, this is the most important thing he does for us and the way he comes to link the game between the lines, very important for us.

Benitez, speaking to Sky Sports: “It is a pity because we didn’t play in the first half. We had a lot of character and chances in the second half, it was maybe a little too late. That was the reaction we were expecting but it was just a shame we didn’t do it in the first half.

“They were growing in confidence. We have to see what we did in the second half for 90 minutes. Obviously we didn’t do it and that is where we have to improve.

“We saw the character in the second half to react after a bad first half.

“I think we are close but missing the players that can make a difference.”