Crystal Palace 0-1 Wolves: Matt Doherty secures victory for visitors

Wolves made it four wins from their last five Premier League matches with a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace, who are still yet to score at home this season.

Matt Doherty scored the winner in the 54th minute, firing past Wayne Hennessey at the near post after a one-two with Raul Jimenez.

Palace threatened an equaliser but Rui Patricio made a fantastic double save to deny Max Meyer and Jeffrey Schlupp.

Ivan Cavaleiro crashed a shot against the bar at the other end but Wolves held out to move up to seventh in the Premier League.

Wolves have now gone unbeaten in six successive top-flight games for the first time since 1979 while Palace's scoring struggles at Selhurst Park have seen them pick up just one point from four home matches.

Roy Hodgson's side made an encouraging start to the contest as they pinned Wolves back inside their own half.

However, aside from a cross from Wilfried Zaha that was fizzed across the face of goal, Palace created little, and it was the visitors who went closest to breaking the deadlock.

Jimenez dragged a shot wide on the counter and was then denied by a superb one-handed save from Hennessey.

Schlupp fired over from inside the box in the 34th minute before Diego Jota sliced off target at the other end.

Doherty gave Wolves the lead after half-time, cutting in from the right, playing a one-two with Jimenez and then finishing past Hennessey.

Palace came close to levelling as Jordan Ayew headed over from a corner and Patricio saved in quick succession from Meyer's sweetly-struck volley and Schlupp's follow-up shot.

Schlupp then saw a close-range effort blocked by Willy Boly, but there was no late surge from Palace after Cavaleiro struck the bar with a first-time shot from inside the box.

Opta stats

• Crystal Palace are one of just two Premier League sides yet to score a home goal this season (4 games), along with Huddersfield.
• Prior to this season (Crystal Palace and Huddersfield), top-flight sides had failed to score in their first four home games of a season only twice before; West Brom in 1921-22 and Everton in 1998-99.
• Wolves have won four of their last five top-flight games, as many victories as they managed in their previous 40.
• Wolves have conceded just one goal in their last seven games in all competitions, after shipping eight in the four before that.
• Wolves wing-back Matt Doherty has been directly involved in three goals in his last four league appearances (one goal, two goals), as many as he managed in his previous 20.
• Each of Wolves' last eight Premier League goals have come in the second half, with just one of their nine overall this season coming before the break.

Man of the match - Rui Patricio

Hennessey's save from Jimenez in the first half was one of the best of the season so far, but Patricio's double save in the second half ultimately helped Wolves win the game.

He did well to keep out Meyer's volley but his quick recovery was crucial in denying Schlupp on the rebound. He also kept out shots from Luka Milivojevic and Townsend to record another clean sheet.

Pundit reaction

Charlie Nicholas: "Somewhere along the line Roy Hodgson has got to change this situation because it's too predictable playing with just Jordan Ayew through there. It was too predictable when Christian Benteke was there. My concern is Crystal Palace cannot wait until January to find goals.

"They have to go and adapt their team to create more chances. I don't think they've got the personnel. They're too predictable and because they are predictable they'll hardly ever create enough chances to win a football match."

What's next?

Crystal Palace are live on Sky Sports on successive weekends after the international break as they travel to Everton on October 21 and then host Arsenal on October 28. Wolves host Watford on October 20 and then travel to Brighton on October 27.

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