Jimenez header guides Wolves to crucial win over struggling Bournemouth

Raúl Jiménez’s bullet header helped keep Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Champions League aspirations alive as they recorded a 1-0 win over AFC Bournemouth.

The result leaves the Cherries firmly in the relegation zone with seven games remaining.

The game was played in sweltering conditions at Molineux with temperatures reaching 30 degrees come kick-off.

The heat certainly played its part as the sides served up a very lethargic, low quality first half with neither of them mustering a single shot on target.

Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patrício was called into action early on as he had to rush out of his six yard box to tackle Philip Billing who had made an intelligent run to get clean through on goal.

For the hosts, their best chance came on the stroke of half time as Adama Traoré danced through a couple of challenges on the edge of the penalty area and shot narrowly over the crossbar.

The second half saw a much better performance from Wolves who clearly had the words of manager Nuno Espírito Santo ringing in their ears. Their increased intensity was too much for Bournemouth and it became a very one sided encounter.

For all of their pressure Wolves struggled to create clear cut chances, that was until the hour mark, when Traoré raced down the right wing and produced a pinpoint cross that picked out Jimenez. The Mexican rose above two Bournemouth defenders to expertly power his header beyond a despairing Aaron Ramsdale.

From this point Wolves managed the game well, depriving Bournemouth of any clear sights of goal and threatening to add a second to their own tally. A dangerous corner from João Moutinho rather hit the outside of Willy Boly’s foot but it was almost enough to deflect it past Ramsdale who got down quickly to palm the ball away to safety.

With eight minutes remaining Arnaut Danjuma had Bournemouth’s only meaningful attempt with a curling right footed shot from the left hand edge of the area that drifted just wide of the goal.

Wolves nearly rounded off a good second half performance with a contender for goal of the season in the last few seconds of the game. Substitute Pedro Neto picked the ball up in his own half, sprinted past the entire Bournemouth back line and raced through on goal. However, with only Ramsdale to beat, he scuffed his shot horribly wide.

It didn’t matter though, as Wolves, courtesy of Jimenez had already done enough to secure all three points and leave AFC Bournemouth in the bottom three.

Wolves: Patricio, Saiss, Coady, Boly, Doherty, Moutinho (Gibbs-White 90), Neves, Jonny, Traore (Dendoncker 72), Jimenez (Podence 90), Jota (Neto 60).

Unused Subs: Ruddy, Kilman, Buur, Vinagre, Jordao.

Bournemouth: Ramsdale, Stacey (Kelly 82), S. Cook, Ake, Smith, Billing (Gosling 50), L.Cook, Lerma (Solanke 66), Brooks (H Wilson 66), Stanisals (Danjuma 66), C. Wilson.

Unused Subs: Boruc, Surman, Rico, Mepham.