Bournemouth were reduced to 10 players in the first half and Wolves made them pay with a big 1-0 win in the South Coast sunshine on Saturday.
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Illia Zabarnyi was sent off for a lunging tackle on Rayan Ait Nouri in the first half, as referee Michael Salisbury was asked to go to the monitor by VAR and upgraded his original decision of a yellow card to a red.
Minutes later Matheus Cunha finished calmly and Wolves held on for a huge win in their battle to stay in the Premier League.
Vitor Pereira’s side now move on to 22 points, five points clear of the relegation zone. Bournemouth remain on 43 points and lost ground in their pursuit of a Champions League spot.
Wolves can start planning for next season
There’s still plenty of work to do but this win coupled with defeats for Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester City this weekend seems pivotal in Wolves’ season. Vitor Pereira’s side always seemed too good to go down and it was fitting that Matheus Cunha scored the winner. There is real quality throughout this Wolves side and now they are well-organized and have a very clear structure and plan, they are staying in games and will create chances with the players they have in midfield and attack. Sure, the red card helped them massively at a pivotal moment but it was a clear red and Wolves made the most of it as they scored soon after. They should have scored more and Pereira will be urging his side to be more clinical in order to make this relegation scrap seem like more of a stroll towards safety.
Bournemouth vs Wolves player ratings (via FotMob.com)
What’s next?
Bournemouth head to Brighton on Tuesday, February 25. Wolves host Fulham on the same day.
Bournemouth vs Wolves score: 0-1
Cunha 36'
Bournemouth are making a scrap of this
The Cherries are winning the ball back high and taking more risks. No sign of a lack of energy. Kerkez picks the wrong cross in the box but there will be a couple of chances in this for them late on to try and grab an unlikely point.
Munetsi should make it 2-0
Bellegarde puts a perfect cross in to Marshall Munetsi and he should tap home from close range. But he somehow puts it wide. Will Wolves rue these missed chances?
Semedo has a good chance but it’s straight at Kepa
Lovely pass from Cunha and Semedo is in. But the Portuguese wing-back fires it straight at Kepa. He has to do better there.
Half time: Bournemouth 0-1 Wolves
The ref is booed off at half time by the home fans. Zabarnyi’s red card was a big moment but Wolves have been the better team and created some big chances before Cunha made the most of that lucky deflection.
Cunha puts Wolves ahead! — Bournemouth 0-1 Wolves
A cross from Semedo deflects straight to Cunha and he controls and finishes well. Wolves make the most of being up a player. Nightmare few minutes for Bournemouth.
VAR check for a red card by Zabarnyi
Yellow card for a lunging tackle on Ait Nouri by Zabarnyi. The referee Michael Salisbury has been asked to go to the pitch-side monitor and check for a possible red card. He shows Zabarnyi the red. He lunged in and can have no complaints, really. It was a genuine attempt for the ball but even though he got some of the ball his studs were up and it was high.
Christie’s shot blocked by Doherty
Bournemouth have woken up and Christie’s low shot is blocked by Doherty. It also flicked his arm but no penalty kick is given.
Semedo hits the post!
Bright start and Semedo hits the post, then Sa denies Bellegarde’s rebound. Wolves go close moments later through Cunha too as they are pushing for the opener.
Bournemouth lineup
Kepa; Cook, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Christie, Hill; Semenyo, Kluivert, Tavernier; Ouattara
Wolves lineup
Sa; Doherty, Bueno, Gomes; Semedo, Andre, Gomes, Ait Nouri; Bellegarde, Munetsi, Cunha
Bournemouth team news, focus
OUT: Evanilson (broken foot), Enes Unal (knee), Julian Araujo (thigh), Marcos Senesi (thigh), Adam Smith (knock) | QUESTIONABLE: James Hill (thigh), Julio Soler (fitness)
Wolves team news, focus
OUT: Hee-chan Hwang (thigh), Yerson Mosquera (knee), Enso Medina (knee), Sasa Kalajdzic (knee), Leon Chiwone (knee - out for season) | QUESTIONABLE: Jorgen Strand Larsen (thigh), Sam Johnstone (undisclosed), Rodrigo Gomes (undisclosed), Emmanuel Agbadou (undisclosed)
Bournemouth vs Wolves prediction
Matheus Cunha gives anyone a chance, but Bournemouth’s defense has impressed even without the long-inured Marcos Senesi. Dean Huijsen is impressing in a big way, but the Cherries have thrived due to contributions from every area of the pitch. Bournemouth 2-1 Wolves.
Bournemouth vs Wolves preview
The Cherries have just one loss since late November — a Feb. 1 defeat by Liverpool — and sit a point back of fourth and four points off third place in the wide-open chase for UEFA Champions League places. Vitor Pereira’s Wolves, meanwhile, remain outside the bottom three by two points and could do well with a big win down south.
Wolves have just one win from their first six matches of 2025, losing the other five. But the fixtures have been far from friendly as the losses came to Forest, Newcastle, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool. Easier tests are coming, but this may not be one of them as Andoni Iraola’s Cherries come at you in waves.
How to watch Bournemouth vs Wolves live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 10am ET Saturday
Venue: Vitality Stadium — Bournemouth
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Premier League on Peacock
