Crystal Palace fire past Wolves through Edouard, Mateta

Wolves boss Gary O’Neil believes his team earned a lot more than a 3-2 loss at Selhurst Park.

Roy Hodgson says Palace has a lot of work to do to get the performances he expects from these Eagles.

Crystal Palace’s depth at the back could end up being its achilles heel but for now the club looks attack-ready even before Matheus Franca and Michael Olise hit the pitch. Very good days for Eze, Mateta, and Edouard, and Jordan Ayew could’ve easily been amongst the goals.

Two assists for Pedro Neto give the 23-year-old three on the young season, and he had three shots to go with his three created chances. Fabio Silva’s threat waned after a good first half but Hee-chan Hwang was terrific off the bench and Sasa Kalajdzic is coming around, too.

Crystal Palace vs Wolves player ratings (fotmob.com)

It’s a just result, although Gary O’Neil will lament that Wolves conceded thrice despite holding 57 percent possession.

Odsonne Edouard had two clinical finishes and JP Mateta two classy assists as the Eagles will be happy to see their forward unit punching up the attack.

Eberechi Eze remains a special talent and the Eagles look set to be quite safe assuming Michael Olise returns healthy and hungry.

The Wolves get one back but it’s very close to the last kick of the game.

Matheus Cunha’s on the board to give Pedro Neto a second assist of the game.

Gary O’Neil will be happy to take two goals away from Selhurst Park but the result carries a lot of “What ifs?”

Make it two for “French Eddy,” who works a 1-2 with influential sub Mateta.

It’s another clever bit of skill from the giant Mateta, who gets the ball back to Edouard inside the box for a 3-1 lead.

Edouard could’ve worked a 1-2 with Eberechi Eze on his left, too, but he made a good choice as Wolves struggle to deal with this front.

It’s so clever from JP Mateta.

Joel Ward’s big cross from the right side is intentionally knocked onto the path of Eberechi Eze by Mateta’s back.

The England playmaker takes a touch and then a lunging poke past Jose Sa, who had made several big saves, does the trick.

Palace, 2-1

It’s a Wolves free kick from the left toward a sea bodies, but the first head available gets the job done.

Super sub Hee-chan Hwang rises high at the front of more than a dozen players — Fabio Silva is right behind him just in case — and turns his header past Sam Johnstone.

1-1.

What’s that about center forwards?

Tyrick Mitchell has the ball on the left wing and a long touch sets up a near-post cross.

Odsonne Edouard is all over it, powering home with his head from very close range. The ex-Celtic man scoring on the day his former club win The Old Firm derby.

The Eagles have made more danger, and they lead 1-0.

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Two teams that haven’t scored much this season will both feel they should have a marker on the board at the break.

The hosts will want to get more of the ball while keeping the physical game up in a match which has seen six fouls called on each team.

One thing that should be noted is the center forwards making the most of limited involvement.

Fabio Silva has two shots on just 18 touches for Wolves, while Odsonne Edouard has four shots on 21 touches for the hosts.

It might feel like Wolves are in control here, but the stats are telling a more even story.

Sixty-percent of the ball does support the eye test but Palace has nearly as many attempts (6-5) and is leading the expected goals match.

Max Kilman’s sliding clearance of Jordan Ayew’s presumed-pace finishing attempt is what’s defying the xG.

Still scoreless.

Rayan Ait-Nouri is fuming, and there are shoves between the French-born Algerian international and Jordan Ayew following a coming-together.

Somehow only Ait-Nouri is shown a yellow card as Palace wins a free kick that comes to nothing.

Slow start at Selhurst Park but Palace thinks it might deserve a chance from the spot.

Eberechi Eze looks to be stepped on by Joao Gomes but the initial call is no foul, and VAR probably can’t assure that Gomes caught Eze. It takes several viewings and there’s probability but no conclusiveness of a clear and obvious error.

Then Wolves keeper Jose Sa has a huge giveaway but Jordan Ayew and Co. cannot convert, with a final ball blazed over the goal.

Wolves had been running things to this point, so this is a welcome development for the Eagles despite the failure to find an opener.

A pair of changes for Wolves, who keep cup star Sasa Kalajdzic on the bench.

Rayan Ait-Nouri and Pablo Sarabia will start the match for Gary O’Neil, with Enso Gonzalez a substitute.

Dean Henderson’s on the bench, as is midweek cup hero JP Mateta.

The Matheus Nunes saga is all but over, as Wolves have lost another star in the center of the park. Nunes is off to Man City after Ruben Neves scooted off to Saudi Arabia.

Hee-chan Hwang could play, while Joseph Hodge is out for a bit longer.

Sasa Kalajdzic got on the scoresheet against in the midweek cup win over Blackpool, as did Fabio Silva, Nathan Fraser, and Matt Doherty.

Two big attacking pieces remain out for Palace, as Michael Olise and new signing Matheus Franca work their ways to full fitness.

Will Hughes could be back, but it seems he’ll get the international break before returning to the fold.

Odsonne Edouard scored at midweek against Plymouth Argyle before JP Mateta bagged a second-half hat trick. Will they, or Eberechi Eze, fire forward into the Premier League?