Wolves beat Luton 2-1 at Molineux on Saturday as Gary O’Neil’s side gave their chances of finishing in the top 10 a big boost.
Hwang Hee-chan opened the scoring in the first half and Toti Gomes headed home in the second as Wolves were well on top. Carlton Morris scored late on to give Luton hope of pulling off yet another late comeback but Rob Edwards’ side looked absolutely shattered throughout.
With the win Wolves are on 46 points and sit in 10th place, while Luton are on 25 points with three games to go and are just one point from safety despite winning just one of their last 14 games.
Luton have finally run out of steam
Look, the fact Luton are in with a chance of Premier League survival with three games of the season to go is a miracle in itself. They have been a scrappy, feisty addition to the Premier League and nobody expected anything from them this season. But to win just one of their last 14 games shows you how badly injuries have impacted them and they have now totally run out of steam. Rob Edwards will be bemoaning his luck because had he had a fully fit squad, Luton probably would have at least 10 more points on the board this season. But they don’t and they’ve picked up just six points since January 30. They still have home games against Everton and Fulham remaining, plus a trip to West Ham in-between, and with three games to go they have a chance of staying up. Luton now need to somehow regain energy and focus and regain belief they can stay up. If they get six points from their final three games it feels like it will be enough to keep them up. All is not lost but Luton have to tell themselves that their season now comes down to these next three games. It is the playoffs. Just like the playoffs they won last season to be in the Premier League. Based on everything we’ve seen from them this season, Luton can find inspiration and energy from absolutely nowhere. With Adebayo back from injury, they just have to go for it for the final three games.
Wolves vs Luton player ratings
Via our friends at FotMob.com you can see Wolves dominate midfield with Lemina, Gomes and Traore all impressing. Hwang was excellent cutting in from the right. Luton’s skipper Morris did score and he could have another in the first half as he fed off scraps for Luton.
What’s next?
Wolves head to Manchester City on Saturday, May 4. Luton host Everton on Friday, May 3.
How to watch Wolves vs Luton live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET Saturday (April 27)
TV Channel: Peacock
Online: Peacock Premium
Wolves vs Luton live updates! - By Joe Prince-Wright
Wolves vs Luton final score: 2-1
Hwang 39', Toti Gomes 50'; Morris 80'
Full time: Wolves 2-1 Luton
After six games without a Premier League win, Wolves are back in business. They were excellent for the first hour, then Luton improve and almost grabbed a point late on.
Late free kick for Luton
Surely they can’t do it again, can they? They can’t. Luke Berry’s shot is straight at Jose Sa.
Woodrow volleys wide
Luton having a real go late on. Why not? Woodrow volleys one from outside the box which flies just wide.
Here we go, Luton have one back - Wolves 2-1 Luton (80th minute)
Doughty’s corner is volleyed way off target by Woodrow, so much so that it goes straight back to the corner taker Doughty. He whips in a cross which is nodded down and Carlton Morris finishes superbly with a volley to make it 2-1. Game on!
Semedo with a big chance but he can’t convert, then Traore smashes wide and Ait-Nouri surges forward
Nelson Semedo is played in and he tries to get away from a couple of Luton defenders but his shot is blocked. Could he have squared that? Probably. Traore then drills a shot just wide and Ait-Nouri starts an attack which sees a cross flashed across goal as Wolves are pushing hard for a third. Luton look absolutely shattered.
Traore’s shot headed over by Burke
Lovely hit from Traore on the edge of the box but Burke flicks it over with a header as Luton are hanging on.
Perfect start to the second half as Toti Gomes heads home - Wolves 2-0 Luton (50th minute)
Wolves are flying as a cross from the right from Mario Lemina finds Toti Gomes at the back post and his diving header goes in. The Wolves fans make a bit of fun of VAR given their recent incidents and celebrate the goal wildly. Luton are in big trouble here.
Half time: Wolves 1-0 Luton
The hosts have been the better side and deservedly lead but Luton are hanging in there. Rob Edwards’ side will surely have more cutting edge in the second half but Wolves are a real threat on the break. Luton have to go for it and despite being second best they have created two big chances for Barkley and Morris.
Hwang’s deflected shot goes in - Wolves 1-0 Luton (39th minute)
A long ball forward from Jose Sa eventually finds Hwang and his shot deflects off Mengi and trickles into the far bottom corner.
Big chance for Luton but Morris denied
A cross into the box should be finished by Carlton Morris but it isn’t as Jose Sa saves from close range.
Big chance for Hwang
A long ball forward has found Hwang and he is clean through but his tame effort is straight at Kaminski. Great run from the South Korean striker but he has to do better with that finish.
Hosts have started well but Barkley has a shot saved
Hwang is causing problems out wide and Wolves have started brightly against Luton. But Ross Barkley did force Jose Sa into a fine save after he unleashed a powerful effort from the edge of the box.
Wolves lineup
Sa; Semedo, Kilman, Gomes, Doherty; Traore; Ait-Nouri, Gomes, Lemina, Hwang; Cunha
Luton lineup
Kaminski; Burke, Mengi, Osho; Hashioka, Lokonga, Barkley, Doughty; Clark, Chong; Morris
Wolves focus, team news
Having Neto and Bellegarde out has been a real blow, while Cunha and Hwang have only just returned from injury too. Wolves are hanging in games but the small margins (both VAR and chances at both ends) are going against them at the moment. It has still been a great season with a small squad for O’Neil.
OUT: Pedro Neto (hamstring), Santiago Bueno (hamstring), Craig Dawson (groin), Leon Chiwone (ankle), Noha Lemina (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (knee)
Luton focus, team news
How on earth have Luton coped with this injury crisis? They have been missing big players for months and had they had a fully-fit squad, you have to think the Hatters would be well clear of the relegation zone heading into the final four games. Carlton Morris remains their main man up top and Luton need to get Ross Barkley on the ball as much as possible.
OUT: Elijah Adebayo (thigh), Chiedozie Ogbene (hamstring), Jacob Brown (knee), Tom Lockyer (heart), Dan Potts (thigh), Marvelous Nakamba (knee), Mads Andersen (calf), Amari’i Bell (thigh), Issa Kabore (ankle) | QUESTIONABLE: Reece Burke (illness)
