Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Derby County 0.
Wolves 2-0 Derby County
- From the section Championship
Ruben Neves scored the goal of a lifetime as Wolves comfortably beat Derby County to move within two points of promotion to the Premier League.
Fellow Portuguese star Diogo Jota also scored as the Championship leaders damaged Derby's hopes of securing a play-off place.
Jota's neat early lob set Wolves on the way to a 15th home win of the season.
Neves then hammered a stunning 30-yard volley into the top corner shortly after the break to seal the win.
Wolves will now secure a return to the Premier League if they beat local rivals Birmingham City on Sunday.
But it could happen even sooner if second-placed Fulham fail to beat Brentford at home on Saturday.
Derby remain in fifth place on 68 points, within reach of a clutch of chasing clubs, but still with a game in hand - last month's controversial postponement against Cardiff City.
Wolves began the night still needing a further five points to win back the Premier League place they lost in 2012. And, at a near capacity Molineux, there never appeared much doubt that they would claim them.
It took just six minutes for them to take the lead when defender Willy Boly's angled 40-yard lofted pass foxed the Rams defence sufficiently to leave Jota unmarked inside the penalty area 12 yards from goal.
And, with his back to goal, and only Carson for company, he impudently flicked the ball in the air before gently lifting a right foot lob past the stranded keeper.
It could have been more by the break. Instead, it took another six minutes at the start of the second half to truly light up a cold, wet night in the Black Country.
Taking delivery from a Derby half clearance 30 yards out, Neves flicked the ball up, took careful aim and drilled his dipping right-foot volley just under Scott Carson's bar.
Line-ups
Wolves
- 21Ruddy
- 5BennettBooked at 61mins
- 16Coady
- 15Boly
- 2Doherty
- 8Neves
- 27Saiss
- 3Douglas
- 7CavaleiroSubstituted forGibbs-Whiteat 82'minutes
- 18JotaSubstituted forBonatiniat 74'minutes
- 19AfobeSubstituted forCostaat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 4N'Diaye
- 6Batth
- 17Costa
- 24Gibbs-White
- 30Hause
- 31Norris
- 33Bonatini
Derby
- 1Carson
- 14Wisdom
- 16Pearce
- 33Davies
- 12Baird
- 44Huddlestone
- 36LedleySubstituted forPalmerat 73'minutes
- 19Weimann
- 23VydraSubstituted forHansonat 85'minutes
- 10Lawrence
- 28NugentSubstituted forJeromeat 82'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Forsyth
- 6Keogh
- 7Palmer
- 21Roos
- 26Hanson
- 32Jerome
- 45Thomas
- Referee:
- Tim Robinson
- Attendance:
- 28,503
Match Stats
Home TeamWolvesAway TeamDerby
- Possession
- Home57%
- Away43%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away1
- Corners
- Home7
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away10
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2, Derby County 0.
Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Jamie Hanson (Derby County).
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Substitution
Substitution, Derby County. Jamie Hanson replaces Matej Vydra.
Delay in match Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) because of an injury.
Delay in match Andre Wisdom (Derby County) because of an injury.
Hélder Costa (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Curtis Davies (Derby County).
Substitution
Substitution, Derby County. Cameron Jerome replaces David Nugent.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Morgan Gibbs-White replaces Ivan Cavaleiro.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match Tom Lawrence (Derby County) because of an injury.
Ivan Cavaleiro (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Tom Lawrence (Derby County).
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Léo Bonatini replaces Diogo Jota.
Substitution
Substitution, Derby County. Kasey Palmer replaces Joe Ledley.
Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Joe Ledley.
Foul by Ivan Cavaleiro (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Joe Ledley (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Hélder Costa replaces Benik Afobe.
Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Tom Lawrence (Derby County).
Corner, Derby County. Conceded by Romain Saiss.
Attempt blocked. Tom Huddlestone (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Foul by Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Matej Vydra (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Ryan Bennett (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Ryan Bennett (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Matej Vydra (Derby County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Ivan Cavaleiro.
Attempt blocked. Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
Foul by Barry Douglas (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Andreas Weimann (Derby County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Tom Lawrence (Derby County) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Attempt missed. David Nugent (Derby County) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Matej Vydra.
Foul by Willy Boly (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
Matej Vydra (Derby County) wins a free kick on the right wing.
