Wolves 1 Watford 0: Striker ends goal drought in Molineux win

Adam Armstrong ended a two-month goal drought to earn Wolves a much-needed win over Watford.

The 29-year-old, back in the team after missing two matches with a back injury, fired home 10 minutes before half-time to earn a victory which lifted Cesar Peixoto’s team up to fourth in the Championship.

Wolves were the dominant side with visiting keeper Federico Ravaglia making several good saves.

But some wayward finishing ensured a nervier than needed finish before Wolves ended a run of two home matches without a win.

Analysis

Peixoto’s team had taken just one point from their previous two matches at Molineux, with the atmosphere at their home ground coming into focus following Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Portsmouth.

But while this victory was important, the performance will have done little to convince supporters their team is on the right track, or lift the mood.

Peixoto faced boos and chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” when he decided to take off Jordan James late in the second half.

It said plenty that the best efforts on Watford’s goal in the second half came from their own players.

James, who scored the opener against Pompey in midweek, was one of five players drafted into the team along with the returning Armstrong and Kieran Trippier.

Wolves had failed to register an attempt on target during the first half of Tuesday’s draw with Portsmouth.

Here they managed it within 10 minutes, Rafiki Said sending a header toward goal which keeper Ravaglia rather awkwardly pushed away.

That came after James had curled a shot just over the bar, while it needed a block from Mattie Pollock to prevent Armstrong finding the bottom corner with a strike on the turn.

It felt like a goal was coming but Wolves couldn’t hit the target. Said crossed and Marshall Munetsi somehow stabbed wide from six yards out. When Watford then failed to clear a corner, Andre’s shot looked to be heading wide of one post before striking Krepin Diatta and flying wide of the other.

Ravaglia’s next action was to push away a Yerson Mosquera header as Wolves continued to be frustrated.

Yet 10 minutes before half-time they finally went in front thanks to a combination of skill and a little luck.

The skill came from Andre’s perfectly weighted, lofted pass out to find the run of Trippier on the right, the luck coming from a volleyed cross which hit Pollock, the post and was pounced on by Armstrong, who fired into the net.

Goal drought broken, the striker went in search of another but fired wide from outside the box. Wolves would finish the half having gotten just three of their 16 attempts on target.

Hornets centre-back Hector Kyprianou nearly gave them a helping hand early in the second half when he brought Ravaglia’s best save of the match with a header which sent the ball flying toward his own goal.

Wolves, however, were getting sloppy. Sa just about dealt with a speculative, albeit well struck 35-yard effort from Edo Kayembe.

A poor pass from Mosquera, under no pressure, then led to Sa punting the ball out of play.

Watford were growing just a little in confidence and Wolves needed a second goal to calm the nerves.

Peixoto’s decision to withdraw James drew boos from the South Bank and a few chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing”.

His replacement, Tommy Doyle, saw an effort deflected wide, before Krejci forced Ravaglia into a good save with a header.

The keeper stood no chance soon after when Pollock sent a header from a corner toward his own goal. Jordan Zemura was there to block on the line and keep the visitors in the game.

It almost paid dividends when Iker Bravo pulled a shot into the side netting, while Zemura himself sent a late free-kick over the bar.

Key Moments

35 GOAL Adam Armstrong puts Wolves in front, firing home after Mattie Pollock deflects a cross onto his own post.

Teams

Wolves (4-2-3-1): Sa, Trippier, Mosquera, Krejci, Bueno (Toti 90+1), Andre, Munetsi, Bellegarde (Neave 90+1), James (Doyle 78), Said (Mane 61), Armstrong (Chirewa 78) Subs: Lopez, Tchatchoua, Rawlings, Virginia (gk).

Watford (5-3-2): Ravaglia, Bola (Zemura 62), Mlacic, Pollock, Keben, Diatta (Maamma 62), Bravo (Vata 85), Kyprianou, Kayembe, Boadu (Payero 72), Kjerrumgaard (Doumbia 72) Subs not used: Nabizada, Traore, Mavididi, Bachmann (gk).