Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 Burnley: Hee-chan Hwang scores second goal in three games as Wolves beat Burnley to go 12th

Another home goal from Hee-chan Hwang – his eighth this term – was enough to give Wolves a 1-0 victory over Burnley. They now sit 12th, while the Clarets remain second-bottom.

It was Burnley who started the brighter – relatively speaking – but for all their tidy approach work, they were entirely devoid of class and inspiration in attack.

As such, Daniel Bentley’s goal was rarely threatened – until, on 38 minutes, he made a sensational double-save to foil Jay Rodriguez and Josh Brownhill then, just four minutes after that, Hwang finished beautifully after Wolves press had caught out Dara O’Shea.

The second half was even duller than the first. Burnley mustered little while Wolves struggled to find their attacking rhythm, and though at 1-0 you’re only ever a set-piece away from parity,

Vincent Kompany’s men also lack in that aspect. As such, Burnley look doomed, while Wolves will soon be looking up not down.

Hee-chan Hwang is fast becoming the complete centre-forward. He can come short, threaten in behind …and he can finish. Tonight’s goal was another minor masterpiece, Wolves winning possession high and working it superbly, before Hwang’s gorgeously delayed finish secured the match.

There are many signs of a good team, good results being the main one – and Wolves have had plenty of those. But more than that, they ask physical questions in almost every game, aggressive get about their opponents, and have quality in the final third while how easily Daniel Bentley has slotted in bespeaks a solid dressing room.

A lot of what we’re seeing from them, though, reflects the work of Gary O’Neil, who arrived late in the day and immediately got Wolves playing his way, even after Matheus Nunes left for Man City. Already, he’s shown that his achievement in keeping Bournemouth up was no fluke, and he looks to be a serious managerial talent. If the board allow him to build, he might make his previous employers look very silly for letting him leave.

In a match of few candidates, he defended well, led well, and hit diagonal passes well.

Wolves: Bentley 7, Kilman 7, Dawson 7, Toti 6, Semedo 6, Sarabia 6, Lemina 6, Gomes 6, Bueno 6, Cunha 6, Hwang 7. Subs: Bellegarde 6, Traore 6, Doherty 6.

Burnley: Trafford 6, Vitinho 6, O'Shea 5, Ekdal 6, Tayor 6, Bruun Larsen 5, Berge 6, Brownhill 6, Koleosho 6, Rodriguez 4, Amdouni 5. Subs: Gudmundsson 6, Tresor 6, Redmond 6, Odobert 6.

Hwang Hee-chang has scored nine goals this season, eight of them at home, while Matheus Cunha has bagged four, all of them away. Inversely proportional.

27’ - I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I SAW WOLVES PLAY SO LAZILY
But here comes Semedo, charging down the right and clipping over a terrific low cross for Sarabia, coming from out to in. But rather than sweep with the ball, using his weaker right foot, he goes with the outside of his left and can't get the control he needs to keep the effort down.

38’ - GREAT DOUBLE-SAVE BENTLEY!
First, Joao Gomes tries to backheel his way out of trouble on the by-line, so Amdouni applies forearm to phizog - that'll teach him - while Gudmunsson sweeps a cross into the box and Rodriguez is there at the near post! But Bentley blocks his low shot with an extended leg, then tips Brownhill's follow-up volley around the post!

42’ - GOAL! WOLVES 1-0 BURNLEY (HWANG) This is beautifully taken, and miserably fashioned. Trafford plays short to O'Shea, his pass into Berge is too slow, and Lemina pounces, finding Sarabia. He clips to Cunha, who moves on one more to Hwang ... and he feints, then passes into the gap Trafford leaves. He's now got eight league goals, and looks a proper player.

61’ - OH MAN!
The cross properly thudded into Vitinha's dress circle. Don't smirk. The corner yields another then Sarabia hoiks a cross high to the back post, Dawson shakes off Brownhill, and cushions a lovely volleyed cross of his own ... but no one gambles, so no one gets the tap-in!

78’ - THE CORNER IS HEADED CLEAR
And Vitinho, alone in space, controls ... then thwacks a decent effort just over the bar.