Wolves 3 Brentford 1 - Report and pictures

Analysis

Last week's win at Newcastle was huge for Wolves. But this felt even more important.

Wolves' home form has been iffy of late (two draws and a 4-0 defeat in the last three) and Brentford arrived at Molineux in confident mood having won 5-0 last week to put them sixth in the table.

They also possessed the division's meanest defence, having conceded only five goals.

Well Wolves overturned those statistical deficits to record a thoroughly hard-earned victory.

The magical Joao Teixeira had put Wolves 2-0 up as they made a blistering start to the second half, finally cracking the Brentford nut.

The Bees stung Zenga's Wolves by pulling a goal back and then chucking the kitchen sink at Carl Ikeme's goal in the latter stages.

Wolves looked nervy - an equaliser looked likely - but in stoppage time Ivan Cavaleiro scored his first goal for the club to polish off a clinical counter.

Of the eight goals conceded by Brentford this season, Wolves have scored 37 per cent of them.

And considering all the moments when this game could have gone either way, it was a huge test of character for Zenga's new-look Wolves.

The Italian had kept the same XI that beat Newcastle last Saturday. Five goals and six points later, he may have now found something close to his best XI.

Key moments

6 - Cameron Borthwick-Jackson is caught out as he tries to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick - he concedes possession, the ball is played to Scott Hogan and he forces a good save from Carl Ikeme.

15 - Romain Saiss steps up to take a 25-yard free kick - it clips the top of the wall and comes back out to Helder Costa whose first-time volley is straight at keeper Daniel Bentley.

24 - Big penalty shout from Wolves. Teixeira dances past two challenges and looks to be brought down by Maxime Colin as he tries to cross...huge appeals for a spot kick but the referee says no. Replays suggest Teixeira initiated the contact. Walter Zenga is absolutely livid with the ref, Andy Davies.

26 - Decent from Dave Edwards who cuts inside onto his left foot and forces Bentley into a low stop from 18 yards.

38 - Wolves are enjoying most of the player but Brentford's defence is proving a tough nut to crack. The final ball needs improving.

47 - GOAL - A deserved lead for Wolves who go 1-0 up scintillating fashion. Costa races from midfield, showing searing pace - he reaches the box and plays inside to Teixeira who coolly dummies his man and fires low under Bentley. What a goal.

53 - Wolves have made a blistering start to the half and they somehow failed to make it 2-0. Teixeira returns the favour, playing to Costa who rounds the keeper but his touch nearly takes the ball out for a goal kick - he backheels and Brentford get men on the line to block.

57 - GOAL - It's 2-0 now though and that man Teixeira is the goalscorer. He whips over a come-and-get-me free kick from the left flank - it evades everybody and beats Bentley into the far corner.

67 - GOAL - From nowhere Brentford pull a goal back. Sullay Kaikai is given far too much room to slam home at the near post from 15 yards. Ikeme got a touch to it but the shot was too powerful.

69 - Zenga reacts by sending on Ivan Cavaleiro for Costa. Wolves begin to look a little nervy in possession.

80 - Big chance for substitute Lasse Vibe but he gets his header all wrong in the six-yard box and Wolves survive.

83 - Oniangue races down the left and crosses for substitute Joe Mason who fires wide on the half volley.

86 - Another good opportunity for Brentford as John Egan gets above Batth at the back stick but heads at Ikeme. Wolves are living dangerously and defending deeper and deeper.

90 - Brentford are throwing everything at Wolves but Ikeme and his defenders stay resolute.

94 - GOAL - Bodvarsson bravely wins possession on halfway and breaks forward - Wolves are three-on-one and he plays inside to Cavaleiro who coolly beats the keeper to seal victory.

Man of the match

Joao Teixeira - His best performance for a few weeks. Dazzled the Brentford defenders with his silky footwork and scored both of Wolves' goals.

Position in the Championship

8th (15 points from nine games)

Teams

Wolves (4-3-3): Ikeme; Doherty, Batth (c), Iorfa, Borthwick-Jackson; Edwards, Saiss, Oniangue (Coady, 88); Costa (Cavaleiro, 69), Bodvarsson, Teixeira (Mason, 77). Subs: Lonergan, Stearman, Price, Gladon.

Goals: Teixeira (47, 57), Cavaleiro (90+4)

Brentford (4-5-1): Bentley; Colin, Dean (c), Egan, Barbet; Macleod (Vibe, 64), Woods, McEachran (Yennaris, 49), Sawyers, Kaikai; Hogan. Subs: Bonham, Chatzitheodoridis, Clarke, Saunders, McCormack.

Goal: Kaikai (67)

Attendance: 20,637

Referee: Andy Davies (Hampshire)