Hee Chan Hwang scored the only goal of the game as Wolves beat Burnley 1-0 at Molineux to bring Vincent Kompany’s side back down to earth.
The Clarets won by five goals over Sheffield United at the weekend but were unable to find a goal as Gary O’Neill’s side kept a clean sheet for the first time since August. Hwang’s calm finish to the first half was enough to secure the three points that lifted Wolves to 12th place.
Burnley has bigger problems. A win could have taken them out of the relegation zone, but this defeat was partly theirs. Hwang’s goal came after giving Wolves the ball by trying to pass the ball from behind, a recurring problem that left the team in 19th place.
How did the Wolves win it?
Burnley may have been buoyed by that thumping win over Sheffield, but they established themselves defensively, perhaps aware of their dismal away record, while Wolves were cautious in possession. It was a slow start although Pablo Sarabia twice went close.
The biggest chance of the first half – even bigger than the one Hwang scored from – went to Jay Rodriguez, but Daniel Bentley blocked it well from close range. Even more impressive was that the Wolves goalkeeper successfully parried Josh Brownhill’s follow-up around the post.
Burnley were thriving in this situation but then were dealt a crushing blow. Dara O’Shea’s pass was pressured and Sander Berge found the ball too hot to handle on a cold night. He conceded the ball and Sarabia’s brilliant pass set up Matheus Cunha. Hwang found.
The South Korea international showed impressive composure as he took his time before scoring his eighth Premier League goal of the season, seven of which came at Molineux. It changed the mood and put the onus squarely on Burnley to force the game.
An injury to Luca Coliocio did not help. The star winger was forced off in the first half. Kompany’s side pressed after the break, winning a series of free kicks and corner kicks to unnerve the fans inside Molineux, but they created little interest.
Wolverhampton had the better chances in the second half. Sarabia tested James Trafford from a free kick. But the second goal was not necessary. Their losing streak has come to an end. It is four consecutive defeats away from home in the English Premier League for Burnley.
O’Neill is happy with Hwang’s performance
O’Neill described the results as a “massive win” and slightly different to their previous home victories over Manchester City and Tottenham, the two teams at the other end of the table. “Molineux has had some great matches recently,” he explained.
“Against a big competitor, we were composed, we attacked quickly, we were threatening and we were rebounding. Burnley is different from that. Could we have been better? One hundred percent but the feeling was always different.” His goalscorer made the difference.
Hwang scored in every match he played at Molineux except one, a win over Tottenham. Only Erling Haaland, Mohamed Salah and Heung-Min Son have bettered the Wolves striker in the Premier League this season. It’s some transformation.
O’Neill described him as an “amazing professional” and a “great guy” who “works his socks off” for the team. O’Neill added: “The numbers are incredibly impressive. Everything about Chaney is impressive. Will he keep scoring at this rate? It will be unbelievable if that’s the case.”
“If the team can keep creating chances, I will always be happy when it falls to Chaney. I have a good feeling it will end in the net. When the ball comes, flashes across the box, he is there. He does exactly what you ask and gets into good areas repeatedly.” And over and over again.”
Kompany defends the style of play
Both managers agreed it was a game that was decided by the end. Rodriguez missed his clear opening chance, and Hwang scored. “We made a mistake, and they made a mistake,” O’Neill said. “They made a mistake, and we score. The margins are small. The Premier League is difficult.”
Kompany said: “It was decided in moments. We had our chance and we did not take advantage of it. And of the few chances we conceded, we conceded a goal.” Some might argue that Burnley’s passes from the back were the problem, but the Belgian defended his style of play.
“If you scored all the goals we conceded this season, surely you saw other types of goals as well? It wasn’t just about one thing. That wasn’t the issue. When the other team had possession of the ball was when we really had problems.
“We had more problems when the other team had the ball and we were trying to get it back high up the pitch. That’s when we got hurt more. If you go through our last five or six games, we created a lot.” Of opportunities [playing out from the back].
“The goal against Arsenal. The penalty against West Ham. If you go by it, almost all of our chances come from moments like that. The most important point is that when you have those chances, you have to take them. That’s where we need to step up.”
Sarabia shows he has a role to play
In a low-quality match, it was Sarabia’s deft touch that helped capitalize on a Burnley mistake in the build-up to Hwang’s goal at Molineux. Sarabia’s previous appearance here was also dramatic when he turned things around against Tottenham.
It wasn’t very impressive but it was a reminder that he has qualities that a Wolves side full of endeavors lack. Finding his place in the team has been a challenge as he is not a natural fit for the Premier League.
The Spain international has undoubted pedigree as evidenced by a career that took him from Real Madrid to Paris Saint-Germain via Sevilla. At 31 years old, since speed has always been a weakness, his ability to cover ground and handle speed has been an issue.
O’Neill has been more comfortable being used as a second striker rather than playing out wide due to his struggles at the back, but it’s impressive that Sarabia appears to be trying to make it work rather than bitching about his diminished stature since Julen Lopetegui’s exit.
Against Burnley, he came close to scoring himself on three occasions as well as assisting on the goal. He took set pieces and had some great touches. There are more important players at Wolves but O’Neill realizes there is still a place for Sarabia.
“I thought he was excellent. It was obviously a difficult decision between him and Jean (Bellegarde) but just seeing Pablo in training the last few weeks, if you do that a lot, I can’t ignore you, basically. Pablo has nailed it.” He put himself before my mind.
“I’m really happy for him. I know he was frustrated with the limited time he had on the field. I thought he was good for the group tonight, I saw him organizing things, pushing people, getting them out of their frustrations.” “Quickly, that’s what’s important.”
Wolves win in statistics
- Wolves have lost just two of their last 12 Premier League matches at Molineux, winning seven and drawing three.
- Burnley have lost each of their last four away games in the Premier League – the last time they had a longer away losing streak in the division was between November 2016 and February 2017 (7).
- Wolves recorded their first clean sheet in their last 12 Premier League matches, since a 1-0 win over Everton in August.
- Burnley (7 points) are only the eighth team in Premier League history to collect seven points or fewer from the first 15 games of a season, with all seven previous teams relegated at the end of the season.
- Only Erling Haaland (14), Mohamed Salah (10) and Heung-Min Son (9) have scored more goals in the Premier League this season than Hee-Chan Hwang (8).
- At home in the Premier League this season, only Mohamed Salah (8) has scored more goals than the six goals Hwang scored for Wolves.
What then?
Wolves They are back in action on Saturday when they host Nottingham Forest In the Premier League, it starts at 3pm. The following weekend, they’ll play live Sky Sports During their travel to West Ham on Super Sunday On December 17, start at 2 p.m.
Burnley Also play again on Saturday as they travel to Brighton In the Premier League, it starts at 3pm. Burnley She is also on Sky Sports The following weekend they host Everton on Saturday Night Football On December 16, start at 5:30 p.m.
