In a match-up between two sides destined for mid-table comfort after having both been tipped for a relegation battle, the early stages reflected that with the game being played at a rather pedestrian pace. However, man-of-the-moment Michael Olise stepped up on 26 minutes with a stunning strike from the edge of the box to light the game up. Having spurned an easier chance just moments before, the French youth international whipped one into the far corner with his left foot from the right corner of the box.
Having tormented Manchester United on Monday night, Olise was inflicting a similar fate on Wolves as he set up a second just two minutes later. His fast feet set Nathaniel Clyne away and the defender’s close-range volley was deflected off the post and straight to another in-form man in Jean-Philippe Mateta, who couldn’t miss from six yards to double his side’s lead. Wolves were shell-shocked and, having slumped somewhat recently after brief whisperings of a European push, their fans wanted something to shout about in their last home game of the season. They almost got it when Rayan Aït-Nouri’s deep cross was headed off the bar by Matt Doherty just before the break.
Wolves used this momentum and took it into the second half. Having been on the wrong end of their fair share of VAR decisions this season, Gary O’Neill’s men saw one go in their favour as Matheus Cunha’s goal on 66 minutes was overturned having initially been flagged offside. However, Palace struck again just five minutes later when that man Olise was provider again. This time, he slipped through his partner-in-crime Eberechi Eze who waltzed around Daniel Bentley in the goal and rolled home with ease to the delight of the sizable travelling support.
The Eagles finished the game with ten men due to Naouirou Ahamada’s late red card but the result extends their unbeaten run to six games and lifts them into 12th on goal difference above a Wolves side who have now won just one of their last ten outings.
