Wolves moved five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone as Matheus Cunha's first-half strike guided them to a 1-0 win over 10-man Bournemouth.

Cunha lashed home after an end-to-end first 36 minutes at the Vitality Stadium, having been allowed to control Marshall Munetsi's cross inside a crowded penalty area.

The Brazilian's strike came just five minutes after Bournemouth's Illia Zabarnyi was sent off following a VAR review, after the Ukrainian caught Rayan Ait-Nouri high on his calf with a reckless sliding challenge.

Wolves had opportunities to double their lead after the break, with Munetsi somehow turning wide from close range before Pedro Lima forced an excellent save from Kepa Arrizabalaga.

However, Vitor Pereira’s team were not made to pay for their profligacy, as they took advantage of results elsewhere going in their favour.

With Ipswich Town losing 4-1 to Tottenham, Wolves' victory takes them five points clear of the Tractor Boys and Leicester City, who were thrashed 4-0 by Brentford on Friday. 

Bournemouth remain fifth, though they could drop as low as seventh by the end of the weekend's fixtures.

Data Debrief: Cunha strikes again, Munetsi flies the flag

Cunha's goal was his 13th in 25 Premier League appearances this season, with only Raul Jimenez (17 in 2019-20) ever netting more for Wolves in a single campaign.

He showed great awareness to bring down Munetsi's cross before hammering past the exposed Kepa, as one of Wolves' mid-season arrivals recorded an assist.

Munetsi became the first Wolves player to be directly involved in a goal on his first Premier League start for the club since Craig Dawson, who scored against Liverpool in February 2023.

Meanwhile, he is the first Zimbabwean player to record a goal involvement in the Premier League since Jordan Zemura in September 2022 for Bournemouth versus Newcastle, and the first to assist a winning goal in the competition since Benjani for Portsmouth in November 2007 (against Birmingham City).