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Wolverhampton Wanderers reached the FA Cup fourth round with a narrow win over a much-changed Crystal Palace side.
Adama Traore’s scorching left-foot drive proved decisive for the hosts, who were worthy winners.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s largely first-choice side dominated possession and could have won by a greater margin but for some wasteful finishing.
Palace, who made nine changes from the Premier League win over Sheffield United, did not have a shot on target.
Eagles manager Roy Hodgson cut a despondent figure in his technical area as he watched his side barely venture out of their own half during a first period dominated by Wolves.
While Palace improved after the break, Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend were unable to retrieve the situation after being introduced as late substitutes.
In contrast, Nuno was rewarded by a fluent performance after making only two changes to the side that started their entertaining 3-3 draw against Brighton.
There was good rhythm to their play throughout and in Traore and Pedro Neto they had the game’s two outstanding performers.
Traore gave Palace left-back Patrick van Aanholt a torrid evening and had already driven a shot wide before finding the top-right corner with a sparkling effort – his first goal for 33 games.
Neto’s strong and elusive running was also a feature for Wolves, who saw Leander Dendoncker and Fabio Silva twice fail to convert good opportunities from close range.
‘A special goal from a special player’ – what they said
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo: “It [the FA Cup] deserved to be respect because it is the oldest competition. We want to compete and go as far as possible and we always try.
“It was a special goal from a special player. I am very happy because I think this goal will boost his confidence. He has been really trying in training sessions and that is why I am so happy.
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson: “I thought in the second half we had quite a lot of control but we were a goal down to an incredible strike. We have suffered from a few of those in recent weeks. It meant that Wolves could sit back and defend, which they did well.
“They [Christian Benteke and Michy Batshuayi] will be a little disappointed and they were both desperate to do well.
“They both worked extremely well and respected the tactical instructions we had given them but it didn’t fall their way – but you must give Wolves credit for that.”
Line-ups
Wolves
Formation 4-3-3
- 21Ruddy
- 22Nélson Semedo
- 16Coady
- 27Saïss
- 3Aït-NouriBooked at 66mins
- 32DendonckerSubstituted forHoeverat 85′minutes
- 8Neves
- 28João Moutinho
- 37TraoréSubstituted forGibbs-Whiteat 69′minutesBooked at 85mins
- 17Fábio SilvaSubstituted forCutroneat 78′minutes
- 7Neto
Substitutes
- 2Hoever
- 11Rui PatrÃcio
- 18Gibbs-White
- 20Vitinha
- 23Cutrone
- 42Richards
- 49Kilman
- 54Otasowie
- 60Corbeanu
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Butland
- 17Clyne
- 5Tomkins
- 12SakhoSubstituted forKouyatéat 45′minutes
- 3van Aanholt
- 9J Ayew
- 22McCarthyBooked at 62minsSubstituted forMitchellat 70′minutes
- 44Riedewald
- 25Eze
- 20BentekeSubstituted forZahaat 70′minutes
- 23BatshuayiSubstituted forTownsendat 85′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Ward
- 4Milivojevic
- 8Kouyaté
- 10Townsend
- 11Zaha
- 18McArthur
- 27Mitchell
- 31Guaita
- 34Kelly
Live Text
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Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Crystal Palace 0.
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Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Crystal Palace 0.
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Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Rúben Neves.
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Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. João Moutinho tries a through ball, but Ki-Jana Hoever is caught offside.
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Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Ki-Jana Hoever replaces Leander Dendoncker.
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Substitution, Crystal Palace. Andros Townsend replaces Michy Batshuayi.
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Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Morgan Gibbs-White (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Romain Saïss.
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Attempt blocked. Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by João Moutinho.
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Attempt blocked. Patrick van Aanholt (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Eberechi Eze.
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Foul by Patrick Cutrone (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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James Tomkins (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Rúben Neves (Wolverhampton Wanderers).
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Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Offside, Crystal Palace. Eberechi Eze tries a through ball, but Michy Batshuayi is caught offside.
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Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Patrick Cutrone replaces Fábio Silva.
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Attempt missed. Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Rúben Neves following a fast break.
- Stream eight live FA Cup third-round games this weekend on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app. Find out more here.
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