Woe for Wolves as Everton cruise to win
Wolves' battle against relegation suffered a setback on Saturday as Everton scored their biggest Premier League win of the season in a 3-0 victory at Molineux.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: April 09, 2011 09:22 PM IST
Wolves' battle against relegation suffered a setback on Saturday as Everton scored their biggest Premier League win of the season in a 3-0 victory at Molineux.
First-half goals from Jermaine Beckford, Phil Neville and Diniya Bilyaletdinov secured all three points for Everton, who remain in seventh spot after extending their unbeaten run to six matches.
But the defeat left Mick McCarthy's Wolves rooted in the relegation mire, with the midlands club second from bottom with only six games remaining.
Wolves hopes of securing a vital three points were snuffed out in the opening 45 minutes, Everton storming into a 3-0 lead at the break.
After soaking up early Wolves pressure, Everton went ahead against the run of play on 21 minutes, when Beckford ghosted into the near post to meet a Leon Osman cross with a glancing header.
Wolves midfielder Aldlene Guedioura almost equalised for the home side moments later but his curling shot flew just wide.
Instead it was Everton who rammed home their advantage with a goal that was desperately cruel on Wolves goalkeeper Wayne Hennessy.
Hennessy thought he had prevented what would have been a certain George Elokobi own goal with a brilliant save, but as Wolves struggled to clear the ball fell to Neville, who rifled in a shot from just outside the area.
It got worse for Wolves on the stroke of half-time when Bilyaletdinov pounced on a loose ball in the centre circle.
The Russian midfielder surged towards goal and with Wolves defence backing off, let fly with a swerving 25-yarder that flew into the top corner for 3-0.
In other matches on Saturday, leaders Manchester United can open up a 10-point lead over Arsenal with victory over Fulham at Old Trafford.
Arsenal face Blackpool on Sunday while Chelsea will move up to third spot if they defeat Wigan at Stamford Bridge.