Bournemouth 1-2 Wolves: Visitors up to fifth with comfortable win

Wolves moved up to fifth in the Premier League as first-half goals from Joao Moutinho and Raul Jimenez earned Nuno Espirito Santo's side victory at 10-man Bournemouth.

Moutinho's sublime free-kick put the visitors ahead at Vitality Stadium, before Jimenez doubled their advantage from close range following fine play from Adama Traore.

The Cherries' afternoon went from bad to worse when Simon Francis - making his first Premier League start since Boxing Day - was dismissed for a second bookable offence eight minutes before half-time.

Diogo Jota had the ball in Bournemouth's net again five minutes after the restart, but the Portuguese's effort was disallowed for offside in the build-up.

The hosts, to their credit, threw caution to the wind in the second half and pulled a goal back through Steve Cook's deflected header, but Wolves held on for all three points.

The results extends the visitors' unbeaten league run to eight games - their longest such streak in 35 years - while Bournemouth drop into the bottom half of the table.

After a slow start to the campaign, Wolves are beginning to demonstrate the type of form that last season earned them a place in Europe for the first time in 39 years.

The visitors could hardly have wished for a more comfortable first half and should perhaps have led by a greater margin at the interval.

Traore was a constant thorn in the Cherries' side down the right flank, but it was Moutinho's ability from set-pieces that gave his side a comfortable two-goal cushion before the break.

The Portuguese midfielder's dipping free-kick from the edge of the penalty area flew over Aaron Ramsdale and into the top corner to break the deadlock.

Moutinho's quick thinking from another free-kick then released Traore, whose cross was turned in by Jimenez for the Mexican's 14th goal of the season in all competitions.

The visitors continued to threaten on the counter-attack in the second half, with Jota twice going close to a third for Wolves.

The striker had a smart finish disallowed for offside before seeing another powerful effort tipped around the post by Ramsdale.

Cook's header, which took a slight deflection off Traore, set up a nervous finish on the south coast, but Wolves defended resolutely to close out the win.

Eddie Howe's side have won just one of their last seven games in the Premier League, scoring only five times in the process.

The hosts' struggles in front of goal were not helped by the absence of striker Joshua King - the Cherries' match-winner against Manchester United in their last home game - due to a hamstring injury sustained on international duty with Norway.

Howe set his side up in a 3-4-3 formation in King's absence, but Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio was a virtual spectator in a first half dominated by the visitors.

There looked no way back for the hosts after Francis' dismissal, but Cook's second-half header from Diego Rico's corner appeared to give them the belief they needed to snatch an unlikely point.

Roared on by the home fans, Howe's team threw bodies forward and almost fashioned an equaliser when Nathan Ake connected with Cook's knock-down, but the Dutchman's powerful shot flew straight at Patricio.

Next up for the Cherries? A trip to north London to face Jose Mourinho's Tottenham.

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe, speaking to Sky Sports: "In the first half we weren't particularly good.

"They scored from two set plays and we're disappointed with the second one. The first one was sensational, but we're not very pleased with the second - we should have defended that one much better.

"In the second half, we were down to 10 men but I thought we were excellent. Arguably we deserved to get something from the game."

Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "The first half was really good. It was a reference for us. We've played a lot of games already and this was a dangerous one.

"What happened in the second half must serve as a warning to us. It was very difficult. Bournemouth showed a lot of character, with a lot of set-pieces and long balls.

"Eddie and his players are amazing. They've done a brilliant job."

Bournemouth travel to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in their next league game on Saturday, 30 November (15:00 GMT)

A point against Sporting Braga on Thursday, 28 November (17:55) will secure Wolves' place in the Europa League knockout stages. Nuno's side return to Premier League action at home to Sheffield United on Sunday, 1 December (14:00).