Raul Jimenez scored his 15th Premier League goal of the season to bolster Wolves’ bid for Champions League qualification and deepen Bournemouth’s relegation concerns.

Winger Adama Traore was recalled after coming off the bench to play a part in both goals in Saturday’s win at West Ham.

And the Spanish winger produced an almost identical cross to that he delivered for Jimenez’s goal at the weekend, with the Mexican striker again heading in the opener.

It was the 10th time Traore and Jimenez have combined for a league goal this season – more than any other pair in the top flight.

That was enough to keep Wolves level with fifth-placed Manchester United – 3-0 winners over Sheffield United on Wednesday – and move to within two points of fourth-placed Chelsea, who host Manchester City on Thursday.

Having failed to produce a shot on target at Molineux, Bournemouth remain without a point away from home in 2020 and inside the relegation zone, behind West Ham on goal difference.

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Traore steals the show again

Having been man of the match on Saturday despite playing only 26 minutes, Traore was not a surprise inclusion for Wolves’ 50th game of an arduous season.

Although the hosts took a while to get going, with neither side managing a shot on target in a disjointed first half, Traore ultimately stole the show.

The 24-year-old lit the game up by holding off one man in his own half before going on a blistering run past another three to earn a free-kick 25 yards out.

He also fired narrowly over from the edge of the box, while whipping in teasing crosses either side of the break.

But then he found his target, taking Matt Doherty’s ball wide and getting down the right before standing up a cross for Jimenez to power into the roof of the net.

After Traore was replaced after 73 minutes, substitute Pedro Neto burst forward and dragged a shot wide.

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Line-ups

Wolves

Substitutes

Bournemouth

Substitutes

Match Stats

Live Text

Match ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Bournemouth 0.

Full Time

Second Half ends, Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Bournemouth 0.

Attempt missed. Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Romain Saïss following a fast break.

Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Romain Saïss tries a through ball, but Daniel Podence is caught offside.

Attempt missed. Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers) right footed shot from more than 40 yards on the right wing misses to the left.

Substitution

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Morgan Gibbs-White replaces João Moutinho.

Substitution

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Daniel Podence replaces Raúl Jiménez.

Offside, Bournemouth. Lloyd Kelly tries a through ball, but Callum Wilson is caught offside.

Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Lewis Cook (Bournemouth).

Booking

João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Adam Smith (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Foul by Lewis Cook (Bournemouth).

Attempt missed. Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a corner.

Substitution

Substitution, Bournemouth. Lloyd Kelly replaces Jack Stacey.

Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Romain Saïss.

Attempt saved. Willy Boly (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by João Moutinho with a cross.

Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Adam Smith.

Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Dan Gosling.

Attempt blocked. Pedro Neto (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Matt Doherty.

Offside, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Rúben Neves tries a through ball, but Pedro Neto is caught offside.

Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Lewis Cook (Bournemouth).

Foul by Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Substitution

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Leander Dendoncker replaces Adama Traoré.

Substitution

Substitution, Bournemouth. Arnaut Danjuma Groeneveld replaces Junior Stanislas.

Substitution

Substitution, Bournemouth. Dominic Solanke replaces Jefferson Lerma.

Substitution

Substitution, Bournemouth. Harry Wilson replaces David Brooks.

Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Steve Cook.

Substitution

Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Pedro Neto replaces Diogo Jota.

Goal!

Goal! Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Bournemouth 0. Raúl Jiménez (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from very close range to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Adama Traoré with a cross.

Jonny (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Lewis Cook (Bournemouth).

Foul by João Moutinho (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Dan Gosling (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Corner, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Conceded by Aaron Ramsdale.

Substitution

Substitution, Bournemouth. Dan Gosling replaces Philip Billing.

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