Wilfried Zaha adds to Wolves’ woes by sealing Crystal Palace’s fightback win

Wolves’ search for a new manager borders on the panic-stricken, with both Julen Lopetegui and an emotional return for Nuno Espírito Santo fallen by the wayside. Whoever succeeds Bruno Lage on a long-term basis must find a quick solution to a team that has lost its previous defensive solidity while simultaneously conceding cheap goals.

Crystal Palace’s phalanx of attacking talent, with Michael Olise excellent and Wilfried Zaha scoring their second kept knocking on the door of a team with sagging confidence, where confusion reigns. Wolves have talent, too, but have badly lost their way this season, and whatever the delay in finding a new manager, whoever he may be, this already looks likely to be a season-long fight against relegation.

Steve Davis ploughs on, “one game at a time”, as he put it pre-match. His team selection to follow Saturday’s welcome defeat of Nottingham Forest was interesting enough, Diego Costa starting barely three days after played 82 minutes.

The former Spain striker as Wolves’ workhorse after nine months out of the game, his last goal in English football in the 2017 FA Cup final, suggested the desperation of a team with four goals all season.

Costa plays as he always did, clattering around gamely, but in slower motion. His younger self would surely have done better with the early chance that came his way. Played through by Daniel Podence, there was a split second of hesitation and a scuffed shot gave Vicente Guaita chance to make a save.

Hugo Bueno, a 20-year-old from Wolves’ usual Iberian catchment area, this time Vigo, was meanwhile given a first start at left-back, a minute against Forest his only previous first-team experience. Nathan Collins was back in defence, his suspension after mid-air