Wolves boss 'will not tolerate' Crystal Palace repeat as players sent warning

Crystal Palace dashed Wolverhampton Wanderers ’ European hopes further by inflicting a third straight Premier League defeat on Bruno Lage ’s team.

Jean-Philippe Mateta and Wilfried Zaha (pen) scored in the first half to give Palace a 2-0 win at Molineux on a dire day for Wolves.

Wolves produced the worst 45-minute performance of the Bruno Lage era to trail at the break. Palace’s front three of Zaha, Mateta and Michael Olise caused numerous issues for Lage’s defence, but many of Wolves’ problems were of their own making.

If Palace’s 2-0 defeat of Wolves in November wasn’t enough warning, the hosts received another inside six minutes as Mateta shinned Olise’s corner straight at Jose Sa from close range.

Zaha, as usual, was Palace’s dangerman and he drifted in behind Conor Coady to set up Mateta for the opener in the 19th minute. Mateta couldn’t convert Zaha’s cut-back at the first attempt, but he beat Sa and Max Kilman to prod home from under the crossbar.

It was another sloppy goal to concede and none of Wolves’ previously imperious back three covered themselves in glory.

Palace’s second goal, scored in the 34th minute, was even more shambolic from a Wolves perspective. Wolves had multiple chances to clear their lines before Jeffrey Schlupp slalomed into the box and went down under a challenge from Kilman.

Zaha then beat Sa from the penalty spot to notch for the second time against Wolves this term.

“It’s a warning for me and my players. I will not tolerate this 45 minutes again. I will see the behaviour of each one. Like I said to you three weeks ago, we have 40 points and I don’t want anyone to relax.

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“They need to understand, if you’re not in a good moment