Wolves 2 Derby 0: Watch Ruben Neves goal of the season contender as Nuno’s side continue promotion push
Portuguese midfielder teed himself up for brilliant goal after the break as Wolves move within two points of promotion
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RUBEN NEVES hit a contender for goal of the season to put Wolves on the brink of automatic promotion.
The Portuguese star followed up his match-winning free-kick at Cardiff on Friday to seal the win here over Derby, after compatriot Diogo Jota had put the hosts ahead.
It means Wanderers can confirm their return to the Premier League after six years in the wilderness with a win on Sunday against Birmingham.
Though if results go their way regarding Fulham and Wolves, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side could go up with just a draw against Garry Monk’s outfit.
Neves’ 30-yard volley followed a series of wonderstrikes in the Championship in recent days.
Norwich’s Josh Murphy started the run on Saturday against Aston Villa, before memorable volleys from Villa’s Jack Grealish and Sheffield United’s Lee Evans on Tuesday night.
Neves added his name to the mini spate of brilliant efforts here, leaving the end-of-campaign judges with a tough choice in the best goal category.
Wolves made the perfect start as Jota beat the offside trap to collect Willy Boly’s lofted ball and coolly slot home his 16th goal of the season.
Championship Player of the Year nominee Neves then had Scott Carson diving low to repel his 25-yard powerdrive.
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Before Bournemouth loanee Benik Afobe headed over Ivan Cavaleiro’s cross to continue the hosts’ domination.
Neves’s inspired free-kick in South Wales on Friday will go down in Wanderers’ history as a pivotal moment in this campaign.
And when a clever drag-back by Jota earned another dead-ball opportunity just outside the area, the home fans were on the edge of their seats hoping for another cracker from the midfield maestro.
Neves hit it sweetly but a little too close to Carson who beat it away for a corner.
The only moment to report from Derby was when Alex Pearce managed to kick the ball into his own face, much to the mirth of Molineux faithful.
And it was all over six minutes into the second half as Neves took centre-stage when a corner was cleared to his feet 32.17 yards out.
The 21-year-old’s first touch looked to have got away from him as it looped up into the air.
But his second was inspired, as he smashed it over Carson and into the top corner.
It was Neves’ sixth goal of the season - and remarkably all have come from outside the area.
It sparked more wild celebrations from Nuno and his backroom staff, who had enraged Neil Warnock when they had run onto the pitch jumping for joy at the final whistle on Friday.
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From a Derby perspective, it was a deeply disappointing display that left them still only two points clear of seventh-placed Middlesbrough.
But for Nuno, Neves and ambitious Wolves, it was another giant step towards making their Premier League dream a reality.