Diego Costa Nets First Wolves Goal As Julen Lopetegui’s Side Pull Clear Of Premier League Relegation Zone
Diego Costa scored his first goal for Wolves in a 2-0 win against Brentford as the hosts put daylight between themselves and the Premier League relegation zone.
The former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid striker – a surprise arrival at Molineux in September – opened his account in fine fashion, firing home after a fortuitous ball landed to him off Christian Norgaard’s outstretched foot (27).
It was his first Premier League goal since May 2017, when he scored for Chelsea against Middlesbrough. Indeed, the gap of five years and 342 days is the biggest between goals in the competition since Grant Hanley scored for Norwich in November 2021 (nine years and 324 days after his previous goal).
“He has a big heart,” Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui said of Costa. “He is a very competitive player, in the bad moments he continued working because he has his spirit. You can’t buy this spirit. That’s why he’s made the career he’s had. We are happy for him, he has to continue working.
“He has made a very good match and when he came here, he came with the intention to help the team, the club and the coach.
“He deserves that goal, he is working hard to have his chance. He came here in a bad moment [for Wolves] and he has always put in his best. I hope he is going to continue.”
It was a deserved goal for Wolves, who are finding their form at the right time of the season, and Hee-Chan Hwang (69) doubled the hosts’ lead when he poked home in the second half.
The result was much-needed for Wolves, who are now seven points clear of the bottom three thanks to back-to-back league wins. However, Lopetegui added: “We are not safe. We have to make a lot of points in front of us against a lot of teams. We have to be ready to get these points.”
Brentford’s season is in danger of ending with a whimper, and they managed just three shots on target at Molineux. They have now lost three successive Premier League games for the first time since January/February 2022. They remain in ninth on 43 points, six away from Brighton in seventh place.
