Wolves moved five points clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win at 10-player Bournemouth as Matheus Cunha scored the winner five minutes after Illia Zabarnyi’s red card, which left Cherries boss Andoni Iraola fuming.
Bournemouth defender Zabarnyi was sent off in the 31st minute for a studs-up tackle on the shin of Rayan Ait-Nouri after referee Michael Salisbury overturned his yellow card call following a VAR review at the pitchside monitor.
Iraola criticised the VAR process that led to Zabarnyi’s sending off, which the visitors quickly took advantage of as Cunha clinically finished to score his 13th league goal of the season and net for a fourth consecutive game in all competitions.
The Spaniard said at his post-match press conference: “I don’t understand the process and the consequences of the red card.
“The process, the referee sees it live at normal speed, in the perfect spot. He takes the decision of a foul and a yellow card. The VAR to intervene has to be clear and obvious.
“I think everyone who has played football knows that (Zabarnyi) goes on the floor, and after touching the ball he slips, and there is a kick to the Wolves player.
Bournemouth defender Illya Zabarnyi was sent off in the first half of their 1-0 home loss to Wolves
“When I’ve seen that the VAR takes the decision, if there are six angles, instead of showing the six they show the worst angle, because from five angles you think it’s a yellow card. From one angle you think it’s a red card.
“In slow motion, stopping in the worst moment they have taken the decision. The referee didn’t have any other chance but to show the red card.”
Wolves failed to finish the game off in the second half as winter-window signing Marshall Munetsi missed a glorious chance on his first start for the club.
Bournemouth failed to have a shot on target in the second half as Andoni Iraola’s side missed the chance to move into the Premier League’s top four in a dent to their Champions League qualification hopes.
But at the other end of the table, it was a vital afternoon for Vitor Pereira’s side as they clung on for a first away league win of 2025 to boost their hopes of survival as relegation rivals Ipswich lost at home to Tottenham.
Pereira: We kept our ’emotional balance’
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira speaking at his post-match press conference:
“It’s not easy to come here and get points. I came with a spirit to get these three points.
“I’m happy because the team had emotional balance. What happens a lot of times, when a team starts to play with one more player they can start to lose balance and positional play, and the other team scores. Today we kept our balance.
“I’m happy. Three points and we deserved it. I think I deserve a pint.”
Analysis: Classy Cunha the difference again for Wolves
Matheus Cunha celebrates his first-half goal
Cunha was yet again the difference-maker for Wolves.
The Brazilian’s star quality will likely keep Pereira’s side up with his winner at Bournemouth moving them five points clear of the relegation zone.
Wolves made three signings in the winter window, with Munetsi making a real impression on his first start for the club in the win on the south coast.
But make no mistake, the biggest bit of business the club pulled off in January was keeping Cunha at the club after he signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract amid interest from numerous Premier League clubs.
The new deal, however, contains a release clause in excess of £60m, which is active in the summer.
More performances like the one at Bournemouth, which saw him score his 13th league goal of the season, will surely see the clause triggered.
If Cunha does eventually leave then he will likely exit Molineux a hero with his stunning form set to keep Wolves in the Premier League.
