Bournemouth missed the chance to move into the Premier League’s top four after they failed to recover from the first-half sending-off of Illia Zabarnyi to go down 1-0 against Wolves at the Vitality Stadium.
The defender was dismissed in the 31st minute for leaving his studs on the shin of Rayan Ait-Nouri and within minutes Vitor Pereira’s side had made their advantage count as Matheus Cunha netted his 13th league goal of the season to send Wolves five points clear of the relegation zone.
For Andoni Iraola and Bournemouth it was an opportunity not taken, as with fourth-place Manchester City not playing until Sunday they lost for only the second time in 14 league games and spurned their shot at climbing into the top four.
Indeed they failed to summon a second-half shot on goal, unable with 10 players to produce the kind of intensity that has fired their unlikely push for the Champions League, as Wolves clung on for a crucial win in their battle against the drop.
Twice in the opening 15 minutes goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga saved Bournemouth. After Nelson Semedo’s drive had smacked a post, the Chelsea loanee leapt up to beat away Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s rebound, then minutes later dived low to his right to palm Cunha’s curler to safety.
At the other end Jose Sa closed the angle well to smother away Justin Kluivert’s effort when he was played in by a devilish Antoine Semenyo through-ball. Bournemouth called for a penalty when Ryan Christie’s shot caught Matt Doherty on the arm but the referee was unmoved.