Evann Guessand struck in the 90th minute to hand Crystal Palace a dramatic 1-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Selhurst Park, as the Eagles stretched their winning streak against the Premier League’s basement side to six matches.
Palace started with urgency and nearly took the lead inside five minutes. Yerson Mosquera’s underhit backpass fell kindly to Yeremy Pino, but with José Sá stranded well off his line, the Spaniard lifted his effort over the crossbar. It was an early warning for Wolves, who struggled to deal with the home side’s intensity in the opening stages.
The pressure continued as Palace carved out another clear opportunity before the quarter-hour. A corner found Ismaïla Sarr unmarked at the back post, but Hugo Bueno produced a crucial block to deny what looked like a certain goal. At that point, Oliver Glasner’s side appeared in full control, dictating possession and territory.
Gradually, however, the visitors began to settle. Tolu Arokodare tested Dean Henderson with a tame effort from inside the box, and the Palace goalkeeper was soon called into action again, getting down sharply to push Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s free-kick around the post. Wolves showed more composure in midfield and started to threaten in transition.
Despite that improvement, Palace continued to look dangerous. Pino struck the post with around 10 minutes left in the first half, a moment that underlined the home side’s attacking threat. Yet the momentum shifted again when Adam Wharton brought down Mateus Mané inside the area, handing Wolves a chance to take the lead from the spot. Henderson stood tall, producing a vital save to deny Arokodare and preserve parity. The miss summed up Rob Edwards’ team’s struggles on the road, as they failed to add to their league-low tally of first-half away goals this season.
The second half lacked rhythm early on, with both sides struggling to create clear chances. Wolves’ task became even more difficult shortly after the hour when Ladislav Krejčí received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away. Reduced to 10 men, the visitors were forced to defend deep and rely on resilience.
Palace, however, found it difficult to break down a disciplined defensive shape. Wolves had already lost eight of their last 11 league matches in London, yet they remained organised and compact, frustrating the hosts for long periods. With time running out, the game appeared destined for a stalemate.
Then came the decisive moment. In the final minute of normal time, Guessand reacted quickest in the box, firing home from close range to send the home supporters into celebration. It was a goal that not only secured three points but also lifted the mood around Selhurst Park.
The win ended Palace’s eight-match winless run at home, moving them up to 13th and creating a 10-point cushion above the relegation zone. For Wolves, the defeat extended a miserable sequence away from home. They are now without a win in 16 Premier League away fixtures and remain 19 points from safety with only 10 matches left. Despite an improved performance, the gap continues to widen and time is running out.
