Andoni Iraola didn’t need reminding that Saturday marked his 100th Premier League game in charge of Bournemouth.
His players did the talking for him. In the heart of the Black Country, they delivered a calm, clinical display that turned a potentially tricky afternoon into one worth remembering.
Wolves flew out of the blocks, roared on by a restless Molineux crowd, and Bournemouth had to ride out a frantic opening spell.
Once the storm passed, though, the visitors grew in confidence — and when their moment came, they took it with ruthless efficiency.
Kroupi’s Moment That Changed the Mood
The game swung on 33 minutes, and the name on everyone’s lips afterwards was Eli Kroupi Jr. Picking up the ball just outside the box, the 19-year-old didn’t hesitate.
He smashed a half-volley beyond José Sá, a strike that sucked the noise out of the stadium in an instant.
The celebration said as much as the finish.
Kroupi wheeled away with swagger, ignoring the boos raining down from the stands.
It was his eighth league goal of the season — more than any other teenager in the division — and another sign that Bournemouth may have found a new focal point.
Filling the Void Left by a Club Talisman
When Antoine Semenyo departed for Manchester City after a run of 10 winless matches, Bournemouth supporters feared the worst.
Semenyo had been everything to this team — a scorer, a leader, a constant threat — much like Wilfried Zaha once was at Crystal Palace or Jack Grealish at Aston Villa.
But Kroupi Jr looks increasingly ready to inherit that responsibility.
Operating in the No.10 role, he tormented Wolves between the lines, always asking questions and always looking dangerous.
When Iraola withdrew him on 70 minutes, the applause from the travelling fans spoke volumes.
His replacement, club-record signing Rayan, showed no sign of debut nerves, hinting that Bournemouth’s future attacking options are in safe hands.
Scott Caps It as Wolves Fall Apart
Just when Wolves needed to regroup, they unravelled.
Deep into added time, Alex Scott found himself with an open net and calmly rolled the ball home to make it 2-0.
The goal was greeted by scenes of pure joy in the corner housing the 1,800 Bournemouth fans — and resignation everywhere else.
By then, many home supporters had already decided they’d seen enough.
Rows of orange seats emptied quickly as frustration boiled over once again.
Early Promise, Familiar Problems for Wolves
There had been reasons for optimism before kick-off.
Rob Edwards spoke on Friday about a growing bond between his squad and the fans, and Wolves initially backed that up with a bright start.
Mateus Mane even thought he had opened the scoring with a header, only for the flag to cut celebrations short.
From there, the mood shifted. Sloppy passes from Hee Chan Hwang and Andre drew audible groans, and each mistake seemed to sap belief.
Bournemouth’s opener arrived moments after another careless turnover, and the second goal came after more hesitation at the back.
When the final whistle blew, Edwards stood consoling players who looked utterly spent — some slumped to their knees, others staring blankly into the stands.
Relegation Feels Inevitable Now
Despite a recent uptick in performances, this defeat carried a familiar sting.
Wolves may have shown flashes, but the same errors keep resurfacing.
At this stage, it feels less like a question of if relegation will be confirmed, and more a matter of when.
The atmosphere reflected that reality.
Those who stayed made their anger clear, while Edwards tried to lift spirits in a stadium that felt increasingly hollow.
Was This Strand Larsen’s Farewell?
One moment summed up the disconnect.
When Hee Chan Hwang trudged off to a chorus of boos on 70 minutes, Jorgen Strand Larsen took his place.
The Norwegian, potentially playing his final game before the transfer deadline, partnered Tolu Arokodare up front — a pairing with just two league goals between them.
Both had golden chances to change the narrative.
Tolu struck straight at Petrovic from the spot, while Strand Larsen later dragged a shot wide with the goal begging.
Missed opportunities that felt all too familiar.
After the match, Strand Larsen led the squad in an apologetic lap, applauding the few supporters who remained.
If that was goodbye, Wolves will urgently need a replacement — and a plan.
Match Facts
Wolves (5-3-2):
Jose Sa 5; Hugo Bueno 6, Emmanuel Agbadou 5, Yerson Mosquera 6, Santiago Bueno 6; Rodrigo Gomes 7, Joao Gomes 5, Andre 5; Hee Chan Hwang 4, Mateus Mane 7, Tolu 6
Subs: Strand Larsen 5, Bellegarde 5, Arias 5, Moller Wolfe 5
Manager: Rob Edwards 6
Bournemouth (4-3-3):
Djordje Petrovic 5; Adrien Truffert 6, James Hill 6, Marcos Senesi 6, Alex Jimenez 6; Adam Smith 6, Alex Scott 8, Lewis Cook 7; Amine Adli 6, Eli Kroupi Jr 7, Evanilson 6
Subs: Rayan 7, Christie 7, Unal 6, Toth 6, Diakite 5
Manager: Andoni Iraola 7
What Comes Next?
For Bournemouth, this felt like another step forward under Iraola — calm, composed, and full of promise.
For Wolves, the road ahead looks steeper by the week, with belief draining almost as quickly as the stands at full-time.
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