WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND — Keane Lewis-Potter's left-footed strike in the 83rd minute sealed a 0-2 victory for 15th-placed Brentford over bottom-dwelling Wolverhampton Wanderers, condemning the hosts to their 14th defeat of a dismal campaign. The winger's brace at Molineux epitomized the clinical efficiency that separated these two sides, as the Bees enjoyed the majority of possession at 56.2% and made every opportunity count against a Wolves side desperately searching for answers.
The deadlock finally broke in the 63rd minute when Lewis-Potter struck his first of the afternoon. Vitaly Janelt threaded a perfectly weighted pass through the Wolves defense, and the winger showed composure beyond measure, slotting a right-footed shot from the centre of the box straight down the middle past José Sá. The goal silenced the Molineux faithful and exposed the fragility that has plagued Wolves all season. Twenty minutes later, Lewis-Potter doubled his tally and put the result beyond doubt. Mikkel Damsgaard delivered a teasing cross from the right flank, and the Brentford attacker met it with a precise left-footed finish from the centre of the box, finding the bottom right corner to spark jubilant celebrations among the traveling supporters.
The tactical battle revealed Brentford's superiority in the final third. While Wolves managed 9 shots to Brentford's 7, the visitors were clinical, putting 6 of their 7 shots on target compared to Wolves' meager 2. Caoimhín Kelleher commanded his penalty area with authority, making 4 crucial saves including a penalty stop from Strand Larsen in the 88th minute that preserved the clean sheet. At the other end, Sá faced a relentless barrage in the second half, denying Kevin Schade twice in quick succession around the 51st minute with a pair of impressive stops that briefly kept Wolves in the contest.
The referee was busy throughout this feisty affair, brandishing 6 cards as frustrations boiled over. Wolves collected 2 yellow cards while Brentford saw 4 players cautioned, including Vitaly Janelt in the 90th minute and Rico Henry in the 72nd for cynical fouls. The physical nature of the encounter reflected Wolves' desperation, with Matt Doherty, Santiago Bueno, and João Gomes all engaged in intense duels with Brentford's midfield trio of Janelt, Mathias Jensen, and Yehor Yarmoliuk.
The turning point arrived with that 88th-minute penalty decision. Matt Doherty drew a foul from Kelleher inside the area, offering Wolves a lifeline. But Strand Larsen's right-footed effort was comfortably saved by the Brentford goalkeeper, who dived low to his right to preserve his clean sheet. The miss encapsulated Wolves' season—opportunities squandered, hope extinguished. Substitute Tolu Arokodare and Mateus Mané tried desperately to spark a late revival, but Brentford's defensive organization, marshaled by Sepp van den Berg and Nathan Collins, held firm through seven minutes of added time.
Looking ahead, Brentford will travel to face AFC Bournemouth on December 27, seeking to build momentum as they climb away from the relegation conversation that continues to engulf their opponents.