Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Preston North End: Raul Jimenez & Adama Traore seal win

Raul JimenezImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Wolves striker Raul Jimenez celebrated his first goal of the season in unusual fashion

Wolves held on for their first win of the season as they beat Championship side Preston in the Carabao Cup.

Raul Jimenez tapped in at the back post before Adama Traore's thunderous left-footed volley doubled their advantage.

Hwang Hee-Chan had a great chance to make it 3-0 before the break but his poor penalty was easily saved by Preston keeper David Cornell.

Ben Woodburn curled in to reduce the deficit and the away side pushed on for a leveller, but it was not to be.

Wolves boss Bruno Lage named a strong starting XI after his side had failed to win any of their opening three Premier League games.

They got off to a perfect start when Jimenez showed good movement to get away from his marker and score from Rayan Ait-Nouri's low centre.

Spain international Traore lashed in a second, his first goal for the club since returning from a loan spell with Barcelona in the second half of last season.

Hwang should have made the result safe but badly scuffed his penalty, and former Liverpool man Woodburn quickly reduced Preston's arrears after the restart.

Thereafter it was the EFL side who looked the more likely to get the next goal, but Brad Potts was unable to convert Troy Parrott's cross.

Lage's men, who have scored just once in the league this season, host Newcastle on Sunday looking for a first win in the Premier League since beating Aston Villa 2-1 on 2 April.

Wolves boss Bruno Lage:

"I was so happy with Raul, the way he has been this season and in pre-season. We have missed him in the first three games.

"With him we have a reference up front. Raul took a decision to give the penalty to Hwang, it was a generous action and I understand but I don't agree. Raul should have taken the penalty.

"It was a good performance. When you come to these games, in the cup, they come with extra motivation and in the last five games, Preston have not conceded.

"To continue in the competition was the most important thing."

Preston boss Ryan Lowe:

"I'm very proud. The second half we were well worthy of the goal. We changed it in the second half.

"I'm really pleased with the way they took on instructions and had the belief to compete with them. They had over £150million of talent on the pitch.

"We had big chances, we took one, and we need to keep working and doing the right things.

"It's a massive step in the right direction, they showed us massive respect with the team they picked."

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