Cunha and Wolves looking up the table after back-to-back wins

Matheus Cunha says Wolves can move up the Premier League table after back-to-back wins as Gary O'Neil's side look to continue their revival against Bournemouth on Saturday.

Wolves were bottom of the table and winless after ten games, but wins over Southampton (2-0) and Fulham (4-1) lifted them out of the relegation zone.

Cunha has been key to their revival, providing seven goals and three assists this season, seven of which have come in the last four games.

Since making his Premier League debut in January 2023, Cunha has provided both more goals (21) and more assists (10) than any other Wolves player. His involvement in 31 goals is the second most of any Wolves player in the history of the competition, behind Raul Jimenez (58).

There was speculation about O'Neil's position before Wolves' turnaround, but Cunha says the side are united in their goals after regaining confidence.

“We never doubted this,” Cunha said of O'Neil's position. “He did a lot of good things for us last season and we started to build an incredible relationship.

“But of course football is like life, everyone knows that in the end it is the results that matter.

“But the work you show is just as important for me, for the group and for everyone. We are very happy with him and we are very happy with the results. I hope that now we can start fighting for the things we want.”

O'Neil's former club Bournemouth are six points ahead of Wolves in 13th place after losing back-to-back games following a strong start to the season.

Their latest defeat came against 10-man Brighton and Hove Albion at the Vitality Stadium, where a fifth yellow card of the season for winger Antoine Semenyo ruled him out of Saturday's trip to Molineux due to suspension.

“Every team has injuries and suspensions,” head coach Andoni Iraola said of Semenyo's suspension after the match against Brighton. “We will miss Ant now, that is also a big miss.

“I don't know if everyone ended up healthy or not. We'll see, but we'll have to adapt, I definitely think every team adapts.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Wolves – Matheus Cunha

There is no doubt about Wolves' star man this campaign. Cunha has not only been involved in more Premier League goals than any other player outside the 'big six' clubs (10), but has also been involved in more attacking sequences (56) than any other Wolves player.

Cunha has been involved in half of Wolves' goals in the Premier League this season (10/20).

Only Mohamed Salah (66%), Dwight McNeil (60%), Bukayo Saka (57%), Erling Haaland (54%), Liam Delap, Chris Wood (both 53%) and Cole Palmer (52%) have been involved a greater share of their team's goals.

Bournemouth vs Milos Kerkez

In Semenyo's absence, Bournemouth will have to rely on creativity from elsewhere, and left-back Kerkez is capable of delivering that on a pitch where he was sent off last season.

Kerkez ranks fifth among all Premier League defenders in open-play crosses this season (30), with only nine defenders improving on his 12 open-play chances.

MATCH PREDICTION – WOLVES WIN

After winning four consecutive away games in the Premier League in November and December last season, Bournemouth have won just three of their last 16 games in a row (four draws, nine defeats).

One of those came against Wolves in April, but O'Neil can be sure of getting one against his former employers on Saturday.

Wolves have won their last two Premier League games, as many as in their previous 22 combined (five draws, 15 defeats). They last won three in a row last December.

Bournemouth, meanwhile, are yet to win a Premier League match against a team that didn't start 2024/25 in the relegation zone (Everton and Southampton) or the top four (Arsenal and Manchester City).

Neutrals should expect entertainment regardless of the outcome. In Wolves' 12 Premier League games this season, 48 goals have been scored, more than any other team.

Their 20 goals are their highest 12 games in a top-flight season since 1972-73 (25), while their 28 goals conceded at this stage are their highest since 1983-84 (31).

OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING

Wolves – 39.1%

Bournemouth – 34.3%

Draw – 26.6%