Wolves' Hwang Hee-chan and Toti Gomes give Luton mountain to climb | first division

Another missed opportunity for Luton. It is not the first time this season that they did not take advantage of the opportunity to get out of the relegation zone. If this was not last week's timid surrender, then the weak goals conceded to Hwang Hee-chan and Toti Gomes indicated a team lacked the quality to save themselves, even as they mounted a late offensive after Carlton Morris' goal.

It is a credit to Rob Edwards and his battle team that they have never felt out of the race like Sheffield United did. On the side of the must wine losing 5-0 last week to previous strugglers Brentford, perhaps the first time Luton were defeated and their supporters began to lose hope. Molineux will have done little to stop that sinking feeling

With Nottingham Forest sends distress signals Involving VAR Stuart Attwell's Luton tilts and facing Manchester City on Sunday, there was a chance to create even more panic at the City Ground. It looked winnable, as did the remaining games with Everton, West Ham and Fulham. The Wolves were winless in seven games, excluding Pedro Neto, a good season under Gary O'Neil that ended with a whimper.

Not that the home fans were blaming the coach. Instead, the VAR call was in vain throughout the 90 minutes, even immediately after Wolves' goals. “Give us back football” was heard, reminding us that not only Forest have problems with Stockley Park. When the procedure delayed confirmation of Hwang's first goal, insurrection filled the air.

Luton's determination does not fade. They played hard until the end, and when Morris headed in with 10 minutes remaining, the proceedings were suddenly put in jeopardy. The deciding factor was the lack of sustained class at both ends of the pitch. Wolves initially turned up to take possession, only to find a second gear past Luton until it was too late. In those first few blows, Maximilian Kilman tugged on Morris's shirt and thought better of something stronger just when the Luton striker could have escaped. By then Ross Barkley and Reece Burke had been denied, with the latter having ruined a decent opportunity.

Power turned out to be the divisive issue. Despite those recent results, O'Neil can draw on a high degree first division talent. While João Gomes took on playmaking duties for Wolves, Hwang was always buzzing up front, with Matheus Cunha supporting him. It was a Mario Lemina pass that first cleared the Korean, only for Teden Mengi to force him wide so Thomas Kaminski could narrow the angle further. An avalanche of Wolves chances followed. When Lemina's shot deflected into the path of Cunha, a slip prevented a correct shot on goal and João Gomes, after Barkley lost the ball in midfield, crashed the ball.

If O'Neil, frantically prowling his area and directing his team, had been dissatisfied with his team's first half, it was Edwards, against the club for which he played 100 championship games, who was left cursing when Hwang was allowed him to pass idle through his defense. to score the first goal. Burke lost a physical battle with Cunha, who won the second ball and played it. Although Mengi had a touch on the shot, two of his teammates were guilty of looking at the ball.

The contrast in reactions to Wolves' second goal told a story. Toti, who was denied by Jordan Clark's expert defending moments earlier, was allowed space to pass to Kaminski. Lemina's cross, spinning and high, should have been cleared. While Edwards looked helpless, O'Neil and his assistants celebrated with their players, high-fiving all around, a training camp routine over. Wolves could have accumulated more agony if Nélson Semedo had finished off a solo run and Rayan Aït-Nouri had been able to stay in the game when Wolves had men on top on a counterattack.

Elijah Adebayo, who was out for two months, replaced Barkley and was a shining light during those moments when it looked like Luton might manage an escape. Morris headed home after Alfie Doughty chased a lost cause in the corner, before Cauley Woodrow volleyed just wide. The wolves, whose easy afternoon suddenly became troublesome, gained time to accomplish their task. With three games left to play and depending on other results, Luton does not have that luxury.