A dismal defensive display from Gary O’Neil’s men saw Everton score four at Goodison Park, a result that has mounted further pressure on the Wolves boss.
First-half goals from Ashley Young and Orel Mangala ended the Toffees’ four-match scoreless streak, the first with a whipped free-kick and the second being a composed finish.
Craig Dawson had a night to forget on Merseyside, as the 34-year-old put the ball into his own net on two occasions, both times when under pressure from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who was a major positive on his return to the side.
All four goals were created by set pieces, which highlighted a problem that has affected Wolves all season.
O’Neil is a man under serious pressure, with his men now three points from safety, while Sean Dyche can breathe a lot easier after his players’ first success in five games.
The big win has moved the Toffees up to 15th, five points clear of the bottom three and just one behind West Ham United.
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Story of the match
Sean Dyche made two changes after the Toffees’ heavy defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, as Orel Mangala and Dominic Calvert-Lewin replaced Beto and Jesper Lindstrøm.
Wolves also conceded four at the weekend, and Gary O’Neil made four changes, one forced through Nelson Semedo’s suspension, while Toti Gomes, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Rodrigo Gomes were also switched out.
In their place came an all-changed central defensive partnership, as Santiago Bueno and Craig Dawson returned to the side, alongside Matt Doherty and Goncalo Guedes, who made his first league start of the season.
The visitors had a positive record at Goodison Park of late, after three successive wins, the most recent coming courtesy of a late Sasa Kalajdzic header last August.
The away side pushed early on, as some neat work from midfield duo Andre and Joao Gomes allowed Rayan Ait-Nouri a first chance to gallop down the left-hand side, but Jorgen Strand Larsen could not connect with the Algerian’s low cross.
It was Wolves who started the better on Merseyside, and talisman Matheus Cunha had his first opportunity in the eighth minute, but the Brazilian was denied by Jordan Pickford after some clever play with Strand Larsen.
Sean Dyche’s side bounced back in sensational fashion though, as Ashley Young fired the hosts in front with a curled free-kick that beat Jose Sa at his near post from around 25 yards out.
A priceless moment for Everton, their first in four league encounters, and the 39-year-old’s first Premier League goal since October 2022.
The set piece was given after Dominic Calvert-Lewin was brought down on the break by Santiago Bueno.
The Toffees looked to have doubled their lead in the 16th minute, only for VAR to intervene.
Dwight McNeil whipped in another set piece which was met in superb fashion by James Tarkowski, who headed beyond Jose Sa.
Michael Salisbury was called to the monitor for Orel Mangala’s obstruction on Mario Lemina, after Everton’s number eight was in an offside position when the cross was made.
A decision that proved extremely unpopular with the Goodison faithful, but one that gave O’Neil some hope in the Wanderers dugout.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin then had a golden chance to grab a two-goal cushion, but his effort was blocked by Sa after he found space in behind the Wolves back line.
The momentum of the contest switched back to the visitors around the half-hour mark, when Stand Larsen out strengthened Tarkowski before his shot was saved by Pickford, before he could not quite connect with Matt Doherty’s first time cross.
Orel Mangala did double the Blues’ advantage in the 33rd minute, who rifled a finish past Sa after the visitors failed to clear when a wide free-kick once again caused havoc inside the 18-yard box.
The ball fell from the sky on to the boot of Vitalii Mykolenko whose blocked shot fell to Mangala, who smashed into the bottom corner.
The remainder of the half passed by with relative calm for both sides, apart from another Tarkowski headed effort that had to caught by Sa.
A superb first period for the hosts, who dominated Wolves and restricted them to few opportunities, none of which were taken.
The second half started in disastrous fashion for the visitors, when another set piece provided an avoidable goal.
Sa came to collect the delivery and missed, before the ball deflected off Craig Dawson’s arm into the back of the net, after the defender was put under substantial pressure by Calvert-Lewin.
A dream start after the interval for Everton, who looked set to move up to 15th with a victory.
Chants of “you don’t know what you’re doing” became apparent after the third goal, as the away section made their feelings known to O’Neil, who has been plunged deeper into pressure after a dismal display.
The score almost read four just after the hour mark, when Iliman N’Diaye bundled home, but referee Salisbury blew for a foul on Sa by Calvert-Lewin.
Matt Doherty almost reduced the deficit with a header that struck the far post before it bounced to safety.
Wolves’ first chance after the break, and one that could have handed hope to the travelling contingent on Merseyside.
Dawson’s night went from bad to worse in the 72nd minute, when he made it a double of own goals as the 34-year-old deflected Calvert-Lewin’s low header past Sa and into the net.
It was a dreadful defensive display from the Wanderers, who were dominated at almost every set piece.
The scoreline almost showed five for the hosts just moments later, as a clever free-kick found the Everton number nine, who could only drag his drilled effort wide from an acute angle.
With the result sealed, the remainder of contest went without much incident, but substitute Armando Broja did impress after he replaced Calvert-Lewin.
Jack Harrison spurned two chances from inside the area, both created by the Albanian striker, as Harrison smashed both over the bar by some distance.
However, nothing could ruin the mood amongst the Goodison faithful, who celebrated a victory that could prove significant in the battle towards the bottom of the Premier League.
