Diego Costa and Hwang Hee-Chan got the goals as Wolverhampton Wanderers took the points at Molineux with a 2-0 victory over Brentford.

The home side were full value for their victory, even if there was an element of luck about both strikes.

Christian Norgaard’s well-timed challenge rebounded off Costa and in for the first-half opener while an Ethan Pinnock block dropped perfectly for Hee-Chan to roll home the second with 20 minutes to play.

For Brentford, Josh Dasilva lifted over from close range in the first half while Ivan Toney had a shot tipped onto the crossbar late on.

Mbeumo replaces the injured Jansson as Frank switches to 4-3-3

Thomas Frank made one change to the side that lost 2-1 to Newcastle United, and switched system.

Bryan Mbeumo replaced the injured Pontus Jansson in a 4-3-3 formation.

Wolves also made a solitary change as Pablo Sarabia came in for Daniel Podence on the right side of their midfield.

Brentford: Raya; Hickey (Baptiste 74), Pinnock, Mee, Henry (Ghoddos 74); Norgaard, Jensen (Janelt 61), Dasilva (Damsgaard 61); Mbeumo, Schade (Wissa 61), Toney

Subs not used: Strakosha, Zanka, Onyeka, Roerslev

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa; Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Toti; Gomes (Traore 73), Nunes, Lemina (Neto 89), Sarabia (Hwang 63); Cunha (Bueno 89), Costa (Moutinho 73)

Subs not used: Bentley, Collins, Podence, Hodge

Costa's goal sees Brentford trail at the interval

The Bees had slightly the better of a cagey opening 10 minutes, although Wolves did have the biggest chance; Raya flew high to his left and tipped Mario Lemina’s curling effort over the bar.

The early play saw Brentford able to take advantage of their extra man in midfield; Wolves’ Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes up against Norgaard, Mathias Jensen and Dasilva.

However, Julen Lopetegui responded by pushing Pablo Sarabia and Matheus Nunez narrower, while Costa dropped deeper, making the battle in midfield a much more even one.

Matheus Cunha tried, and failed, to catch Raya out at his near post. At the other end, Toney’s hooked effort from a Pinnock flick-on looped tamely into Jose Sa’s hands.

Raya held an angled Costa drive before Brentford’s two biggest chances of the half came in quick succession.

Firstly, Dasilva beat Sa to Toney’s deflected shot but lifted his effort over the bar from six yards. Mbeumo then burst down the left and found Toney in a central position 15 yards out and the striker struck his shot well, but Max Kilman and Craig Dawson flew out to block.

Moments later Wolves took the lead. Costa picked the ball up from deep and drove forward. He played it out to the overlapping Toti and then made the run to receive the ball back just inside the area. The striker’s heavy first touch invited a Norgaard challenge, the ball ricocheted back onto his shin and past the helpless Raya from 12 yards.

With something to hold onto, Wolves kept Brentford at arm’s length for the rest of the half. The only shot at either end came the way of Mbeumo, who sliced well over the bar from a tight angle.

Hee-Chan pokes home from close range to double Wolves’ advantage

Brentford knew they had to improve after the break and did start brighter. Sa was alert to kick away Dasilva’s cross with Toney closing in, but the home side quickly re-took control of the game.

Raya beat away Costa’s shot at his near post before a coming together between Brentford’s keeper and Toti on the edge of the box resulted in a VAR check for a penalty. After a two-minute delay the game restarted with no spot-kick given.

Raya made a routine save from Cunha’s long-range shot shortly before Frank shuffled his pack on the hour.

Vitaly Janelt, Yoane Wissa and Mikkel Damsgaard were brought on for Jensen, Kevin Schade and Dasilva.

Brentford hadn’t created much after the break but were almost gifted a leveller midway through the half. Sa dropped a looping cross to the feet of Norgaard but Dawson threw himself in the way to block his goal-bound effort. When the ball was worked back out to Wissa, his curling effort from the edge of the box caused Sa no issues.

Wolves had profited from a fortunate bounce of the ball for their first goal and it was a similar story for their second. That shouldn’t take anything away from the run of Nunes, who left black shirts in his wake down the right touchline before crossing low. Pinnock stretched out to make the block in the middle of the six-yard box only for the ball to sit perfectly for Hee-Chan to tap home from close range.

Brentford tried to mount a comeback but Wolves’ well-drilled defence dealt with everything comfortably. Indeed, the hosts could have added to their advantage when Raya was called into action by Lemina and Adama Traore.

It wasn’t until the final five minutes that Sa’s goal came under any serious threat. The Portuguese keeper did well not to carry the ball over the line when saving Norgaard’s header from Mbeumo’s free-kick.

He then claimed a long-range Toney effort before an even better save diverted the Brentford frontman’s fierce drive up and onto the bar from the left-angle of the six-yard box.

Toney had one final opening for a consolation deep into injury time, but Kilman did well to force him across goal before blocking his off-balance shot.

Frank: It was a very even game

Thomas Frank stated that his side were unfortunate for both Wolves goals during an 'even' game in the Midlands.

Pinnock: The small margins cost us

Ethan Pinnock stressed that Brentford ‘didn’t have the rub of the green’ at Molineux.