Striker Diego Costa netted his first goal for Wolverhampton Wanderers, getting on the scoresheet in the first half of a 2-0 Premier League win at home over Brentford on Saturday that moved his side seven points clear of the relegation zone.

After beating Chelsea last week, Wolves are now in 13th spot on 34 points, seven clear of Nottingham Forest in 18th place. Brentford's third straight loss leaves them ninth on 43 points with their hopes of European football next season fading fast.

Luck played a major part as the 34-year-old Costa, who joined the club in September 2022 from Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro, miscontrolled the ball in the box in the 27th minute but still managed to steer Christian Norgaard's attempted clearance into the net.

The Brazilian-born former Spain international, who won the Premier League title twice while at Chelsea, almost doubled his tally early in the second half, blasting a shot from a tight angle that was turned away for a corner by David Raya.

Brentford coach Thomas Frank made a triple substitution in the 61st minute but it was Wolves who extended their lead, Hwang Hee-chan pouncing on Rico Henry's weak clearance to score in the 69th minute.

With Costa having left the field to rapturous applause in the 73rd minute, the closest Brentford came to reducing the deficit was when Ivan Toney hit the woodwork in second-half stoppage time as Wolves held on to win.