Wolves have won three straight top-flight matches for the first time in almost 40 years after beating Bournemouth 2-0 on Saturday.

An early goal from Raul Jimenez and a late strike by substitute Ivan Cavaleiro handed Wolves the three points.

Following successes against Chelsea and Newcastle in the past 10 days, it is the first time since March 1980 that Wanderers have recorded a trio of consecutive victories in the top division.

The win saw Nuno Espirito Santo's side climb up to seventh place in the table while Bournemouth remain in mid-table after a sixth defeat in seven Premier League games.

Bournemouth began well and controlled the opening stages, enjoying plenty of possession inside Wolves' half of the pitch.

They created a good chance when Wolves made a mess of trying to play them offside and the ball broke to Josh King on the right side of the box. He got a shot away but Conor Coady's sliding recovery challenge deflected the effort over the crossbar.

It was against the run of play when Wolves went ahead after 12 minutes, but Bournemouth were architects of their own downfall.

Charlie Daniels, midway inside his own half, needlessly gave the ball away to Diogo Jota after he played a sloppy pass along the back line. Jota advanced towards goal but dragged his shot from the right side of the penalty area straight into the path of Jimenez, who tapped the ball home from six yards out.

It was the on-loan Benfica striker's fifth Premier League goal of the season – all of them coming at Molineux.

The goal seemed to settle Wolves although Bournemouth remained a threat, but their tidy build-up play often lacked the final ball or finishing touch.

Wolves should have extended their lead early in the second half when Morgan Gibbs-White's pass put Helder Costa through down the right. The substitute, on at half-time for the injured Jota, managed to hold off a defender and reach the penalty area but, with Jimenez up in support in the centre, sliced his shot horribly wide.

At the other end, Junior Stanislas struck the crossbar with a free-kick and, after Bournemouth had recycled the ball, Rui Patricio had to be alert to pluck the ball out of the air when Jefferson Lerma's 22-yard shot looked to be heading for the top corner of the net.

That scare aside, Wolves largely looked comfortable and good link-up play between Jimenez and Costa almost brought a second goal but Asmir Begovic made a solid block at his near post.

Wolves sealed victory in injury time when Costa's through-ball put Cavaleiro one-on-one with the goalkeeper and he beat Begovic with a confident finish into the bottom corner of the net.