Wolves 2-4 Bournemouth: Justin Kluivert nets hat-trick of penalties after electric start sees three goals in first EIGHT minutes at Molineux – as Jose Sa furiously clashes with fan at half-time

The defining image of this Wolves horror show came at half-time when their keeper Jose Sa went into the South Bank to fume at some of his own fans, who were then ejected by the stewards.

It was the only thing that went Sa’s way all afternoon as Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert became the first player in Premier League history to score a hat-trick of penalties, beating Sa on each of the three occasions.

The Portuguese keeper gave away two of those penalties but it would be harsh to blame him alone for this defeat. Gary O’Neil’s side were weak, careless and ultimately made to pay for a shambolic opening 18 minutes where they gave away two penalties and conceded three goals.

Things were supposed to have turned a corner in this part of the Black Country. With eight of their nine points coming from the last four matches, Wolves were seemingly on the up.

In his programme notes, O’Neil described last week’s win at Fulham as one of his ‘favourite performances’ in his time in management. Make no mistake, this will go down as one of his worst,

O’Neil named an unchanged side from their win at Fulham last weekend while Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth were without Antoine Semenyo, their joint top-goalscorer, who was suspended.

The Dutchman was perfect from the penalty spot during Bournemouth’s 4-2 triumph at Molineux

Jose Sa was involved in a furious altercation with a Wolves fan shortly after the half time whistle

It was the visitors who raced out of the blocks, with a route one delivery finding Evanilson, who was clumsily fouled by Toti in the opening minute. Without hesitation, referee Peter Bankes pointed to the spot and from 12 yards, Kluivert calmly sent Sa the wrong way.

On the touchline, O’Neil was furious but a couple of minutes later he was a happier man as Jean Ricner-Bellegarde’s cross picked out Jorgen Strand Larsen, who headed past Kepa Arrizabalaga.

It didn’t stay level for long, with Marcus Tavernier finding Milos Kerkez on the overlap in the eighth minute and the Hungarian rifled in his first goal in English football.

A couple of minutes later, Evanilson should have doubled Bournemouth’s advantage but he shot straight at Sa from a few yards out before heading wide.

Wolves’s carelessness at the back continued and they only had themselves to blame for Bournemouth’s third as Evanilson pressed Sa and dispossessed the Wolves keeper, who in attempting to clear the ball caught the Brazilian.

This time, Bankes didn’t point to the spot but he was advised to have another look by VAR and reversed his decision.

The Portugal international was led away from the dispute by Wolves goalkeeper coach Neil Cutler

Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen also netted a brace during the six-goal thriller at Molineux

From the spot, Sa went the right way but Kluivert’s penalty was too powerful.

At half-time, Sa’s emotions boiled over as he turned and went into the crowd, pointing his fingers and furiously shouting at some of his own fans. The stewards held him back before goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler eventually pulled Sa away as the stewards ejected a couple of fans, much to the joy of the rest of the South Bank.

He escaped punishment from the referee and O’Neil kept his keeper on but made a half-time change with Rodrigo Gomes taken off for Craig Dawson, before introducing Goncalo Guedes and Carlos Forbs just after the hour mark.

In the 69th minute, Guedes made his mark, finding Strand Larsen who got his second of the game with a deflected finish to give Wolves a glimmer of hope.

Yet any hope of a comeback evaporated minutes later when Dawson’s backpass to Sa was too weak and Sa took out Evanilson in the box again.

Evanilson became the first player to win three penalties in the same game in Premier League history and Kluivert was on hand to send Sa the wrong way again.

You have to go back to December 1957 for the last time a player scored a hat-trick of penalties in an English top-flight game, when Ken Barnes did it for Manchester City against Everton.

Wolves’ Premier League games have now seen 54 goals so far this season, more than any other side. The problem for them is that 32 of them have gone in their own net and O’Neil must sort it quick, because this was an afternoon to forget and a massive step backwards after the progress in recent weeks.