Young debutant spares Wolves’ blushes

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 v Hull City 2

When in the 78th minute Ryan Bennett put the ball into his own net Hull City found themselves deservedly ahead. For up to that point the best one could say of the home side was that they had been lacklustre. Shawn of the defence splitting passes of Ruben Neves and the probing runs of Matt Doherty it had taken them a full seventy two minutes to create a first chance in open play, Benik Afobe feeding Helda Costa who fired wide. Even their opening goal in the 17th minute owed much to fortune when Diogo Jota advanced into the Hull box before checking his run. As he turned he slipped but his fall coincided with a challenge from Michael Hector who was deemed to have clipped the Wolves striker. Referee Darren England wrongly pointed to the spot from where Jota blasted home.

One might have thought that the goal would have settled Wolves but it was not to be. Hull continued to press and in the 35th minute a sloppy back pass from Costa was intercepted by David Meyler. As he advanced into the Wolves box Roderick Miranda hauled him to the ground. Once again Referee England pointed to the spot. Once again the victim of the foul converted.

Level after the opening forty five minutes a half time rocket was required. But any evidence that the blue touch paper had been lit was scant as Wolves continued in disjointed fashion. Cue Meyler, who burst into the Wolves box to cause the Bennett own goal.

Mercifully the deficit would be short lived when four minutes later Wolves moved the ball down the left where it eventually reached Barry Douglas free in space. His measured cross was met by debutant Oskar Buur who, from the centre of the box, headed low and hard into the bottom left corner. Thereafter Wolves huffed and puffed, Willy Bolly’s long range strike in the 90th minute posing the greatest threat.

As someone commented on the way out Wolves can’t play at the top of their game all the time. But it’s also clear that without Neves and Doherty they are half a side. And with the chasing pack all winning, the finish line has still to be crossed.

Wolves: Ruddy 6, Miranda 6 Sub Afobe 6, Coady 6, Bolly 7, Bennett 6, Douglas 6, N’Diaye 6 Sub Gibbs White, Saiss 6, Costa 6, Cavaleiro 6, Jota 6 Sub Buur

Hull City: McGregor 6, Tomori 6, Hector 7, MacDonald 6, Clark 6, Aina 6, Mayler 8, Henricksson 7, Kingsley 6 Sub Campbell, Toral 6 Sub Irvine, Dicko 6 Sub Grosicki

Attendance: 29,718

Referee: Darren England 8

©Mark Brennand