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“The point is a point,” says Nelson Simedo of Wolves at TNT SPORTS. “The second half we did a really good job, unfortunately we could not register.
“Sometimes we needed a little luck. We tried to create and create a lot of opportunities when Pablo [Sarabia} came in. He gave us a boost offensively.”
He also praised goalscorer Marshall Munetsi and spoke about Wolves’ survival chances. “We’re going to give everything to make sure Wolves are in the Premier League. We have to work hard.”
Will Everton ever lose again?
(Yes, probably in April, as they face Liverpool, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Manchester City and Chelsea in consecutive games).
Four Premier League teams are now on 33 points: Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and West Ham. The Toffees have the best goal difference of that quartet, although the other three are in action later in the weekend.
FT: Wolves 1-1 Everton
In the end we didn’t get that moment of quality to separate the sides in the second half. Everton were resolute without being at their best, while Wolves showed no shortage of effort or impetus but, shorn of their creative attacking spark in Matheus Cunha, struggled to make inroads in the final third.
A 1-1 draw is a perfectly fair result that should help keep both sides clear of relegation, although Wolves cannot be completely secure as yet.
Ashley Young is brought on to shore things up for Everton. Moyes’ boys are happy with a point, it seems. It would be an eighth league game unbeaten since mid-January.
Just three minutes of added time. Will we get a winner?
89 mins: Sarabia is on the knees in frustration, believing his was fouled by Garner, and seconds later gets the ball back but curls too high and wide with the angle, coming off the right, in his favour.
More frustration for the Wolves substitute.
86 mins: Tempers are fraying a bit at the end of this one and the referee’s whistle is seeing a lot of action. Silly free-kicks, needless bits of backchat … will a defining moment of quality unfurl itself before the final whistle?
84 mins: Everton win it high up the pitch, Garner does well to keep it alive on the right and tee up Alcaraz, who spins onto his left foot but shoots straight down Sa’s throat. That was a chance.
82 mins: Is this fizzling out for a 1-1 draw that semi benefits both teams, or can Wolves muster something to get the three points they crave? Goncalo Guedes is the latest attacking option to be chucked on by Vitor Pereira – he wants to win it, for sure.
80 mins: Alcaraz has looked lively since coming on, in the same way Sarabia has improved Wolves in the second half.
Aït-Nouri hauls down Gueye to give away a free-kick. This is getting a bit scrappy again, sadly.
78 mins: Wolves have dealt well with Everton’s set piece threat, in fairness, with Iroegbunam then booked for a swipe at Doherty after it opened up in midfield.
77 mins: Doherty gifts Everton a soft corner and the away fans raise their volume. A chance for the Toffees to nick it here?
75 mins: Given the onus is on Wolves to win – with Everton seemingly content to draw – this has turned into a game of Wolves possession v Everton counterattack. It’s not bad to watch.
Beto did everything right after he was found by Alcaraz; he opened up his body in Thierry Henry style, looking to pass it into the far corner but Sa outstretched a big left hand.
Strand Larsen has been sacrificed in place of Hwang.
72 mins: Strand Larsen ghosts into the channel and receives a fine through-pass from Sarabia and arrows a shot at Pickford’s near post – which the keeper parries away.
Then Everton break quickly and Sa stops a great effort by Beto.
Wow, big big chances at both ends! Beto’s was perhaps the more gilt-edged opportunity.
70 mins: Hwang is next to be introduced for Wolves, who could perhaps do with his pace running in behind Everton. The home side have been fairly competent on the ball throughout this contest while lacking in sparkle and speed. (Insert Cunha reference here),
68 mins: Beto is being well shackled by Agbadou so far. The Everton striker has turned into a dangerman under Moyes but he’s not really had a sniff yet tonight.
67 mins: Another Wolves corner is taken by Sarabia and nodded away by Garner.
I don’t want to tempt fate, but another goal in this game doesn’t appear forthcoming. Hope I’m wrong.
65 mins: Harrison has gone to the right actually, with Alcaraz to play off the left. It’s all been a bit stop-start in the past few minutes. That probably favours Everton because the momentum was with Wolves.
63 mins: It’s a double change for Everton, then, with Doucoure and Lindstrøm the men removed as Moyes throws on Alcaraz and Iroegbunam. One of them will have to play wide right.
Strand Larsen has been booked for a rash tackle on Tarkowski.
61 mins: Sarabia has been heavily involved for Wolves since his introduction. He’s a crafty, canny operator, flitting between the lines and knitting it all together – he’s tricky to mark because of that.
60 mins: Sá holds on to Harrison’s deep cross from the left. Wolves are coping far better with the threat posed by Everton at the moment.
57 mins: It looks like Moyes is considering turning to his bench.
Everton don’t have a wealth of attacking options there, though. Youssef Chermiti is a raw attacking talent, Carlos Alcaraz is promising but he’s more of a central midfield option, then there’s Tim Iroegbunam and a load of defenders.
56 mins: Doucoure combines well with Lindstrøm but Wolves shuffle back into position and it’s speculative in the end from Gueye, trying his luck with a 25-yard potshot. Over the bar.
54 mins: Both teams are unhappy with Stuart Attwell as Andre is booked for a foul on Gueye – but Everton wanted the advantage played. I actually think Andre was carded for his reaction, having got right in the face of the referee.
You cannot do that, I’m afraid.
52 mins: Wolves have a free-kick in a dangerous spot. This could be Sarabia Territory.
He aims a left-footed drive over the wall towards the top corner and it’s not far off! Just the wrong side of the upright and into the side netting – Pickford was beaten.
50 mins: For what seems like the umpteenth time tonight, Doucoure has a shot blocked. He always seems to be in the right place as the ball drops down following a set-piece … yet hasn’t been able to test Sa.
At the other end, Joao Gomes’ shot is blocked. This is turning into an end-to-end game!
49 min: It’s Everton’s turn to build an attack of their own with Harrison, again providing an outlet on the left, winning a corner.
Garner hoists it into the box but it’s headed safely away.
47 mins: Wolves have made a positive start after the restart, with Sarabia slotting into the right-sided No 10 position, looking to dovetail with Semedo.
Second half = under way. We go again.
Pablo Sarabia is coming on for Wolves at half-time. The goalscorer Munetsi has been replaced, strangely enough, although it’s believed he’s suffered an injury of some kind.
How many points will be needed for survival this year? Not many, thinks Rick Harris.
With the teams below them unable to pick up points I think Wolves might avoid the drop with the lowest points total in Premier League history as I doubt 36 points will be needed this season. Looking at the teams most likely to be promoted it is hard to see either Burnley or Sheffield United staying up but Leeds might just manage it.
For the good of the league, a promoted team needs to come up and stay up soon.
It’s unlikely that this game has earned you many FPL points, given the rareness of the goalscorers. Munetsi has never bagged in the English top flight before and Harrison had gone a year without scoring before tonight.
Here are your two goals (UK viewers/readers only):
HT: Wolves 1-1 Everton.
A game that appeared low on quality end product suddenly burst into life after Jack Harrison’s deadlock-breaker just after the half-hour mark. There was a hint of fortune to that Everton opener as it came courtesy of a deflection but Wolves’ response was emphatic, Marshall Munetsi finishing an excellent team move with his first Wolves goal.
It’s very much game on for the second half. It’s there for the taking.
45 mins: We’re into just one minute of stoppage time added on to the first half.
43 mins: Wolves have shown great intent since going behind but they need to keep their heads. There’s been the odd wild challenge. Blood and thunder and all that.
Molineux was crying out for a response and Munetsi, who has looked one of the hosts’ more likely attacking options, has delivered – his first goal for the club. Moyes will be disappointed with his defence there, they didn’t quite track Munetsi.
GOAL! Wolves 1-1 Everton (Munetsi, 40)
That’s a superb move from Wolves and they’re level. Everton: finally unlocked!
Munetsi has been a menace and he finishes neatly and low beyond Pickford.
38 mins: Bellegarde does carry the ball well for Wolves. And Semedo has been a useful outlet on the right. It’s just piecing the jigsaw together that has proven tricky for the home side against a resolute Everton defence.
A corner drops kindly to Andre who shoots into the side netting.
An email from Peter Oh:
I have a soft spot for Wolves and would like to see them stay in the Premier League. Looking at the table, they’re in a strange purgatory. Reasonably – though not all that comfortably – far above the relegation trap door, but also a good distance below the next-highest group of scrappers.
No matter what happens today they’ll remain in purgatory for now, but three points would be big steps toward the safe haven (heaven?) of survival.
Three points looks a little way off at the moment, Peter.
36 mins: Almost a near-instant reply from Wolves as Bellegarde curls an effort just wide of the far post – Pickford probably had it covered, mind.
35 mins: Everton fans are chanting David Moyes’ name. What an impact he’s had back at his former club!
