Express & Star

Ipswich 2 Wolves 2 - Report and pictures

Published
Last updated

Benik Afobe broke his goalscoring drought as Wolves twice came from behind to claim a point against Mick McCarthy's Ipswich Town.

more

[gallery]

The striker hadn't scored in his previous five appearances - his longest run without a goal for Wolves.

But he headed home substitute Adam Le Fondre's cross 15 minutes from time to earn Wolves a deserved point.

The hosts had taken the lead against a shaky Wolves defence through Jonathan Douglas, with James Henry equalising from debutant Jordan Graham's corner before the break.

Benik Afobe of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 2-2.

Ipswich (4-4-2): Gerken; Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen; Bru (Maitland-Niles 69), Skuse, Douglas, Sears; Murphy, Pitman.

Wolves (4-2-3-1): Ikeme; Iorfa, Batth (c), Williamson, Golbourne; McDonald, Price; Henry, Edwards (Le Fondre, 65), Graham (Ojo, 77); Afobe.

Attendance: 19,227[/breakout]

Daryl Murphy handed Ipswich the lead again shortly after half-time and, although the hosts created the better chances, Wolves earned their equaliser and could have won it late on.

Graham replaced Sheyi Ojo in the starting line up as Jackett made two changes from the side that drew 0-0 against Burnley two weeks ago, with Ikeme in for Emiliano Martinez.

Wolves made a very bright start, with the ball almost breaking kindly for Afobe in the box, but the striker couldn't find room for a shot.

Dominic Iorfa then surged through the middle from David Edwards' pass - hit shot was blocked and fell to Graham, who cut inside and drove low at goalkeeper Dean Gerken.

The youngster was heavily involved early on and showed some nice touches in what was a composed start to his debut.

The 20-year-old then raced down the left on the counter attack, with his low cross taken off the rampaging Jack Price's toes six yards out.

Wolves were on top but, with arguably their first meaningful attack, Ipswich took the lead 12 minutes in.

Iorfa couldn't cut out a low cross from Sears and Douglas was given time and space to pick his spot from 10 yards.

Edwards and Henry sent half volleys not too far wide as Jackett's team responded.

But, in contrast to their last three games, they look susceptible at the back.

Ikeme, making his first league start since August, was too slow in getting rid of the ball, allowing Pitman to rebound his clearance not too far over the bar.

The same player was then afforded the freedom of the six yard box to meet another Sears cross, but sent his free header past the post with Williamson and Batth nowhere.

Pitman was again involved when his over-hit right wing cross looped dangerously towards the Wolves goal. Ikeme was beaten but it bounced off the top of the bar.

Sears, now on the right flank, sent a low cross practically along the goalline as Wolves struggled to cope. But they rallied in some style by scoring an equaliser seven minutes before the break.

A second successive Graham corner from the left was prodded back into the six yard box by the long leg of Williamson and there was Henry to slam home from all of two yards out.

It was a quiet start to the second half for Wolves with Ipswich enjoying more of the play - and the hosts regained the lead on 54 minutes.

Pitman latched onto a ball down the right of the area, where Ikeme initially came and then retreated and, when the dinked cross reached him at the back stick, Murphy couldn't miss.

Ikeme collided with Murphy as he raced back in a desperate attempt to keep the ball out, and the Nigeria international required extensive treatment before play could restart.

When it did, Wolves struggled to make any headway, with Graham wasteful from the left on the one occasion they ventured forward with purpose.

Jackett sent on Adam Le Fondre for Edwards in a bid to find an equaliser.

And the on-loan Cardiff man helped do just that when, with 75 minutes on the clock, he peeled off to the right and sent a perfect cross to Afobe who powered a six-yard header past Dean Gerken.

Revitalised, Wolves almost edged in front a minute later when Le Fondre was inches away from connecting with a Henry cross.

[related_posts title="More on Wolves"]

Graham was then forced off after picking up a knock, with Ojo his replacement.

Both sides were pushing for the winner, with substitute Ainsley Maitland-Niles nodding wide for Ipswich before Henry ballooned over from 18 yards down the other end.

Le Fondre was making a big impact but he should have done better when, after taking Ojo's pass, he shot straight at Gerken from the edge of the box.

Douglas was guilty of the same when he made it too easy for Ikeme after Murphy sliced his way into the Wolves box.

It was a frantic finale with play stretched at both ends. Henry's cross found Afobe but he agonisingly couldn't get the ball out of his feet, and then Kevin McDonald ballooned over.

That was the last meaningful chance, with neither keeper troubled in four minutes of added time of an entertaining encounter.