Brentford 2 Wolves 2: Visitors fight back from two goals down to draw

This rousing draw at Brentford, which saw them fight back from two goals down, extended their unbeaten league run to three matches and they now sit just three points behind 19th-placed Burnley.

On current form, you would not bet against them overtaking the Clarets between now and May.

That in itself would represent some achievement for a team who only a few weeks ago were still at risk of ending up the Premier League’s worst-ever.

Back-to-back wins over Villa and Liverpool had ended those fears and a third win on the spin here might have increased hope, though still admittedly very faint, of a remarkable escape.

It was not to be as, much like the season as a whole, Wolves ultimately left themselves too much to do.

Trailing to Michael Kayode and Igor Thiago’s goals, Rob Edwards’ men were a little fortunate to still be in the contest when Adam Armstrong pulled one back on the stroke of half-time.

That moment transformed the game. Armstrong hit the post, before Tolu Arokodare came off the bench to bag the equaliser and hit the woodwork himself as a first away Premier League for Wolves proved just elusive. 

For all the flaws of the first half, this was still an impressive all-round showing from the visitors.

Going down they might be, yet not without a fight.

Jose Sa was always expected but the absence of Sam Johnstone with a shoulder injury made the decision easy for Edwards.

The returning keeper nearly endured a nightmare start, dropping the ball under little real pressure when coming to collect it and watching with relief as a combination of Joao Gomes and Andre scurried it away.

A minute later Wolves had a major let-off after losing the ball cheaply in their own half. Mikkel Damsgaard met Dango Ouattara’s pull back but his first time finish whistled just over the bar.

Wolves had a couple of bright moments in attack, forcing corners in quick succession.

Yet the ease with which they were ceding possession in their own half remained a concern and in the 22nd minute it was Brentford who took the lead.

From the home team’s perspective, the goal was impressive, Keane Lewis-Potter whipping in a vicious right-footed cross which Kayode only had to help on its way into the top corner.

But from a Wolves point of view, there was little pressure placed on the crosser by Jackson Tchatchoua, while Hugo Bueno’s decision to allow Kayode run off him into the box allowed the scorer a free header.

Brentford should have quickly doubled their lead. Hugo Bueno was again guilty of losing possession in a dangerous area but when Ouattara stood up a cross, an unmarked Thiago planted his header wide of the post.

For Wolves, it proved only a brief stay of execution. Eight minutes before half-time, Kelleher fired the ball upfield and Tchatchoua was oblivious to the loitering Ouattara, who latched on to the pass before unselfishly teeing up Thiago for a tap-in.

The latter was celebrating his first-ever Brazil call-up but despite getting on the scoresheet, was also helping Wolves stay in the game. A chance to make it 3-0 went begging when he headed against the post from close range, after Sepp van den Berg had flicked on a long throw.

Wolves were wobbling but then suddenly, back in the game as they went back to front in the space of seconds. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde made the most of a helpful deflection by bursting out of midfield and finding Armstrong, who with the defence back-peddling showed great composure to take a touch and lift a finish over Caoimhin Kelleher. 

Edwards replaced Matheus Mane with Angel Gomes at the break and he was involved in the move which saw Armstrong come within inches of levelling.

The England international’s flicked pass sent the striker racing at the defence and he found Tchatchoua on the right, before sending the return cross off the post.

Wolves were now the team asking all the questions and Angel Gomes sent a volley just wide before Edwards made a change which paid quick dividends, as Arokodare levelled within three minutes of entering the field.

Joao Gomes lifted the ball into the box, Kayode missed the header and Arokodare arrived at the far post to net his third Premier League goal of the season.

He should soon have added a fourth. Hugo Bueno crossed and the striker sent a header crashing against the bar, with Kelleher rooted to the spot.

It was Brentford who then came closest to winning it in the closing stages, Reiss Nelson heading wide with the goal at his mercy.

Brentford (4-2-3-1): Kelleher, Kayode, Collins, Van Den Berg, Lewis-Potter, Jensen, Henderson, Damsgaard (Ajer 72), Schade (Yarmoliuk 68), Thiago, Ouattara (Nelson 85) Subs not used: Pinnock, Donovan, Furo, Bentt, Shield, Valdimarsson (gk).

Wolves (5-3-2): Sa, Tchatchoua, Mosquera, Bueno S, Krejci, Bueno H, Andre, Gomes, Bellegarde (Arokodare 74), Mane (Gomes A HT), Armstrong Subs not used: Doherty, Wolfe, Hwang, Lima, Gomes R, Toti, Bentley (gk).