The Tim Spiers debrief – Wolves 2 Everton 2

Ruben Neves and Raul Jimenez were on target for Nuno Espirito Santo’s team, while Richarlison starred for Everton.

Good point well made

A four-goal thriller, a red card, a raucous atmosphere, two good teams playing decent football and two star players (Neves and Richarlison) putting on a show...what a start to the season.

We all expected Wolves were equipped enough to compete with the Premier League big boys – and here they showed they can, albeit helped by the lifeline of Phil Jagielka’s sending off, which changed the pattern of the game.

Up to that 40th-minute moment, which proved pivotal, Wolves’ hugely-hyped top-flight return had threatened to fall very flat.

After a bright start in which Nuno’s team looked comfortable, controlled and relaxed, they were suddenly punctured by Everton’s opening goal and with the Toffees sitting deep and Morgan Schneiderlin doing a superb job of protecting the backline, there was precious little space for Neves, Diogo Jota and Helder Costa to do their thing.

Molineux went quiet, a reality check was in progress. Wolves aren’t used to not winning.

Jagielka’s red and Neves’s resulting moment of magic gave them belief and a foothold.

And when a smartly-worked second for Richarlison threatened to ruin the party yet again, that belief saw Wolves grab another equaliser only 13 minutes later.

Everton limped to eighth place last season under the derided Sam Allardyce but with Marco Silva the Toffees looked slick and dripping with quality.

For newly-promoted Wolves, lacking in Premier League nous, to earn a draw despite falling behind twice is a good point well made.

Neves announces himself

That they did so was ultimately thanks to their wonderboy, Mr Neves.

While a few of his team-mates struggled to instantly make the big step up in class the Premier League requires, Neves did so with the panache and assurance we have come to expect from him.

The maturity this man shows belies his 21 years.

Does anything faze him? You could ask him to walk a tightrope at 10,000 ft and before you know it he’d be sliding across in his slippers while puffing on a cigar.

The midfield maestro defines class – and here he announced himself on one of the biggest stages of all with a star performance.

His perfect free-kick was too good for England’s World Cup hero Jordan Pickford and his pinpoint cross landed straight on Raul Jimenez’s grateful bonce for the second equaliser.

Neves and Joao Moutinho might be apprentice and master in terms of experience and their standings in the game, but Neves outshone his elder statesman here and you suspect that could be a recurring theme in the coming months.

Wake-up call

Neves’s star turn, Wolves’ fighting spirit and their quality in possession were the good points.

But there were negatives here too – and facets that will need improving sooner rather than later.

Wolves were defensively naive at times, Willy Boly was either far too casual or far too panicky (it’s hard to tell sometimes) but found himself caught out on a number of occasions, while a rash mistake from Conor Coady almost led to another Everton goal.

The way the Toffees swept unchallenged through a watching defence for their second equaliser was also concerning.

Wolves learned quickly last season – they soon became streetwise in the Championship and figured out how to impose their strengths on the opposition while eradicating their weaknesses (defending set pieces and coping with physical opponents, for example).

The Premier League presents a new, vast set of challenges.

They’ll need to smart up quickly again.

New number nine

There have been some legendary number nines at Molineux in years gone by.

Raul Jimenez is the latest incumbent of the famous number and he did it justice on Saturday with a debut goal and a fine display.

Of Wolves’ summer signings, expectations around Jimenez certainly aren’t as high as for Messrs Traore, Moutinho and Patricio.

But Jimenez has got something about him. He a workhorse, which is an important attribute in that ‘linking’ role Nuno likes – his touch is good, his passing is accurate and he’s full of running. Lost causes were chased down all evening.

Crucially though he comes alive in the box and looks to have a few goals in his locker.

After opening his account in Wolves colours when peeling off his man to tap home against Villarreal last weekend, here he peeled off his man to head home from a similar range.

The likeable Mexican had no problem completing 90 minutes either – he was restricted to a substitute role for 75 per cent of his 80 Benfica league appearances – and could, perhaps against expectations, be about to play a vital role in Wolves’ Premier League campaign.

Goosebumps

It was an occasion to savour at Molineux.

After six years away the club was back in the big time – and my, did they revel in it.

The spine-tingling noise generated before kick-off was just about the most rambunctious din you could imagine (witnesses tweeted they could hear it quite clearly in Dunstall Park).

The fireworks, the fire, the loud music, the full volume roar of Hi Ho Wolverhampton...it was quite something. Goosebump-inducing.

A victory would have topped off a perfect day but for Wolves to be perhaps disappointed (certainly the players wanted more) with a point against a team of Everton’s quality shows you the mentality this team has.

Newly-promoted teams would normally be wholly satisfied with earning a draw after twice falling behind.

But Wolves aren’t your average newly-promoted team.

This opener didn’t give a conclusion that Wolves will be a top-half side this year. But it definitely proved on their day they can compete with the big boys.

And that’s a pretty good start.

Final word

Star man: Ruben Neves

The boss: Right to start Bennett

Fans: Boisterous

Magic moment: Pre-match noise was unforgettable

In a word: Encouraging

Picture perfect: