Wolves 1 Blackburn 1 - match report
Dean Saunders kicked off his era as Wolves manager with a battling point against Blackburn in a competitive game at a vibrant Molineux.
Dean Saunders kicked off his era as Wolves manager with a battling point against Blackburn in a competitive game at a vibrant Molineux.
Roger Johnson's 74th-minute header cancelled out Jordan Rhodes' controversial 26th-minute penalty as Wolves ended a run of four defeats with a much-improved performance on the shambolic recent displays.
Supporters were treated to a higher tempo performance and more effort in what was a return to a more direct style of play under the former Doncaster and Wrexham manager.
Saunders made three changes to the side beaten 1-0 by non League Luton in the FA Cup.
Ronald Zubar, David Davis and Jake Cassidy replaced Anthony Forde, Jamie O'Hara and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.
Cassidy, 19, was making his first start for Wolves and Championship debut, while Zubar returned to the starting line-up for the first time since September.
Saunders, who was given a generous welcome by the 20,264 crowd, promised a brisk start and he was true to his word as Wolves tried to get at Blackburn from the first whistle by pumping the ball forward much quicker than they had under sacked boss Stale Solbakken.
Wolves forced four corners in the first 15 minutes but their first chance came a minute later when Davis flashed a rising shot over the bar from 20 yards.
By then Colin Kazim-Richards had received a ninth-minute booking for a late challenge on Wolves captain Karl Henry.
And the former Sheffield United winger was arguably lucky to still be on the pitch by half-time after similar late follow-throughs on Stephen Ward and Zubar.
The best chance of the opening period for the home side came on 20 when Kevin Foley, who was playing right midfield, was foiled from point-blank range by keeper Jake Kean from Bakary Sako's cross.
But Wolves found themselves a goal down in controversial circumstances when Blackburn were awarded a penalty soon after.
It was initially bad defending as poor passes first from Carl Ikeme to Christophe Berra then from Berra to Ward, and Ruben Rochina stole in and skipped past Ward before falling against the right leg of Sako for a soft penalty given by the referee's assistant on the far side.
Rhodes curled his spot kick beyond Ikeme's outstretched left hand as the keeper guessed right for his 16th Rovers goal of the season.
The goal deflated Wolves and it took some time for their energy levels to return.
When it did, a half chance again fell to Davis, who looped an unconvincing effort over the bar again, this time with his left foot after a mis-kick with his right when Kean palmed away Ward's fierce cross four minutes before the break.
Fortunately for home fans, Wolves left their second-half fade-outs with the Stale Solbakken era as the effort continued after the break.
But Blackburn had the first opportunity, Rochina allowed to burst through before testing Ikeme with a skidding drive from 22 yards that forced the keeper to a diving save to his right.
Wolves gradually forced their way back into the game and Johnson sent a towering header on top of the net from Sako's free kick.
The game became scrappy and there were further bookings for Martin Olsson and Davis before Wolves rallied with several crosses peppering the goalmouth without anyone able to get on the end of them.
With Sako continuing to probe, Wolves eventually cracked Blackburn to force the equaliser.
It looked an inspired substitution though as Saunders brought on Jamie O'Hara for Davis, and, within a couple of seconds, the £5m midfielder took a short pass from Ward before arrowing a superb ball to the far post for Johnson to send a stooping header into the opposite corner of the net.
Sako went on two mazy runs to thrill the crowd as the game became stretched towards the end, while the newly-discovered spirit was underlined by superb tackle and sprint forward by substitute Slawomir Peszko on the opposite flank that also had the crowd on its feet, but he was unable to conjure the winner.
However, it was a much-improved performance from Wolves to kick off the Saunders era, and there was generous applause at the end as the supporters saluted a display they could for once identify with.