KARL WHITEHOUSE REPORTS ON WOLVES 2-2 DRAW AGAINST BRENTFORD AT THE GTECH.
Setting the scene
The start of eight cup finals begins for Wolves at the Gtech Community Stadium. A win would put pressure on the teams above, even with a blank gameweek coming up soon. Brentford also came into this game looking to bounce back after losing their last home league match against Brighton.
Line ups
Rob Edwards made four changes from the last game against Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Keith Andrews made two changes from the last game against West Ham United in the FA Cup.
Brentford XI:
Kelleher, Lewis-Potter, Collins, Van den Berg, Kayode, Jensen, Henderson, Damsgaard, Schade, Thiago, Ouattara.
Subs:
Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Yarmoliuk, Nelson, Ajer, Donovan, Furo, Bentt, Shield.
Wolves XI:
Sa, Tchatchoua, Mosquera, S Bueno, Krejci, H Bueno, Andre, J Gomes, Bellegarde, Mane, Armstrong.
Subs:
Bentley, Lima, Doherty, Toti, Wolfe, A Gomes, R Gomes, Hwang, Arokodare.
First half
Wolves started the game under pressure from the off. Brentford controlled the early stages and sent plenty of crosses into the box, forcing Jose Sa into action.
Brentford had the first big chance when Mikkel Damsgaard shot over the bar from the edge of the area. That warning soon turned into the opener.
The home side took the lead after one of the best moves of the match. Keane Lewis-Potter curled a cross from the left towards the far post, where Kayode arrived untracked to head into the top corner.
Brentford then doubled their advantage. From a Kelleher goal kick, Ouattara broke beyond the Wolves back line. With Sa coming out, Ouattara slid the ball across to Thiago, who was left unmarked and finished into an empty net.
It could have been worse when Thiago hit the outside of the post after again finding space in the box.
Wolves, though, found a way back before the break. Bellegarde drove forward from midfield and fed Armstrong, who took a great touch to beat Collins before firing from outside the box past Kelleher. Brentford appealed for a back pass in the build up, but the referee and VAR allowed the goal.
Half time: Brentford 2 Wolves 1
Second half
Wolves made a change at the break, with Angel Gomes replacing Mane to add control in midfield.
The second half was a much stronger start from Wolves. They pushed Brentford back and limited their time on the ball.
Wolves nearly equalised when Hugo Bueno crossed for Jackson Tchatchoua, but Kelleher saved well. Armstrong then went even closer after being set up by Tchatchoua, striking a superb effort against the base of the post with the keeper beaten.
The pressure finally told. Rob Edwards brought on Tolu Arokodare for Bellegarde to add height and hold-up play. Soon after, Joao Gomes delivered a lovely cross to the far post, where Arokodare was left unmarked to head home and make it 2-2.
Wolves almost completed the turnaround. Arokodare met another Hugo Bueno cross and crashed a header against the crossbar. The away end was ready to explode.
Both sides pushed for a winner late on. Brentford came close when Reiss Nelson’s shot flashed wide from a tight angle. Wolves also threatened at the other end, with Andre having an effort blocked.
Full time: Brentford 2 Wolves 2
Conclusion
This was a game of two contrasting halves for Wolves. In the first half, they were punished for not picking up runners and allowing Brentford too much space in key areas. In the second half, Wolves showed patience, better movement, and real intent, and they created enough chances to win it.
It is a hard-earned point from a tough away fixture. With a break until the next match, Wolves will hope results around them keep the survival fight firmly alive.
Player of the match: Adam Armstrong
One of Armstrong’s best performances in a Wolves shirt. He took his goal brilliantly, caused Brentford problems all night, and went close to a second with that strike off the post. A really positive sign from a player who looks like he can add goals, whatever division Wolves are in.
ARTICLE BY KARL WHITEHOUSE
I’ve been a dedicated Wolves fan for over 30 years, supporting the team through the highs and lows of the 80s, 90s, and 00s. I’ve followed them home and away, growing my love for the game into a passion for analyzing Wolves’ performances, especially diving into the stats behind their Premier League matches.
As the go-to person for Wolves stats on podcasts, I also love exploring football history for deeper insights. One of my proudest achievements is completing the journey to all 92 Football League grounds.