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12 hours ago
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When Igor Thiago, celebrating his first call-up to the Brazil squad, scored his fourth goal in four games, the second of their first-half stroll, Brentford were cruising to the shoulders of Chelsea and Liverpool. By full-time, the quest to reach European football for the first time in club history had received a severe jolt. And it could have been worse.
Wolves have gone 330 days without an away win, to remain the last of the 92 league clubs to not break that duck, but showed continued signs of life, of pride within impending doom. After Tolu Arokodare’s goal levelled the scores at 2-2, Wolves were much the likelier victors. The same substitute soon after headed against the crossbar. Though relegation remains a near certainty, a refusal to accept their fate, having nothing to lose makes Wolves a danger to any opposition.
“It’s obviously a really difficult situation, though it’s a hell of a lot better than giving up,” said Rob Edwards, the Wolves manager. “It’s not just falling apart, the supporters can see the lads are giving a fight.”
Defiance was on display from both clubs. The Gtech video screen, before kick-off, played clips of Micah Richards’s and Alan Shearer’s ill-starred pre-season podcast predictions for Brentford and Keith Andrews aims higher. “I think when you’re talking about us in the same breath as Chelsea, that’s obviously pretty good considering there’s only eight games left of the season but the reality is we could’ve produced more tonight,” said Brentford’s manager.
Wolves had been cut to ribbons in the first half until Adam Armstrong’s 44th-minute goal offered a route back. They then went close to repeating the heroics of beating Liverpool a fortnight ago.
Brentford’s excellent first half featured redemption for Dango Ouattara, forgiven for his Panenka FA Cup faux-pas, at the heart of his team’s best moments.
A deserved lead arrived when Keane Lewis-Potter’s left-wing cross was aimed for Thiago, only to drop for Michael Kayode to nod home. Not a bad finish from someone scoring their first goal in English football, a reminder there is far more to the Italian’s game than long throws.
Thiago’s goal followed swiftly, via route-one means. Caoimhín Kelleher’s long punt was controlled deftly by Ouattara, who laid on the striker to score a goal celebrated with a flourish and gratitude offered to the heavens above for a perfect day so far. “When he pulls on that iconic jersey it will be a special moment for all of us,” said Andrews of the 19-goal striker given Carlo Ancelotti’s call.
Brentford might soon have had three, Thiago nodding against the bar from a Kayode throw, a miss rued when Armstrong, supplied by Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, thumped in his first goal for Wolves. Brentford had legitimate claims that José Sá, the opposing keeper, had picked up a backpass. “It gave us belief,” said Edwards.
Angel Gomes was Wolves’ half-time introduction to disrupt Brentford’s plan of hitting their front players as soon as possible, bypassing André and João Gomes, neither of whom will be flying back with Thiago for Brazil duty but who soon began to exert heavy midfield influence.
Wolves’ renewed confidence was evidenced by Jackson Tchatchoua’s volleyed snapshot. Next, Armstrong hit the foot of a post with Kelleher stranded. With Wolves showing that even the Premier League’s bottom club is laden with talent, the contest had tilted.
“We owe it to the football club, ourselves, the fans to keep fighting all the way until the 38th game, so we’ll do that,” said Edwards, whose team must now wait 25 days to face West Ham.
A panicked clearance from Nathan Collins personified a growing anxiety among Brentford fans, players and their manager. “We didn’t do the basics as well as we did in the first half and, ultimately, it cost us,” said Andrews.
Angel Gomes zipped a shot wide before eventually Wolves’ growing pressure told. João Gomes’ ball across the Brentford box beat everyone except Arokodare, who just three minutes after coming on, stooped to head home. His later header against the bar came from Hugo Bueno’s cross, disappointment for Wolves, denied that first away win even if their comeback had inflicted heavy damage on Brentford.
The Brentford substitute Reiss Nelson’s header wide was a chance to steal victory passed up by a poor execution that had become endemic within his teammates since the break. It would also have been cruel on Wolves, a team surely doomed yet still refusing to lie down.
