Guehi nets late for Palace to deny Wolves first win of season

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ wait for a Premier League win goes on another week as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Crystal Palace which leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table and without a league win in 10 games.

There was little between the two sides in goalless first period which was played at low intensity in a nervous atmosphere. Palace wasted the best opportunity as Trevoh Chalobah completely missed a volley from just a couple yards out before then inadvertently blocking Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal-bound follow-up shot, a sequence which summed up the first half.

The game came to life in the second half as Chalobah made up for his first-half blushes by opening the scoring from a set-piece following a mistake from Wolves ‘keeper Jose Sa.

As the boos began to ring around Molineux the home side responded with two goals of their own, the first being a composed Jorgen Strand Larsen effort before Joao Gomes applied an emphatic finish to round off a quick counterattack.

Just as Wolves started to believe that elusive win was coming Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi pounced at a back post from a corner to bring The Eagles back to level terms.

The home side continued to push for a winner but could not create a clear breakthrough and will end the weekend bottom of the league and still searching for their first win, while Palace sit just above the relegation zone in 17th and on seven points.

Wolves fans will be left wondering what they must do to win a Premier League game. Gary O’Neil’s side are now bottom of the table with just three points after another frustrating game.

The home side encapsulated many of the same problems they have had this season, as they struggled for consistency throughout the 90 minutes looking razor sharp at times while also being incredibly sloppy in defence and wasteful in attack at others.

They have quality players, but another similar performance asks the question as to whether O’Neil is the right man to solve these issues.

The Brazilian midfielder had a quiet first half, like most, but was absolutely everywhere in the second when his side needed him most.

He commanded the midfield and won the ball back relentlessly throughout the second period, while also scoring the crucial goal which nearly brought Wolves their first league win of the season.

In a game which lacked quality at times Gomes was one of the few to stand out.

Wolves: Sa 4, Bueno 5, Dawson 7, Toti 7, Semedo 7, Gomes 8, Doyle 6, Ait Nouri 7, Sarabia 3, Cunha 6, Larsen 7. Subs: Lemina 6, Guedes 6, Bellegarde 5.

Crystal Palace: Henderson 7, Chalobah 7, Lacroix 6, Guehi 7, Munoz 7, Kamada 5, Hughes 6, Mitchell 5, Nketiah 5, Sarr 4, Mateta 5. Subs: Doucoure 5, Clyne 5, Schlupp 5.

60’ GOAL! – WOLVES 0-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (CHALOBAH) – PALACE TAKE THE LEAD! A set-piece is launched into the box, Sa comes to claim it but can’t get a clean connection and the ball falls to Chalobah at the back post who smashes it into the net on the half volley.

67’ GOAL! – WOLVES 1-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (STRAND LARSEN) – A massive goal for Wolves! A long ball is missed by Chalobah and Cunha latches onto it. He slips in Strand Larson who applies a calm finish past Henderson.

72’ GOAL! – WOLVES 2-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (GOMES) – In a flash Wolves have turned it around! A quick Wolves breakaway and Gomes is on hand to apply a composed finish. How the mood has changed here.

77’ GOAL! – WOLVES 2-2 CRYSTAL PALACE (GUEHI) – The second half has burst into life and now Palace respond. A corner is whipped into the box and Munoz flicks the ball on and finds Guehi at the back post who has the simplest tap in possible.

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