A Raul Jimenez spot kick earnt Wolves a well-deserved point at the Vitality Stadium in a game dominated by penalty decisions.
A Josh King finish in the first half put Bournemouth ahead, before Wolves were able to tie up the Premier League clash inside the final ten minutes. But the drama wasn’t over there, as King missed a second Bournemouth penalty just moments after Wolves got back into the match.
Wolves were quick out of the blocks at the Vitality Stadium and were creating all of the early chances, with several corner and free kicks which were aimed into the Bournemouth box having to be headed away by the home side.
The visitors had the ball in the back of the net within the ten minutes of the match, but Jimenez’s neat finish past Artur Boruc was disallowed by referee Roger East following an alleged foul by Diogo Jota in the build-up.
Despite Wolves’ early pressure, it was Bournemouth who took the lead just minutes later. King made a darting run into the visitor’s box and was judged to have been brought down by Joao Moutinho, with the referee pointing to the spot.
The Bournemouth forward stepped up and dispatched the penalty into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, giving Rui Patricio no chance of stopping it.
Wolves kept the pressure on in search for an equaliser and would have felt hard done by to not have been awarded a penalty when the ball appeared to go out for a corner off the arm of Chris Mepham – however the referee once again refuted the strong appeals of the Wolves players.
Just before the half an hour mark, the visitors came close to putting the ball in the net. A good passage of place started with Jonny, who worked the ball inside to Jota, who broke to the byline before cutting back across goal. Jota’s cross, however, took a deflection and bounced off Leander Dendoncker before missing just wide of the post.
Wolves were just inches away from pulling a ball back when Jota broke forward into the box down the left-hand side. His powerful run ended with a cross flashed across the box towards Jimenez, but the Mexican striker was just shy of getting his toe on the ball at the back post, which would have sent it into an unguarded net.
Bournemouth continued to attempt to catch Wolves on the break, and the visitors needed to rely on the safe hands of Patricio to deny the home side from doubling their advantage as the keeper got down well to smother a threatening cross by Dominic Solanke.
Half-time: Bournemouth 1 Wolves 0
A quiet opening to the half came to life ten minutes into the second period, when Dendoncker came close to bringing Wolves level with a looping header which Boruc was able to turn over his crossbar.
From the resulting corner, Moutinho’s cross was floated to the back post, but the leaping Willy Boly could not keep his headed effort down – a let off for the home side.
Although Wolves were still controlling the game, Bournemouth kept on catching the visitors on the counter, and were close to extending their lead when Solanke made a good run into the box and aimed an effort towards goal, however his shot was deflected by Patricio, but still required Bennett to get back and stop the ball from crossing the line.
There was a lengthy break in play mid-way through the second-half when Moutinho required treatment following an elbow to the face by Jefferson Lerma. The Bournemouth midfielder received a yellow card for his part in the collision.
Bournemouth came just inches away from doubling their lead just moments later when, catching Wolves on the break, Jordon Ibe rattled his wicked curling shot against Patricio’s crossbar from just inside the area after cutting in from the right.
Wolves brought on Ivan Cavaleiro and Adama Traore as they looked to force an equaliser and it came with ten minutes left on the clock. Doherty was fouled by Smith as he was found inside the area.
Jimenez stepped up and coolly slotted home the spot kick to give Wolves a well-deserved goal.
Just moments later Bournemouth were awarded another penalty as Cavaleiro was judged to have committed a foul inside the area, however King hammered his kick against the side of Patricio’s post.
Bournemouth kept on the pressure at the end of the game, but Wolves were able to hold on for a hard-fought point.
Full-time: Bournemouth 1 Wolves 1
Bournemouth: Boruc, Smith, Ake, Mepham, Clyne, Fraser, Lerma, Gosling, Ibe, King, Solanke (Mousset 91).
Unused subs: Begovic, Simpson, Daniels, Rico, Surman, Surridge.
Wolves: Patricio, Doherty, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Jonny, Dendoncker (Traore 76), Neves, Moutinho, Jota (Cavaleiro 66), Jimenez (Saiss 88).
Unused subs: Ruddy, Vinagre, Gibbs-White, Costa.
Referee: Roger East
