Wolves were denied victory at the death at Molineux as Nelson Oliveira struck with the last kick of the game to earn a point for Norwich City in dramatic circumstances.
First-half goals from Diogo Jota and Alfred N’Diaye appeared to have secured another Molineux success for Wolves, but their lead on third place remains 13 points.
Jota’s scruffy finish set the hosts on their way, as the top scorer’s shot ricocheted off Jamal Lewis and into the net, with goalline technology confirming the goal.
Alfred N’Diaye’s firm header from a Barry Douglas corner made it two and, although Christoph Zimmermann cut the deficit, it looked like the points belonged to the hosts.
However, it wasn’t to be and Oliveira’s speculative effort snuck in at Ruddy’s near post to snatch the visitors a point and deny Wolves a third straight three points at Molineux.
With little to report in the opening ten minutes, it was the visitors who had a glaring opportunity to take the lead on 12 minutes. Wolves’ defence didn’t deal with a simple ball into the box and Harrison Reed should have done better than side footing over the bar when free.
The Southampton loanee was made to pay for his mistake soon after. Ruben Neves’ ball was latched onto by Jota and the club’s top scorer went on his left and watched his shot ricochet off Lewis before crossing the line, with goalline technology confirming the goal.
Wolves tails were up and some nice interchange of passing saw the ball fall to Douglas on the edge of the box, but the Scot’s fine effort whipped away from the far post at the vital moment. Soon after more brilliant footwork by Helder Costa and Jota fashioned an opening for the latter, who earned a corner.
It’s from that dead ball where the second goal arrived. A brilliant corner by Douglas was glanced into the roof of the net by N’Diaye for his third goal of the campaign, and the Scot’s tenth Championship assist.
However, Norwich had the perfect response to reduce the deficit. A teasing free-kick by James Maddison was nodded beyond John Ruddy and into the far corner by Zimmermann.
Wolves remained in control of the contest however, and Douglas headed on to Cavaleiro six minutes before the break, but the winger’s effort from range didn’t curl inside the post in time. The left wing-back went for goal himself with the next attempt, but his free-kick couldn’t creep in at Angus Gunn’s near post.
With the first-half coming to a close, a speculative effort by Marley Watkins was easily saved by Ruddy, meaning the hosts went in for the break with a one-goal advantage.
Half-Time: Wolves 2 Norwich 1
Nuno Espirito Santo shuffled his pack at the break, with Costa making way for Romain Saiss, who formed a three-man midfield. The hosts continued on the front foot too and Ivan Cavaleiro had a good chance to make it three, but directed Matt Doherty’s cross narrowly off target.
Benik Afobe was next to take to the field in place of Cavaleiro, but Norwich were creeping into the contest more and Watkins turned sharply on the edge of the Wolves box, before forcing Ruddy into a save down to his left.
Then, with 21 minutes left, Morgan Gibbs-White was thrown into the action for goal scorer, N’Diaye and the youngster impressing while on, coming close to his first senior goal, but never truly shaking off Zimmermann and getting a shot away.
Big chances were still to come however, as Gibbs-White’s cross failed to find Afobe or creep past Gunn, while a quick corner saw Maddison force Ruddy to get down low and parry to safety, with help from Willy Boly.
There would be one final sting in the tail however, and with the last kick of the game Oliveira tried his luck from range and hit the jackpot, as Ruddy was beaten at his near point and the points were shared.
Full-Time: Wolves 2 Norwich 2
Wolves: Ruddy, Doherty, Bennett, Coady, Boly, Douglas, N’Diaye (Gibbs-White 69), Neves, Costa (Saiss 46), Cavaleiro (Afobe 59), Jota.
Unused Subs: Norris, Batth, Miranda, Bonatini.
Booked: Neves (36), N’Diaye (52), Jota (75).
Norwich: Gunn, Reed, Zimmermann, Vrancic (Hernandez), Leitner, Watkins (Murphy), Klose, Maddison, Lewis, Hanley, Srbeny (Oliveira).
Unused Subs: McGovern, Husband, Raggett, Tettey.
Referee: James Linington.
Attendance: 29,100.
