Wolves showed the fight and determination Steve Davis asked for pre-match against Brentford, as Ruben Neves’ stunning strike saw the old gold come from behind to earn a point away from home.
Davis’ side battled for every ball and were unfortunate to fall behind to Ben Mee’s acrobatic opener but needed just two minutes to respond as a clever move was bent home by the Wolves captain. Chances to win it came and went for both sides, before Diego Costa was shown a straight red card for a headbutt in injury time.
In the build-up, the Wolves head coach spoke of being more ruthless in both boxes and he’ll have been pleased with what he saw defensively during the opening 45, as Wolves pressed high and contained their hosts, but once again struggled to make chances count at the other end.
The old gold could have gone ahead after just five minutes when Neves robbed his man of possession deep in the home box and freed Daniel Podence, but rather than shooting early, he worked it on to his left foot and hit a weak shot into the hands of David Raya.
Costa is still searching for his first Wolves goal and headed over a cross by the lively Podence on 13 minutes, having got in ahead of Ethan Pinnock, while at the other end, Josh Dasilva got the better of Boubacar Traore and curled just wide – the closest the Bees came during the first 45.
Instead, they were grateful for a crucial deflection which diverted Joao Moutinho’s volley just wide of the post, with Raya rooted. The midfielder had replaced the injured Nunes less than a minute early and came the closets of anyone when he met Podence’s corner.
Half-time | Brentford 0-0 Wolves
While neither side could find the net in the first-half, it took neither long after the break to do so. The Bees took the lead on 50 minutes when Mee met Bryan Mbeumo’s cross on the volley when left free in the Wolves box and he gave Jose Sa no chance in the Wolves goal.
However, Wolves responded instantly. Adama Traore caused problems down the right and fed Nelson Semedo, whose lay off was dummied by Boubacar Traore and met by the onrushing Neves, who bent a stunning finish beyond Raya to equalise.
That chaotic start to the second period set the tone for an enthralling second period. Soon after Neves’ stunner, Podence almost squeezed and effort under Raya, while Costa firmly headed Hugo Bueno’s corner over the bar.
The Spaniard kept on getting chances too, first he tested the Bees stopper on his left foot from outside the box, before picking up Moutinho’s pass soon after and again being denied by the home goalkeeper.
Wolves were having their fair share of chances, while Brentford were still a threat, and Ivan Toney headed wide with time running out, before the old gold lost their own focal point in added time when Costa caused Mee with a headbutt and received a straight red card moments before the full-time whistle.
Full-time | Brentford 1-1 Wolves
Brentford |Raya, Henry, Pinnock, Jensen (Damsgaard 37), Dasilva (Onyeka 83), Wissa (Lewis-Potter 75), Mee, Toney, Mbeumo (Canos 83), Ajer (Roerslev 83), Janelt.
Unused subs | Cox, Zanka, Ghoddos, Yarmoliuk.
Wolves | Sa, Semedo, Collins, Kilman, Bueno, B Traore, Neves, Nunes (Moutinho 41), A Traore (Guedes 83), Podence, Costa.
Unused subs | Sarkic, Ait-Nouri, Jonny, Mosquera, Hodge, Hwang, Campbell.
