Ipswich 1 (Delap 16) Wolves 2 (Sarabia 72, Strand Larsen 84)
Wolves came from behind, striking twice in the final 17 minutes, to secure a vital win over Ipswich Town, which lifted Vitor Pereira’s side 12 points clear of the Premier League drop zone.
The Old Gold trailed at the break after Liam Delap’s close range finish, but took control in the second 45 and levelled though a low strike from substitute Pablo Sarabia.
The Spaniard then turned provider, laying off a delightful cross for Jorgen Strand Larsen to bundle home a late winner and record a third straight victory for the Wolves, who pulled further clear of danger.
Wolves travelled to Suffolk knowing the importance of the clash, and started well. Good work from Joao Gomes found Rayan Ait-Nouri down the left, and when he cut back for Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, the Frenchman will have been disappointed not to hit the target as he curled over at the near post.
That opening came during a period of dominance from the Old Gold. The in-form Strand Larsen was the next to be frustrated however, as his low and firm shot was saved by the legs of Alex Palmer. From the two resulting corners Toti had a header tipped over by the goalkeeper, before Gomes’ powerful drive was crucially blocked.
Ipswich, on the other hand, were clinical when their chance arose. Axel Tuanzebe’s cross was headed across goal by Dara O’Shea and Delap turned underneath Jose Sa from close range. Following a VAR check, the goal was deemed onside.
Toti almost scrambled home an instant reply for Wolves, but was denied by O’Shea on the line, while a bizarre mistake almost gifted Pereira’s side an equaliser, as the goalkeeper let a back pass run underneath his foot, only to scramble off the line.
The handling meant a indirect free-kick followed, however with Ipswich’s whole 11 on the line, they did enough to keep out Emmanuel Agbadou’s powerful effort, as Wolves let their hosts off the hook and Town went in ahead at the break.
Half-time | Ipswich 1-0 Wolves
Recomposed, Wolves returned for the second period the better side and took control from the start. Marshall Munetsi had already threatened, following good work from Ait-Nouri, by the time Joao Gomes rattled the post with effort from the edge of the box.
With Andre and Joao Gomes taking control of the midfield, Wolves continued to work into areas. Matt Doherty shot wide of the near post, while Munetsi had an effort from distance easily saved and Ait-Nouri held off a foul from Ben Johnson before shooting at Palmer.
So, when the equaliser arrived, it had been coming. Agbadou clipped the ball over the top for Strand Larsen, whose perfect control brought others into play and he picked out Sarabia just inside the area, and the Spaniard’s low left footed effort snuck out of Palmer’s reach and into the bottom corner.
Rodrigo Gomes’ return to action almost brought an assist, as Strand Larsen guided a header off target from the Portuguese’s cross. However, the Norwegian was celebrating soon after.
Andre, so effective for his defensive work throughout the afternoon, had the vision to pick out Sarabia, whose first time volley across goal was the dream ball for Strand Larsen who bundled the ball over the line at the back post. A lengthy VAR check ensued, but the striker was deemed onside and had his fourth goal in three games, and Wolves had the points.
Full-time | Ipswich 1-2 Wolves
Ipswich | Palmer, Tuanzebe (Philogene 81), O’Shea, Burgess, Townsend (Davis 81), Morsy, Cajuste (Chaplin 81), Johnson, Enciso, Broadhead (Taylor 81), Delap (81).
Unused subs | Walton, Woolfenden, Phillips, Clarke.
Wolves | Sa, Semedo, Doherty (R Gomes 65), Agbadou, Toti, Ait-Nouri (Bueno 88), Andre, J Gomes, Bellegarde (Sarabia 65), Munetsi, Strand Larsen (Djiga 90).
Unsed subs | Johnstone, Doyle, Forbs, Hwang, Guedes.
