Wolves fight back from two down to snatch point at Brentford
Brentford looked to have this one wrapped up at half-time. Michael Kayode glanced home a header from Keane Lewis-Potter's cross in the 22nd minute for his first goal in 41 league appearances for the club, and Igor Thiago doubled the lead 15 minutes later with his 19th Premier League goal of the season. The Brazilian, fresh from receiving his first call-up to the national team, celebrated with his teammates near the touchline.
Armstrong halved the deficit before the break
Wolves, who had looked flat for much of the first half, found a lifeline just before the interval. Adam Armstrong pounced on a loose ball inside the box in the 44th minute and fired past Caoimhin Kelleher to make it 2-1. It was a goal that changed the mood entirely. Rob Edwards brought on Angel Gomes for Mateus Mane at the break, and Wolves came out with more purpose.
The second half was scrappy and tense. Brentford sat deeper than Keith Andrews would have wanted, content to protect what they had. Nathan Collins picked up a booking for a cynical foul on Armstrong, who was starting to cause problems down the right.
Arokodare off the bench and into the net
Edwards rolled the dice again in the 74th minute, sending on Tolu Arokodare for Bellegarde. Three minutes later, the Nigerian striker justified the substitution. He met Gomes's delivery at the back post and headed past Kelleher to level the scores at 2-2. The Wolves substitutes leapt from the bench. Arokodare sprinted to the travelling fans.
Brentford threw on Reiss Nelson for Dango Ouattara in the 85th minute and pushed for a winner, but Wolves held firm. Jose Sa picked up a yellow card for time-wasting in the 90th minute as the visitors clung on for a point.
What the result means
Brentford stay seventh on 45 points, their European ambitions still alive but dented by a night when they should have taken all three points. For Wolves, it extends their unbeaten run to three matches and gives them seven points from that spell. The problem is the maths: they sit bottom of the table on 17 points, still 13 adrift of safety with seven games left. The fight continues, but time is running out.
