Wolves 2-2 Blackburn Rovers: FLW report as Jimenez rescues point in dramatic season opener | OneFootball

FLW report from Molineux for the first game of the Championship season

Newly-relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers began their first Championship season in eight years with a dramatic 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers at Molineux.

Cesar Peixoto's reign began with cup success over Port Vale seven days ago, and despite a bright start from Rovers on Tony Mowbray's return to the club, Marshall Munetsi netted the first goal of the season with a smart finish inside the box.

However, Blackburn, who impressed throughout the encounter, turned the contest on its head with goals from Sean McLoughlin and Andri Gudjohnsen either side of half-time, causing plenty of frustration from the home fans.

However, in second half added-time, the returning Raul Jimenez netted the first goal of his second Wolves stint from the penalty spot after Ryan Alebiousu was adjudged to have handled inside the box.

Wolves 2-2 Blackburn Rovers

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In the opening minutes, Wolves fans in the South Bank were quick to remind their fellow supporters who had been gifted a scarf by Jimenez pre-match, while Kieran Trippier, was quick to note the Rovers supporters booing his every touch given his spell at Burnley.

The first half-chance came 11 minutes in when Dapo Afolayan met Alebiousu's hanging cross, with the header worrying Dan Bentley for a moment.

Alebiosu continued to impress when creating an opening for Ryoya Morishita, but Peixoto's side netted the opener in their next attack as Fer Lopez drifted inside to play Munetsi through, with the Zimbabwean slotting past Balasz Toth.

However, Mowbray's outfit were only behind for 10 minutes as McLoughlin timed his run to perfection to glance his header from Morishita's teasing cross past Bentley.

Wanderers came close to what would have been a fine goal eight minutes before the break when Mateus Mane broke away from Alebiosu and fed Lopez, with the Spaniard's curling strike heading just over the right-hand post.

Moments later, Mane came close himself after a corner was played out to the winger in space from 20 yards out, this time the ball flying over the opposite corner.

After the break, it was Rovers who looked to force the issue, with Bentley on hand to tip a long-distance Afolayan effort to safety after the winger was afforded time to pick his spot.

And, less than a minute later, the winger drifted away from David Moller Wolfe and produced an inch-perfect cross for Gudjohnsen to poke past Bentley in front of the North Bank.

Wolves' first sign of a response came through goalscorer, Munetsi, whose 20-yard effort was charged down by the Blackburn rearguard, before more frustration was vented by the home support despite the introduction of Jimenez.

The Mexican's first attempt at goal came 19 minutes from time with a free-kick which struck the Rovers wall, with fellow substitute, Tommy Doyle, blazing over the bar seconds later whilst under pressure.

Despite struggling for much of the contest, Adam Armstrong then saw appeals for a penalty waved away after a switch of play from Toti Gomes, with the striker claiming he was fouled whilst bringing the ball under his spell inside the box.

Rovers substitute, Yuki Ohashi, then wanted a spot-kick of his own in the final minutes of normal time after racing towards goal under pressure from Toti, before his side looked to close out an unexpected victory.

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However, Farai Hallam adjudged Alebiosu to have handled Jackson Tchatchoua's cross in the second of five added minutes at the end of the game, with it somewhat feeling written in the stars that Jimenez would score the dramatic equaliser on his first league appearance for Wolves in three years.

Player Ratings

Wolves

Dan Bentley - 6

Kieran Trippier - 6 (Tchatchoua 67" - 6)

Yerson Mosquera - 6.5

Toti Gomes - 6.5

David Moller Wolfe - 6 (Lima 79" - 6)

Marshall Munetsi - 7

Andre - 6.5 (Chirewa 79" - 6)

Rodrigo Gomes - 6.5 (Doyle 67" - 6)

Fer Lopez - 7.5

Mateus Mane - 6.5 (Jimenez 59" - 7)

Adam Armstrong - 6

Unused Subs: J.Sa, S.Bueno, N.Djiga, T.Edozie

Blackburn Rovers

Balasz Toth - 6

Ryan Alebiosu - 6.5

Tom Atcheson - 7

Sean McLoughlin - 8

Harry Pickering - 7

Adam Forshaw - 6.5 (Morsy 55" - 7)

Kristi Montgomery - 6

Ryoya Morishita - 7.5 (Ribeiro 79" - 6)

Todd Cantwell - 7 (Ohashi 68" - 6)

Dapo Afolayan - 7.5 (Fevrier 68" - 6)

Andri Gudjohnsen - 7.5 (Garrett 79" - 6)

Unused Subs: A.Pears, H.Carter, S.Tavares, A.Henriksson

Cesar Peixoto reacts as Wolves rescue opening-day point

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Reacting to his side's late show against Rovers, Peixoto said: "One point isn't what we wanted, we wanted three.

"I think we were better in the first half. We created more chances and, after we conceded the goals, the team lost some organisation and played more with their 'heart' than their heads.

"It is a lesson for us in the future," the Portuguese stated. "We have to stay with mental stability during the 90 minutes, because when we stay like that, we are better.

"After we lost Yerson Mosquera when we scored, a draw isn't the result we wanted, but it is a point for us.

When asked about any defensive concerns, he continued: "It is normal at this time of the season. Not everything is 100%.

"It's something we have to improve. We have to analyse the game and talk with the team to improve what we didn't do well.

"I think the heart is important, not to give up for the 90 minutes, but we have to play in our way with the identity we want to create in the club.

Tony Mowbray reacts to Blackburn Rovers' spirited Molineux showing

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Reacting to Blackburn's spirited showing against one of the division's promotion favourites, Mowbray said: "I didn't think they were going to score (an equaliser), to be honest.

"I didn't think they were creating chances and, if anything, we were going to score a third goal.

"A little bit disappointing and frustrating," he added.

On the penalty, Mowbray said: "He gave a penalty, but it felt, and I'm not questioning anyone's integrity, that some decisions were starting to sway in their way.

"It's harsh to take, as I don't think they deserved a second goal."

On the desire of the Rovers squad, Mowbray revealed: "We asked them to be brave tonight, to go and play and come away to the 'whole world', it felt to me.

"I'm driving to the services this morning to come here and everyone has us relegated, probably on the back of finishing 20th, losing two key players and not spending much money. But, it's good motivation for the team.

"I thought, collectively, we were very strong tonight and caused Wolves lots of problems.

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