Brentford were unable to close the gap on Chelsea to one point in a 2-2 draw with Wolves, losing a two-goal lead.
The Bees have been one of the headlines this season, thanks to their rise up the Premier League table under manager Keith Andrews and their place among Europe’s leading sides.
Goals from first-time Brazilian call-up Michael Kayode and Igor Thiago looked to have brought the Blues and Liverpool close to fifth, but a resurgent Wolves fought back to grab an unexpected point.
Brentford’s rise to European contention is one of the few signs of things to come, highlighted in a pre-match video package on Gtech which showed several influential figures in football threatening to relegate them following Andrews’ appointment.
They started the campaign with the intensity that characterizes it, and were soon rewarded by one of the unsung heroes. Instead of taking a long throw into the penalty area, Kayode scored a powerful header to give the hosts a deserved lead.
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Michael Keiode scores Brentford’s opening goal with an ‘outstanding header’ against Wolves in the Premier League
That advantage was quickly doubled by Thiago, who, after some clever play from Dango Ouattara, rolled into the empty goal to celebrate his first selection for the iconic Selecao.
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Igor Thiago celebrates Brazil squad call-up with another goal to double Bees’ lead against Wolves in the Premier League
The two-goal cushion did not last long, as Adam Armstrong had a goal-scoring shot, but it was not without controversy. 28 seconds before scoring, Ladislav Kureishi passed the ball back to goalkeeper Jose Sa, who picked it up and streamed the ball to Santiago Bueno at the start of the attack, leading to Armstrong’s finish.
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‘Great’ Adam Armstrong halved Wolves’ goals conceded just before suspension of Premier League game against Brentford
Ouattara challenged Krejci the moment he passed the ball and may have touched the ball. PGMOL said it could not intervene because the incident was not in the same attack phase and the ball was briefly lost before Bellegarde’s interception and subsequent assist.
That gave the Wolves the boost they needed in the second half. Armstrong had already hit the post and the score was tied, but Tolu Alokodare scored the equalizer four minutes later. Things were almost looking up for the super sub 60 seconds later, when he saw his header bounce off the crossbar.
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Tolu Alokodea’s header gives Wolves a come-from-behind victory over Brentford in the Premier League
Reiss Nelson missed a great chance for a late winner for the Bees, leaving Brentford three points behind Chelsea. Wolves, on the other hand, remain bottom of the table but have narrowed the gap to 19th-placed Burnley to just three points.
Andrews: Wolves’ opening goal should have been ruled out
Brentford manager Keith Andrews said in the post-match press conference:
“I think the fact that I’ve done three interviews so far and asked everyone about it suggests that it probably was,” Andrews said in the post-game press conference.
“We can’t really influence that, and it could influence a lot of other things that we didn’t influence tonight. I don’t want to go down the path of tainting my thoughts with that.”
“I could see clearly.”
Henry: Of course it’s a back pass!
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Thierry Henry was lucky to escape with an obvious backpass in the build-up to Adam Armstrong’s goal, Wolves suggested, after VAR ruled he was not in the attacking phase.
Thierry Henry said on Monday Night Football:
“A bit of an argument? I understand they don’t consider it a deliberate backpass because they gave away a goal.
“There was a little touch from Ouattara, but what else is he going to do there? Of course it’s a backpass.”
Edwards: Goal on the stroke of half-time helped Wolves
Wolves manager Rob Edwards told Sky Sports:
“The goal changed our half-time plans a little bit. We were playing really well and they were leading 2-0, but we felt it was our fault.
“That goal allowed us to keep the same shape and the same plan, with only a few adjustments in terms of personnel.
“We were right in the game and we were proven right at half-time. The performance in the second half was great.”
