Brentford 2 (Kayode 22, Thiago 37) Wolves 2 (Armstrong 44, Arokodare 77)
Wolves produced a stirring fightback to earn a point against Brentford but could have snatched all three after striking the woodwork twice in an impressive second half.
The Old Gold could have found themselves four down inside the opening 40 minutes as Rob Edwards’ side struggled to deal with the Bees, with Michael Kayode and Igor Thiago finding the net for the hosts.
However, Adam Armstrong’s first goal for Wolves gave his team confidence, and after the striker hit the post early after the break, substitute Tolu Arokodare came on to score the equaliser, before heading an effort against the crossbar, meaning the points were shared, but the visitors maintained their three-game unbeaten Premier League run.
Wolves began the half under plenty of pressure as Brentford started the game on the front foot and put plenty of crosses into Jose Sa’s penalty area.
One was fumbled by the goalkeeper, and although Wolves couldn’t get the ball clear, the visitors were given a reprieve as the ball bounced off Sepp van den Berg’s arm.
Brentford had the best chance to open the scoring as Mikkel Damsgaard was found on the edge of the Wolves box, but he could only fire his effort narrowly over Sa’s crossbar.
Jackson Tchatchoua was Wolves’ best outlet as he used his pace to get in behind the Brentford defence, however, the defender’s crosses into the box didn’t pose a threat to the hosts.
It was Brentford who took the lead midway through the first half as Keane Lewis-Potter’s curling cross from the left met the head of Kayode – who wasn’t picked up by the Wolves defence – at the far post, and he diverted the ball into the top corner of Sa’s net.
The first half traffic was all one way, with Brentford close to making it two when Thiago was found unmarked inside the Wolves box, but the Brazilian could only head wide.
However, it wasn’t long until the striker scored the second of the evening, when a long punt down field by Caoimhin Kelleher found Dango Ouattara who got behind Yerson Mosquera, and as Sa came out to meet him, slid the ball across to Thiago to tap into an empty net.
The Bees missed another glaring effort to add to their tally, with Thiago again finding himself unmarked inside the Wolves six-yard box but he could only turn his free header onto the outside of the post.
That chance proved costly for Brentford, as Armstrong halved the deficit moments later. The first bit of goof play Wolves had all half and it resulted in a goal.
Jean-Ricner Bellegarde turned his man brilliantly in the centre circle to get away from his marker and lay a pass into the run of Armstrong. The striker takes a great first touch to set the ball up and move it away from a Brentford defender before he slammed a finish past Kelleher.
Half-time | Brentford 2-1 Wolves
Armstrong’s goal gave Wolves the confidence to come out fighting after the break, with the introduction of Angel Gomes for Mane giving the visitors more control over the midfield.
The Old Gold were the ones putting their opponents on the back foot during the second half, with Tchatchoua having an early chance when Hugo Bueno’s cross to the far post picked out his fellow wing-back, but the right-sided defender could only fire his volley straight at Kelleher.
Moments later, Wolves could have found themselves level when Armstrong is played through on goal once again, but after receiving the ball back from Tchatchoua, he could only fire his low effort off the base of the post with the goalkeeper beaten.
Edwards’ side were pushing for the equaliser throughout the second period, and seconds after Angel Gomes fired a good chance wide of the post, Arokodare put his team back in the contest.
After Angel Gomes’ cross into the box was kept alive by Mosquera who directed it back to Joao Gomes, the Brazilian lifted the ball to the far post to meet an unmarked Arokodare, who turned his effort across Kelleher and inside the far post.
Two minutes later, Arokodare could have found the match winner when Hugo Bueno’s brilliantly placed cross met the Nigerian who had rose highest in the box, but after heading back across goal, it cannoned back off the crossbar.
Both teams could have claimed all three points in the closing stages, with Reiss Nelson firing the ball wide from a tight angle for Brentford, while in the final minute of the game, the ball made its way to Andre inside the Bees box, but instead of finding the net with a deflected effort like he did against Liverpool, this time his shot was blocked.
Despite their fightback, Wolves were forced to settle for a point on the road, with their battle to survive the drop set to continue after a four-week break.
Full-time | Brentford 2-2 Wolves
Brentford | Kelleher, Lewis-Potter, Collins, van den Berg, Kayode, Jensen, Henderson, Damsgaard (Ajer 72), Schade (Yarmoliuk 68), Thiago, Ouattara (Nelson 85).
Unused subs | Valdimarsson, Pinnock, Donovan, Furo, Bentt, Shield.
Wolves | Sa, Tchatchoua, Mosquera, S Bueno, Krejci, H Bueno, Andre, J Gomes, Bellegarde (Arokodare 74), Mane (A Gomes 45), Armstrong (R Gomes 87).
Unused subs | Bentley, Lima, Doherty, Toti, Wolfe, Hwang.
