Blackburn Rovers 1 (Gallagher 13)
Wolves 1 (Edwards 78)
After falling behind to Sam Gallagher’s early strike, Wolves showed good character in hitting back to take a fully deserved point from Blackburn Rovers thanks to a Dave Edwards header.
Interim head coach Rob Edwards made three changes to the team that had suffered a home defeat to Leeds a week earlier. In came Conor Coady, Jed Wallace and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson with Nouha Dicko, Silvio and Joao Teixeira dropping down to the bench.
Rovers kicked-off attacking the Darwin end of the ground that housed around 800 travelling suppoters.
The first action of note saw home keeper Jason Steele cutting out a low, driven cross from Helder Costa at his near post after Jon Dadi Bodvarsson had won the ball on the halfway line and fed the winger.
Another Costa cross, this time from a deeper position, just eluded the head of Bodvarsson but the 13th minute proved unlucky for Wolves as Rovers, with their first attempt at goal, took the lead with Gallagher volleying the ball into the roof of the net from 12-yards after a short cross from Ben Marshall.
An electric burst of pace from Costa saw him beating two defenders on his way to the by-line. Bodvarsson took a swing at the low cross that followed but he didn’t make a clean connection and Steele dived to save.
The keeper then claimed a 25-yard free-kick that Wallace curled over the defensive wall but he could only watch as Coady fired over after he latched onto a half clearance from Borthwick-Jackson’s cross.
Wolves were forcing their hosts back and were inches away from levelling in the 25th minute as Edwards sidefooted Bodvarsson’s cross just the wrong side of the far post.
Seconds later Steele saved with his legs after Wallace had worked a shooting position some 20-yards out. Danny Batth was then booked for obstructing Gallagher.
There was another chance for Wanderers when Bodvarsson slipped the ball inside to Coady who wasn’t far away with a long distance drive.
Carl Ikeme was at his best as he got his fingertips to an angled drive from Marshall that was heading for the far corner. Then, in the 39th minute, he had to dive low to smother a snapshot from Marvin Emnes.
Half-Time: Rovers 1 Wolves 0
Ikeme, who had picked up a knock, didn’t reappear after the break with Andy Lonergan taking over between the sticks.
Costa was penalised for foot up on former Wolves midfielder Charlie Mulgrew who took the free-kick from 25-yards but his effort was far too high.
Teixeira was soon in the thick of things after he had replaced Romain Saiss. Marshall was booked for tripping Costa near the left-hand corner flag and Teixeira’s free-kick was punched clear by Steele from the heart of a congested six-yard box.
On the hour, Lonergan’s goal was fortunate to survive following a Rovers corner. The ball broke to Darragh Lenihan just eight yards out but his shot struck a defender and was cleared.
Three minutes later Lonergan blocked brilliantly when Gallagher looked certain to double his and his side’s tally.
Ivan Cavaleiro replaced Wallace just before Teixeria went into the book for dissent as play continued to swing from end to end.
Edwards couldn’t quite get a proper connection on a shoulder high cross and then he headed narrowly over after a centre from Cavaleiro.
After Danny Guthrie had been yellow carded for fouling Coady, Teixeira drove the free-kick just over the angle.
Wolves drew level in the 78th minute after Steele had beaten away a Teixeira shot. Matt Doherty pounced on the loose ball and crossed for Edawards to power home a close range header.
Steele had to dive across his goal to paw behind a Cavaleiro shot and when Cavaleiro took the corner conceded, the ball was headed out as far as Doherty whose 25-yarder was only just too high.
Wolves were looking strong in the closing stages but there was a good chance for Rovers in the 83rd minute when Craig Conway let fly from just outside the box forcing another good save from Lonergan.
Deep into stoppage time, with the last kick of the match, Doherty almost won it for Wolves with a shot on the turn from eight-yards that went the wrong side of the post.
Rovers: Steele, Greer, Lowe (capt), Marshall, Mulgrew (Hendrie 72), Emnes (Stokes 80), Gallagher, Guthrie, Lenihan, Evans, Conway.
Unused subs: Raya, Feeney, Samuelsen, Akpan, Bennett.
Bookings: Marshall (58 – foul), Guthrie (75 – foul).
Wolves: Ikeme (Lonergan 45), Doherty, Borthwick-Jackson, Edwards, Batth (capt), Hause, Costa, Wallace (Cavaleiro 65), Bodvarsson, Saiss (Teixeira 56), Coady.
Unused subs: Silvio, Stearman, Saville, Dicko.
Bookings: Batth (26 – dissent), Teixeira (67 – dissent).
Referee: S. Duncan.
Attendance: 10,652 (821 away supporters).
Derby County Academy Under 18s 2 Wolves 1 (Allan)
