Everton 1 (Keane 17) Wolves 1 (Mane 69)
Mateus Mane’s latest moment of brilliance earned Wolves a point at the Hill Dickinson Stadium – their fifth in three matches – as the Old Gold continued their improved form.
The Toffees deservedly led at the break thanks to Michael Keane’s close-range strike, but Wolves improved after the interval and Mane curled home on his side’s first visit to Everton’s new home.
It could have been more however, with red cards for Keane and Jack Grealish changing the complexion of the contest late on, and Hugo Bueno thought he’d won it at the death, but Rob Edwards was forced to settle for a point.
Following the excitement of Saturday, the first half didn’t live up to expectations, as Wolves failed to test Pickford in the Everton goal and went in a goal behind for the break.
Early on Harrison Armstrong’s cross was headed clear by Ladislav Krejci only as far as Tim Iroegbunam, and he sliced off target from the edge of the box.
However, the midfielder would be involved in the opening goal. James Garner’s deep free-kick was headed back by James Tarkowski as far as Iroegbunam, and his powerful effort was turned into the roof of the net by Keane.
Everton tails were up and Iroegbunam soon fed Vitalii Mykolenko to drag a shot wide from outside the area. Then, on 29 minutes, Garner whipped in another dangerous delivery and Keane rose highest to head against the outside of the post.
Wolves openings were few and far between, with Hugo Bueno slicing well wide after Jhon Arias had burst into the box. Right at the end of the half Hee Chan Hwang got his head to a Yerson Mosquera cross, but Tarkowski got enough of a block in to ensure Pickford wasn’t troubled.
Half-time | Everton 1-0 Wolves
The second half was more like it, however. Joao Gomes and Mane both had attempts during the early stages, after Andre had been introduced to gain more control in the middle.
Gomes had another effort saved by Pickford, before Grealish shot wide of the near post for the Toffees.
But on 69 minutes came the equaliser. Yerson Mosquera found Jorgen Strand Larsen in the middle, and his turn opened up space for a through ball for Mane, but he still had plenty to do, and the youngster curled home brilliantly beyond Pickford.
With the game in the balance inside the final ten, chaos ensued after VAR checked an incident in the middle of the park which saw Keane grab Arokodare’s hair. Violent conduct and red card were the outcome.
With Wolves adjusting to playing ten, it changed again on 89 as, minutes after being booked, Grealish sarcastically clapped the referee, leading to a second red card.
Naturally the closing stages belonged to Wolves and Hugo Bueno’s curling strike was heading into the top corner but for a fingertip save from Pickford. The Old Gold kept the pressure up and Arokodare glanced wide in the closing stages, but they couldn’t turn one point into three.
Full-time | Everton 1-1 Wolves
Everton | Pickford, O'Brien, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko, Garner, Iroeghunam, McNeil (Rohl 90), Armstrong (Patterson 87), Grealish, Barry (Beto 87).
Unused subs | Travers, King, Dibling, Aznou, Welch, Campbell.
Wolves | Sa, Tchatchoua, Mosquera, S Bueno, Krejci (Strand Larsen 67), H Bueno, J Gomes, Arias (Andre 45), Mane, Hwang (Lima 90), Arokodare.
Unused subs | Johnstone, Wolfe, Doherty, Ojinnaka, Chirewa, Lopez.
