Wrexham 1 (O'Brien 27) Wolves 1 (Armstrong 25)
Wolves were forced to settle for a point at the Racecourse Ground as Adam Armstrong’s first-half opener was quickly cancelled out by Lewis O’Brien in a 1-1 draw with Wrexham.
The striker’s clinical finish, following a stunning long pass from Nasser Djiga, had put the Old Gold ahead midway through the opening period, but their advantage lasted barely a minute before O’Brien headed the hosts level.
Both sides had opportunities to add to their tally, with Wolves enjoying the greater share of possession and pressure after the break, but neither could find a decisive second goal as the points were shared in North Wales.
Cesar Peixoto made five changes to the side which started the dramatic comeback victory at Bristol City in midweek, with Jackson Tchatchoua, Nasser Djiga, Toti Gomes, Rodrigo Gomes and Mateus Mane replacing Kieran Trippier, Yerson Mosquera, Hugo Bueno, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Rafiki Said respectively.
Wrexham were the first to test the opposition goalkeeper, as Callum Doyle intercepted a misplaced pass on halfway and drove forward, escaping the attentions of Fer Lopez before unleashing a powerful left-footed effort from the angle of the penalty area. However, his strike was straight at Jose Sa, who held comfortably.
Wolves gradually grew into the contest and tested Anthony Patterson for the first time midway through the half. A poor pass out from the back fell straight to Lopez, who fed Adam Armstrong in space on the edge of the box. The striker took a touch before firing a low, powerful effort towards goal, but Patterson reacted well to gather at the second attempt.
Less than five minutes later, Armstrong turned provider, combining neatly with Mane inside the penalty area, but the young winger’s effort from 12 yards was also kept out by the Wrexham goalkeeper.
The flurry of pressure paid dividends moments later, when Wolves opted for a more direct approach. Djiga produced a sublime 50-yard pass which split the home defence and picked out Armstrong, who guided a first-time finish beyond the onrushing Patterson. The duo made it look simple, but the pinpoint delivery and poacher’s finish were steeped in quality.
However, the hosts were level almost immediately. Issa Kabore delivered a teasing cross from the right and Lewis O’Brien rose unmarked in between the posts to power a header beyond Sa from close range. Wolves were left kicking themselves for switching off so soon after taking the lead.
The equaliser gave Wrexham renewed impetus, and Ollie Rathbone came close to putting the hosts ahead when Joe Worrall nodded a free-kick into his path on the edge of the penalty area, but the midfielder dragged his effort narrowly wide.
Wolves had an excellent opportunity to restore their advantage shortly before the interval, when Tchatchoua was released down the right and cut the ball back to Lopez, who picked out Marshall Munetsi in space inside the box. However, the midfielder failed to find the requisite quality with his first-time effort, which sailed over the crossbar.
Wrexham finished the half strongly, and Sa was called into action again in added time, producing a smart save to push O’Brien’s well-struck effort away from goal and ensure the sides went into the break on level terms.
Half-time | Wrexham 1-1 Wolves
The hosts threatened immediately after the restart, with Kieffer Moore showing excellent control to escape his marker before delivering a dangerous low cross into the Wolves penalty area. George Dobson arrived at pace but was inches away from applying the finishing touch.
With the atmosphere beginning to bubble at the Racecourse Ground, Mane’s quick feet saw him wriggle between two defenders and into the box. The Portuguese opted to go with the low, pulled drive to the near post that served him so well for his maiden senior goal against West Ham United last season, and while it looked to be a cute choice with the goalkeeper wrong-footed, it ended up caressing the side-netting.
Lopez was next to try his luck, but his effort from the edge of the penalty area cleared the crossbar, as Wolves began to enjoy more of the attacking play.
With an hour on the clock, Wolves conceded a free-kick near the dugouts which fired up the home fans. Delivered by Doyle, the set-piece created a gilt-edged opportunity for the towering Moore, who slid his shot wide of the upright from six yards out with only Sa to beat.
Peixoto introduced Said in place of Rodrigo Gomes shortly afterwards, and the winger immediately added fresh impetus to the Wolves attack, as the visitors began to push Wrexham deeper into their own half.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, Wolves forced another opportunity. With Wrexham struggling to maintain possession, the ball fell to the newly introduced Said outside the box and his deft cross was met by the head of Lopez arriving late into the hosts’ penalty area. The playmaker got an excellent connection but Patterson was alert to the danger and parried around the upright.
From the resulting corner, Ladislav Krejci headed the ball back into the danger area, where Mane was unable to keep his effort on target from a tight angle.
With Wolves pressure beginning to build and Wrexham defending deeper and deeper, Tommy Doyle’s ambitious effort from 40 yards out stung the palms of Patterson, before Munetsi could only guide Hugo Bueno’s cross over the bar from a promising position.
Peixoto turned to Jean-Ricner Bellegarde and Sean Neave for the closing stages, but despite Wolves continuing to probe for an opening, the home defence stood firm.
There was plenty of endeavour from the Old Gold in the closing minutes, but neither side could produce the moment of quality required to claim all three points, as Wolves were made to settle for a share of the spoils at the Racecourse Ground.
Full-time | Wrexham 1-1 Wolves
Wrexham | Patterson, Cleworth, Worrall, Doyle, Ekomie, Dobson (Sheaf 77), Whiteman (James 77), Rathbone (Thomason 64), Kabore (Imray 81), O’Brien, Moore (Cadamarteri 77).
Unused subs | Ward, Hyam, Vyner, Longman.
Wolves | Sa, Tchatchoua, Djiga, Krejci, Toti (Bueno 75), Andre, Munetsi, Lopez (Bellegarde 85), R Gomes (Said 64), Mane (Doyle 75), Armstrong (Neave 85).
Unused subs | Virginia, Trippier, Mosquera, Chirewa.
