Wolverhampton Wanderers secure late draw against Blackburn Rovers in Championship opener
Jiménez Secures Late Point for Wolves
Wolverhampton Wanderers began their return to the Championship with a 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers. The match saw Raúl Jiménez, making his return to Wolves, score a penalty in the 93rd minute to deny Blackburn an away victory. This marked Wolves’ first match in the second tier in eight years, following their relegation from the Premier League.
Jiménez’s goal came from a penalty awarded for a handball by Ryan Alebiosu. The decision was met with contention from Blackburn’s head coach, Tony Mowbray, who suggested that different angles of the incident showed conflicting views on whether the handball occurred inside or outside the box. Mowbray expressed that the decision felt harsh, believing his team did not deserve to concede the second goal.
César Peixoto, Wolves’ new head coach, commented on Jiménez’s importance, stating, “He’s an important striker. He lives for scoring and making goals. Raúl is a key player for us.” Peixoto also noted the need to manage Jiménez’s return carefully, given his age and recent participation in the World Cup.
Match Highlights and Key Moments
The game started with Wolves taking the lead through Marshall Munetsi in the 18th minute, who finished a pass from Fer López. However, Blackburn equalised 10 minutes later when Sean McLoughlin headed in a cross from Ryoya Morishita, beating goalkeeper Dan Bentley.
Blackburn then took the lead early in the second half. Andri Gudjohnsen scored in the 48th minute, converting a cross from Oladapo Afolayan. This put pressure on Wolves, who had been looking to regain their lead before the break, with chances falling to López and Mateus Mane.
Despite Wolves’ efforts to find an equaliser, including shots from Mane and Armstrong, and a deflected shot from Munetsi, Blackburn’s defence held firm for much of the second half. Jiménez, who came off the bench, also had a free-kick go over the crossbar.
Managerial Perspectives and Team Performance
Peixoto acknowledged that his team lost organisation and played with more heart than head after Blackburn’s second goal. He described it as a lesson for the future, emphasising the need for mental stability throughout the 90 minutes. The coach’s tactics, which involve a high press, sometimes led to gaps during transitions, which Blackburn exploited.
Blackburn’s performance, particularly their ability to get behind Wolves’ defence on several occasions, suggested they could aim higher than their previous season’s 20th place finish, despite limited activity in the transfer market. Tony Mowbray’s return to Blackburn as head coach saw his side come close to securing a significant away victory.
For Wolves, the match served as a reality check. The club’s decision to replace Rob Edwards with Peixoto, who has no prior experience in English football, has led to some impatience among supporters. Peixoto’s previous success in leading Gil Vicente to sixth place in the Portuguese first division does not guarantee immediate success in the Championship.
The return of players like Jiménez and López, who was on loan at Celta Vigo, is seen as positive for Wolves. López was noted as a standout player, nearly scoring to regain the lead for Wolves before curling his shot wide. Jiménez’s late penalty ensured Wolves secured a point on the opening day of the Championship season.
The match concluded with a 2-2 scoreline, with Munetsi scoring in the 18th minute for Wolves, and McLoughlin scoring in the 28th minute and Gudjohnsen in the 48th minute for Blackburn Rovers, before Jiménez’s 93rd-minute penalty.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
