Wolves 1-2 Ipswich: More misery for Gary O’Neil as hosts concede last-gasp goal from ANOTHER set piece as season goes from bad to worse for Premier League strugglers
- Jack Taylor’s 94th-minute winner gave Ipswich a crucial win at Molineux
- Gary O’Neil’s side continue their losing slump as Wolves sit in 19th place
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Jack Taylor’s stoppage-time header gave Ipswich victory in a relegation six-pointer to pile the pressure on Wolves manager Gary O’Neil.
Molineux were already feeling toxic with chants against chairman Jeff Shi and the Fosun possession when Matt Doherty’s own goal put the visitors ahead after 15 minutes.
Matheus Cunha scored what looked like a precious equalizer on 72 minutes but in the final attack Jack Clarke’s corner was converted by his fellow Tractors Boy substitute.
As the Ipswich bench sprinted onto the pitch at full-time to celebrate, there were scuffles involving Wolves players Rayan Ait-Nouri and Cunha, underlining the importance of the result.
The Suffolk side are now just one point away from safety, with O’Neil in second place and working hard to take charge of next weekend’s visit to Leicester.
The big names showed up at Molineux. Music legends Robert Plant and Ed Sheeran were on hand to cheer on their respective teams, as was former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the guest of his former assistant Kieran McKenna.
Jack Taylor scored the first Premier League goal of his career to earn Ipswich all three points
Matt Doherty scored an own goal for the hosts in the 15th minute to give Ipswich the lead
Matheus Cunha leveled the score in the 72nd minute, scoring his ninth league goal this season
O’Neil handed Nelson Semedo the captaincy in place of Mario Lemina, who also started, but the change did not bring a change in luck as the visitors struck first in bizarre circumstances.
Liam Delap showed great strength to hold off Semedo and cut back for Omari Hutchinson, whose shot was cleared off the line by Doherty.
From the rebound, Conor Chaplin’s goal was blocked by Toti’s header, but it then hit the back of Doherty and went over the line.
Wolves had to show immense determination as home fans booed Shi while the Wolves hierarchy listened on.
After 23 minutes, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde missed a huge opportunity to send O’Neil waving his arms towards the sky.
Cunha and Lemina worked together to set up the winger who lacked composure and smashed the ball over from ten yards.
Jorgen Stand Larsen then saw a snapshot saved low by Arijanet Muric and a further dig was blocked by Cameron Burgess.
In response, Jens Cajuste broke through the lines for Ipswich before setting up Hutchinson for a shot that was well handled by Johnstone.
Gary O’Neil has won just two of his last 15 games with Wolves, who are still languishing in 19th place
Rayan Ait-Nouri’s booking on the stroke of half-time was his fifth of the season and earns him a one-match suspension.
There was an angry sound around Molineux during the break and O’Neil brought on Brazilian midfielder Andre for Tommy Doyle. But it was Ipswich who almost scored a second goal straight after the restart when Wes Burns forced a flying save from Johnstone.
Delap was in the right place when Chaplin’s cross bounced into him, but from close range the ball hit the attacker’s knee and flew wide.
O’Neil bowed to the crowd’s wishes by sending on Guedes for the final quarter, while Doherty made way as Wolves returned to a back four.
And on 72 minutes the substitute played a role as Cunha leveled the ball.
Larsen’s power in the air saw Wolves drive forward and the beloved Guedes slipped a pass to Cunha, whose fierce finish from an acute angle had enough power to beat Muric at his first post.
It ended a run of three goals without a match for the Brazilian and improved the somber atmosphere around the stadium.
Larsen flashed a finish just wide and Cunha was foiled by Muric as Wolves went to the finish in the stands.
Former Man United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was on hand to watch Ipswich win
Ipswich, who lost last weekend after leading until the 87th minute, made late changes to avoid another disaster.
Not only did they succeed, but they also pulled off an unlikely twist after three minutes of stoppage time had been signaled.
Clarke aimed his corner high into the six-yard box and Taylor climbed highest to crash in a header.
It was too much for some Wolves players to bear. Cunha had to be dragged off the sidelines as Ait-Nouri was also involved in a scuffle. In the stands the chants of ‘We want Fosun out’ became louder and louder.