Gary O’Neil will be left with mixed feelings as 10-man Wolves took a point from their trip to Luton Town, but might have had all three after Pedro Neto’s superb goal.
The Old Gold were down to 10 men after Jean-Ricner Bellegarde was sent off for an off-the-ball altercation with Tom Lockyer, but they still seized the lead thanks to Neto’s magnificent solo goal in front of the away end.
However, Joao Gomes was severely penalized for handball, and Carlton Morris scored from the penalty spot. From there, Wolves had little of the ball, but were able to hold on to the victory because to their tenacious defence.
Wolves were expecting a difficult afternoon at Kenilworth Road, and the first half delivered, with O’Neil grateful to end level. The hosts started with vigour and energy, dominating the ball and chances, but Wolves, happily, survived the storm.
On ten minutes, Nelson Semedo’s clumsy clearance dropped to Morris on the edge of the box, and after turning past Mario Lemina, he sized up his angle and curled a superb attempt that cannoned back off Jose Sa’s post.
After Maximilian Kilman flung himself in the way of Jacob Brown’s strike, while the former Stoke City man headed over Alfie Doughty’s free kick after peeling into space, the goalie was equally grateful to his defense.
Despite Luton’s dominance, Wolves had the key talking point, and it wasn’t one they’d want. Bellegarde had done well to take control from Tom Lockyer, but the defender used his experience to lock legs with the Wolves recruit, and when Bellegarde used too much power to squirm free, he was found to have kicked out, and a red card was brandished.
Wolves had started to take control of the game before the red card, but the pendulum swung back in the Hatters’ favor, and Ambert Sambi Lokonga sent the final shot straight at Sa as the half came to a close with a difficult task ahead of them.
Luton Town 0-0 Wolves at halftime
After weathering the storm, Wolves took the lead with a great goal five minutes into the second half. Joao Gomes clipped a ball around the corner for Neto, who won the footrace with Lockyer, edged the defense with his fast feet, and rifled into the roof of the net after going inside.
It felt like a big moment in the game, as did the opportunity Wolves blew soon after. Neto’s free kick found Lemina at the back post, but his header was saved before Kilman was able to smash the loose ball over the line.
However, Wolves’ luck ran out soon after as Gomes was penalized for handball. VAR reviewed the incident, in which the ball struck Gomes on the knee before striking his hand, but upheld the on-field judgment, and Morris stepped up to send Sa the wrong way from the spot.
Rather than igniting the game, the equalizer practically slowed it down, with few chances coming after that moment and Wolves with their backs against the wall, but keeping their opponents at bay and seeing out the game.
Full-time | Wolves 1-1 Luton
Wolves: Dawson, Kilman, Ait-Nouri (Toti 45), Lemina, Gomes (Doyle 90), Bellegarde, Neto, Hwang (Doherty 45), Cunha (Traore 71).
Substitutes not used: Bentley, Sarabia, Silva, and Kalajdzic.
Luton | Lockyer, Ogbene, Morris, Kabore (Adebayo 85), Nakamba, Burke, Brown (Woodrow 72), Lokonga (Mpanzu 57), Bell, Doughty (Giles 72).
Subs not used: Krul, Andersen, Berry, Chong, Mengi.
