Potter is going Ful throttle at Prem tilt
JAY FULTON emerged from the ashes of Swansea’s deadline day fire sale to breathe some hope into a badly burned club.
The midfielder’s first-half headed goal lifted the Swans to second place in the early Championship table despite a dispiriting week for their fans.
They had seen four players shipped out on Thursday afternoon and only one, Declan John, come in – part of a £46million flog-off following relegation.
But what looked like being a story of Graham Potter And The Deathly Deadline, became a tale far more unexpected.
The Swans deserved their second successive victory, played neat attractive football that used to be their hallmark, and toughed it out when Preston finally got up a head of steam.
Substitute goalkeeper Erwin Mulder made some vital saves after waiting a year for his debut, meaning Oli McBurnie’s penalty miss went unpunished.
“I am very proud of the players and the supporters. They were both tremendous,” said Potter. “It was a difficult game. Our substitute keeper had to make saves and we were under pressure. When we lost our keeper we could have felt sorry for ourselves, but we didn’t.”
Not even the fury of their fans towards the club’s American owners could dampen Potter’s optimism.
He added: “We have got to be careful with deadline days. There is also a point in every window when you have to move out players who don’t want to be here. I understand the frustration, but the loan window is still open.
“The reality of it is that we have to make sure the players here want to play for Swansea.”
Preston were so sleepy in the first half they needed a few home truths from boss Alex Neil at the break to wake them into action.
Neil said: “At half-time I told the lads we could do one of two things, we could either sit in and not believe we are good enough or we could get up against them.
“Over the piece we deserved more – we had opportunities.”
RICHARLISON produced a barnstorming debut but Wolves hit back twice to give both clubs optimism for this season amid their new dawns.
Marco Silva looked tense in the away dug-out before his reign kicked off as Molineux was worked into a frenzy after their Championship-winning success.
But the new Everton boss was soon punching the air when £40million buy Richarlison took just 17 minutes to get off the mark with a close-range finish.
Fellow Portuguese coach Nuno Espirito Santo saw his side get a huge break when Phil Jagielka was sent off before half-time.
It was a gift for the hosts as Jagielka was under no pressure when he miscontrolled the ball on the edge of his box before scything down Diogo Jota.
To add to Everton’s punishment, Wolves’ star Ruben Neves curled the resulting free-kick into the top corner. Brazilian Richarlison was the only new face starting for Everton from their summer spree. He carried the visitors on his own at times with an inspired display after linking up again with his old Watford mentor Silva. Richarlison teased Wolves into fouls and showed a willingness to get on the ball and make things happen despite Everton’s numerical disadvantage.
He even found the discipline and energy to track back to the edge of his own area at times. It was a superb debut which peaked in the 67th minute with a bold run and low curling shot into the bottom corner.
If Richarlison’s first goal owed everything to being in the right place at the right time, his second was irresistible.
Yet Wolves showed tenacity to hit back for a second time as their own impressive youngster Neves dictated play in the middle.
His chipped cross allowed Mexican striker Raul Jimenez to power in a header to level 10 minutes from time.
And given rocketing Premier League transfer fees, it will not be long before Neves – a £16m signing a year ago from Porto – earns his own remarkable price tag.
For despite a £70m summer spend after promotion, Neves remains the driving force at Wolves.
After storming the Championship last season with 99 points, they were looking for their first top-flight victory since February 2012 at QPR.
Two relegations and two promotions later,
Wolves are an entirely different proposition now under their wealthy
Chinese owners
Fosun.
Super-agent
Jorge Mendes’ contacts helped lure established Portugal internationals Rui Patricio and Joao Moutinho this summer.
Both started along with Mexico World Cup striker Jimenez and Spanish wing-back Jonny Castro Otto.
But more recent new signings Adama Traore, an £18m buy from Middlesbrough, and Leander Dendoncker, from Anderlecht, were not included.
While of Everton’s other new recruits, Lucas Digne was on the bench and deadlineday acquisitions Yerry Mina, Andre Gomes and Bernard were not included.
The hosts had more of the early possession but failed to trouble the visitors’ England keeper Jordan Pickford.
Everton might have taken the lead in the
10th minute when Seamus Coleman seized on a mistake by Willy Boly but his left-foot shot was straight at Patricio.
Richarlison was booked in the 14th minute for crunching into Moutinho.
But he soon earned a foul himself when Matt Doherty brought down the Brazilian.
From Leighton Baines’ resulting free-kick, Everton took the lead as Boly’s header was blocked by Michael Keane allowing Richarlison to fire in from six yards out.
Wolves lacked the fluency from their title-winning days as they bedded in four new faces.
They had to wait until the 38th minute to test England ace Pickford when Helder Costa tried his luck from distance but Everton’s
No.1 never looked troubled.
The game turned in the 40th minute when Jagielka’s poor control allowed in Jota.
The Everton skipper lunged in to retrieve the situation but caught Jota on the ankle just outside the area.
Referee Craig Pawson pulled out a red card promptly to the frustration of Silva on the touchline, who argued with real passion. Neves, who scored six goals last season from outside the box, curled the resulting set-piece into the top corner with his right foot to give even Pickford no chance.
In the second half, Richarlison’s solo effort looked like winning it as he latched on to Cenk Tosun’s pass to race into the box and score with a right-foot curler.
But fellow debutant Jimenez, who had earlier been denied by Pickford, headed in to earn a point
10 minutes from time.
Richarlison’s evening ended with him hobbling off to add to his frustration at being denied the winner.