Den men left to pay the penalty once more
JORDAN HUGILL was spot on to ensure Boro inflicted more late agony on Millwall.
The sides drew 2-2 at The Den on the opening weekend of the season when George Friend scored a last-gasp equaliser as Boro came back from 2-0 down with two goals in the final three minutes.
Winger Jed Wallace gave the Lions a 21st-minute lead yesterday with his fourth goal this season – and should have won the game three minutes from time.
But striker Hugill, with his seventh since signing on loan from West Ham in August and third in his last four appearances, converted a 90th-minute penalty.
The home fans booed their promotion-seeking side and some were critical of Boro boss Tony Pulis.
He said: “We were very slow out of the blocks. There were some moans and groans from the supporters.
“The players have to understand that supporters come to watch a positive performance.
“These fans, this is their club and I’m a custodian here for as long as results go for us. Then someone else steps in.
“The supporters will be here for the rest of their lives so you have to respect that. If they’re not happy, they’re not happy. You have to roll your sleeves up and fight to turn it around.”
Keeper Darren Randolph was totally exposed when he was beaten by Wallace, who swooped to sweep home after Lee Gregory broke clear having harried Adam Clayton into a miskick.
Pulis went for a bolder approach after the break, handing on-loan Huddersfield winger Rajiv van La Parra a league debut and withdrawing Clayton.
Late on, sub Stewart Downing crossed from the right and striker Steve Morison was guilty of a push on centre-back Daniel Ayala, leaving Hugill to send Jordan Archer the wrong way.
Millwall boss Neil Harris said: “I’m disappointed with the goal. I didn’t think it was a penalty but that’s where my frustration finishes because that was the best display we’ve produced this season.”
HAT-TRICK hero Diogo Jota turned superhero to pull off an incredible last-gasp smash and grab for Wolves.
Leicester’s Jamie Vardy went to training in a Spiderman outfit this week but Wolves had a Master of the Universe in their ranks.
Jota came up trumps with just 30 seconds of stoppage time left to snatch the points and the match ball with his third goal.
The £12million signing from Atletico Madrid revealed afterwards that he was feeling on top of the world.
Jota said: “In a game like this when you win like that you feel like the greatest man in the world. We practise in training and we know Ruben Neves’ ability for long passes. We believe the ball will be there and just run and try to get the final touch.”
The Portuguese star had missed a chance just before his third went in and thought he might have blown it – but he made no mistake right at the death.
He added: “That one was very close to the end of the game so it could have been the last opportunity but fortunately for us there was another chance for me to score.”
And Jota made no mistake with a clinical finish that even got his boss Nuno Espirito Santo into hot water. The ecstatic Wolves boss romped the full length of the touchline to where Jota lay under a pile of delighted team-mates to give his matchwinner a pat on the back.
Referee Chris Kavanagh had no choice but to point him towards the tunnel.
But there was hardly a person in the crowd who didn’t sympathise with the elated Wolves boss.
This had been an absolute rollercoaster of a game with thrills and spills galore – easily a contender for one of the matches of the season.
Wolves had started like a steam train with the impressive Neves bringing out a brilliant fingertip save from Kasper Schmeichel after just three minutes. Just 60 seconds later Jota steered a close-range volley in to give Wolves the le Ryan Bennett got above Harry Maguire from a corner.
Both sides had great chances before the i them falling to Jota – who headed straigh half-time.
Credit to Leicester – they came out all break and within two minutes of the res through Demarai Gray.
And the Foxes were level within minutes Barnes shot deflected in off Conor Coady.
But they were not on terms for long, Jota sublime 50-yard pass from Neves and dril Schmeichel’s legs.
When Wes Morgan got Leicester level ag full time it looked to be enough.
But Wolves – and that man Jota – had oth He killed them off with no time to come Nuno went wild and let emotion get the and poor Leicester boss Claude Puel looke head in his hands hardly believing what witnessed.