NEVES STUNNER BUZZES BEES
RUBEN NEVES reminded Wolves why losing one Portuguese general in a season is unhealthy – but two could be terminal.
Managerless and in limbo after sacking Bruno Lage, Wolves earned a precious point thanks to a stunning equaliser from Neves.
It was enough to cling on for a point, despite an injury-time red card for Diego Costa, who pushed his head into the face of Ben Mee as they grappled.
Wolves caretaker boss Steve Davis, who says Costa has apologised for his red card, said: “A point was fair. Last week against Leicester we didn’t play with any aggression or authority. But we did that here. It’s a small step in the right direction.”
Wolves midfielder Neves is a target for Barcelona, Manchester United and Arsenal, who sense weakness at Molineux. But if he goes then Wolves’ best hope of staying up will also have departed.
Neves provided the bite and organisation in midfield when Brentford pressed late on, long after his wonderful first-time strike from the edge of the box had levelled matters.
Mee had given the Bees the lead with a sharp volley five minutes after the break, but Wolves’ response was swift thanks to their captain.
Costa, once such a terrifying sight in his prime for Chelsea, sometimes resembles a striker a few years on from retirement, who has put his boots back on for a testimonial game.
The fact the once deadly hitman is the man Wolves pin their goal hopes on is a clear reflection of the depth of their struggles this season.
He also blotted his copybook by losing it at the end in another throwback moment Chelsea fans would have found familiar.
In tangling with Mee in the 97th minute, the Wolves man led with his head – and after taking a peep at his monitor, referee Bobby Madley pulled out a red card.
Brentford led when Mee got in front of Max Kilman and then swivelled neatly to volley home Bryan Mbeumo’s cross. But Neves fired home from the edge of the box to level the scores in the 52nd minute.
Bees boss Thomas Frank said: “It was tough to concede straight after we scored. We need to make it harder for them.”
BRENTFORD: Raya 6; Ajer 6 (Roerslev (83) 6), Mee 7, Pinnock 6, Henry 6; Janelt 6; Jensen 5 (Damsgaard (37) 6), Dasilva 7 (Onyeka (83) 6); Mbeumo 7 (Canos (83) 6), Wissa 6 (Lewis-Potter (75) 6); Toney 6
WOLVES: Sa 6; Semedo 6, Collins 6, Kilman 6, Bueno 6; B Traore 6, Neves 8; A Traore 7 (Guedes (84) 6), Nunes 6 (Moutinho (41) 6), Podence 7; Costa 6
STAR MAN: Ruben Neves – Provided strength in front of his defence, plus a well-timed goal.
REF: Bobby Madley 7