Wolves deliver at the death Top of the table
Bennett caps fightback
WOLVES manager Nuno Espirito Santo was sent off last night, then enjoyed a grandstand view as his side showed they have what it takes to win the Championship title by fighting back to beat Bristol City.
Visiting captain Danny Batth was also dismissed and, when Bobby Reid gave City a 53rd-minute lead, it looked as though Wolves would slump to their first defeat since October.
But they overcame all setbacks to seal a memorable win, thanks to a Barry Douglas strike and Ryan Bennett’s header in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
City began the day second in the table and emboldened by a seven-match unbeaten r un. Lee Johnson’s s i de showed their i ntent in a bright opening and were only denied a breakthrough by Wolves goalkeeper John Ruddy’s fine saves from Jamie Paterson’s header and Reid’s flick. Wolves were up against it and City’s feisty approach proved too much for skipper Batth, who was sent off for clattering leftback Hordur Magnusson in the 14th minute. The Wolves bench were clearly aggrieved and Santo’s sense of injustice deepened when he received his marching orders five minutes later after Diogo Jota had been awarded a free-kick rather than a penalty following Aden Flint’s challenge.
It was going to take something special for Wolves to gain the upper hand and Douglas very nearly provided it, but his curling freekick t humped off Frank Fielding’s right-hand post.
It took time for City to break down a well- drilled Wolves defence but Reid finally put them ahead in the 53rd minute when he beat Ruddy following excellent approach play by Paterson and Josh Brownhill.
City fans chorused ‘We’re coming for you’ towards the travelling fans, but their joy was short-lived. The home defence was caught flatfooted when Jota sent Matt Doherty sprinting towards goal and he was hauled down by Fielding.
The goalkeeper was sent off and Douglas beat substitute Luke Steele with his free-kick in the 66th minute.
City ran out of steam in stoppage time and Wolves’ greater energy was rewarded when Bennett nodded in Douglas’s free-kick.