Terry Devlin denied Wolves victory just as the hosts’ inspired substitutions again looked to prove decisive as Portsmouth drew 1-1 at Molineux in the Championship.
Four days after Tawanda Chirewa came off the bench to score the winner at Burnley, substitute Jordan James’ strike looked like proving the difference for Wolves.
But right-back Devlin popped up with a superbly-taken equaliser to give Pompey an unlikely share of the spoils.
The scoreline was harsh on Wolves as Chirewa hit the bar and was denied another goal, while Mateus Mane and Fer Lopez missed chances in a dominant second-half performance. Portsmouth failed to hit the target until Devlin struck in the 86th minute.
In a forgettable first half, Andre had the only Wolves chance. The Brazil midfielder lofted a bouncing shot just wide from 25 yards after Devlin beat Marshall Munetsi to head away Mane’s cross.
Portsmouth’s only chance of the opening half came in the 36th minute. Wolves failed to deal with Adrian Segecic’s deep free-kick and after Nasser Djiga missed the header and Ebou Adams’ angled effort was blocked, Rocco Shein’s low shot was a few feet wide.
Wolves made a double change at half-time to spark some life into the game – Chirewa, Friday’s matchwinner at Burnley, and James replaced Sean Neave and Munetsi – and it worked, with a much-improved display.
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Jordan James scored the first goal of the night during the game between Wolves and Portsmouth.
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Terry Devlin’s fine finish helped Portsmouth make it 1-1 against Wolves, late on at Molineux Stadium.
Chirewa, who scored the winner within 21 seconds of his arrival at Turf Moor, quickly rattled the bar with a tight-angled, rising shot after turning inside his man.
Mane dragged a low, angled drive well wide, then Lopez volleyed wide from Rafiki Said’s inviting cross as Wolves continued to probe for the breakthrough.
That came in the 62nd minute from James, who slammed home a fierce low first-time drive after starting the move with a one-two with Lopez, beating Nicolas Schmid at his near post.
Pompey missed a good chance to equalise when Adams headed over substitute Marezi’s corner from five yards while substitute Tommy Doyle’s teasing cross just missed the sliding Chirewa as Wolves sniffed a second goal.
But Devlin struck when he chested down and volleyed right into the corner of the net after Marezi’s free-kick had been headed clear.
Chirewa’s low shot was clawed around a post by Schmid as Wolves desperately pushed for a winner at the death and both benches had to be pulled apart at the final whistle as tensions briefly boiled over before order was quickly restored.
The managers
Wolves’ Cesar Peixoto:
To follow…
Portsmouth’s John Mousinho:
To follow…
What the result means and next fixtures…
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