That’s it for today’s blog. I’ll leave you with our match report from Molineux. Thanks for your company, bye!
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Nuno Espirito Santo speaks “I am satisfied with the character we showed. We made mistakes for the goals we conceded. We started nervously but we reacted well and started playing with the style and movement that we want.
“We are in a growing process. There is a lot of work to do but plenty of positives for the next game. We haven’t set a target for where we want to finish. We’ll go game by game.”
The Wolves goalscorers speak
Ruben Neves “It was a very good Premier League game against a very good team. We fought until the last minute and I think we deserved a little bit more. We have to work to get better results.”
Raul Jimenez “I’m happy for the goal – it’s my job - but a little bit sad with the result. We deserved more but this is football. It’s a good point in our first game though.”
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Full time: Wolves 2-2 Everton
Peep peep! Both sides will be happy enough with a point at the end of an eventful game. They both know it could have been worse: Wolves didn’t play well and were behind twice, while Everton were down to 10 men for 50 minutes. Richarlison scored twice, the second a beautiful finish; Wolves’ goals, from Ruben Neves and Raul Jimenez, were also really well taken.
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90+3 min Wolves press for a winner, but Everton’s makeshift back four continue to defend admirably. I think that will be it.
90 min There will be four added minutes.
87 min A Wolves winner would be harsh on Everton, who have played admirably with 10 men in the second half. Both sides would be happy enough with a draw in the circumstances.
85 min Wolves introduce Morgan Gibbs-White for Joao Moutinho.
85 min This is sad: Richarlison is limping off through injury. He scored twice on his debut, the second a beautiful finish. Lucas Digne replaces him.
84 min What a chance for Everton! Niasse finds Coleman to spark a two-on-one break. Coleman moves into the area and then plays a poor return pass to Niasse. The last man Coady’s positioning was excellent - but even so, Coleman should have done better.
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83 min Bennett makes a brilliant tackle to deny Richarlison, who was moving dangerously towards the Wolves are on the counter-attack.
83 min Everton made a change after that goal, with Oumar Niasse replacing Tosun.
82 min Wolves have not been great, in truth - but it’s been a very good day for Ruben Neves, who has shown his class with a goal and an assist.
GOAL! Wolves 2-2 Everton (Jimenez 80)
This is a fine goal. Ruben Neves, in an inside-left position, curled a lovely ball over the head of Keane to find Jimenez at the far post. He leapt to slam a downward header that zipped off the turf and into the net. That was a really good finish.
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79 min Wolves are starting to apply a bit of pressure, particularly through crosses. It could be a cracking last 10 minutes.
78 min Tosun, who was quiet in the first half, has worked like a beast up front on his own in the second half.
77 min Doherty’s near-post cross finds Jimenez, whose acrobatic volley hits Keane and flies behind for a corner,
76 min Wolves make their second substitution, with Ruben Vinagre on for Jonny.
75 min Wolves are struggling to get any momentum. They’ve been pretty disappointing in this second half. Everton have defended excellently though, Keane and Coleman in particular.
72 min “I’ve always wondered what Richarlison’s first name is, but now I know,” says Gary Naylor. “It’s Thierry.”
Ha, of course, I can’t believe I didn’t spot that - as Gary says, the goal was a Thierry Henry tribute, that gentle out-to-in curling shot from the left side of the box.
71 min Wolves make a change, with Helder Costa replacing by Leo Bonatini. This would be a bad defeat for Wolves, especially as their performance has been so unexpectedly tame.
Richarlison received a short pass from Tosun and burst into the area from the left. The angle wasn’t great but he used Coady as a screen and placed a lovely low shot into the far corner.
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GOAL! Wolves 1-2 Everton (Richarlison 67)
Richarlison gives Everton the lead with a beautiful goal, his second of the match!
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66 min Everton look the likelier scorers at the moment.
65 min A chance for Everton. Tosun’s deep cross from the right was headed back by Richarlison to Walcott, who couldn’t get a shot away under pressure from a couple of defenders. At first I thought Richarlison might have gone for goal, but having seen it again he probably took the right option.
64 min Everton have done well in the second half, with an even share of possession. Wolves still look slightly tentative.
60 min: Vital save by Pickford! Bennett curled a pass behind the defence to put Jimenez clear on goal, with Everton unsuccessfully trying to play offside. Jimenez moved into the area and smashed the ball straight at Pickford, who narrowed the angle and spread himself to great effect.
59 min The resulting corner is driven deep towards Keane, whose looping header back across goal is just beyond the leaping Tosun.
58 min Tosun almost steals the lead for Everton. He nicked the ball off Boly and used Coady as a screen before shaping a shot towards goal that was pushed away by the diving Rui Patricio. It was a pretty comfortable save, and Tosun should probably have played Walcott through on goal.
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54 min Wolves break promisingly through Jota and then Doherty, who overhits a cross towards the unmarked Jimenez at the far post. That was a chance.
52 min Everton’s 10 men are playing with a lot of determination, exemplified by the admirable full-back pair of Baines and Coleman.
51 min “Ah Rob - if it’s DOGSO, then it’s a fair cop Gov,” says Gary Naylor. “I hadn’t thought of that - seems I wasn’t alone though. And Pickford, much as I love him, was at fault.”
I’d like to see it again. Did Jota have it sufficiently under control for it to be a clear opportunity?
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50 min ... and headed clear by Boly.
50 min It’s now pouring down at Molineux. Everton win a corner down the left, which will be taken by Baines...
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48 min “Hi Rob,” says Peter Oh. “Rui Patricio, Neves, João Moutinho, Helder Costa, Diogo Jota. Is this Nuno Espírito Santo’s way of fulfilling an ambition to coach a Portuguese national team? And there is Ruben Vinagre on the bench. Vinagre is Portuguese for vinegar. I thought Matt Dony and his hummus collection might want to know. “
47 min It’s been a snappy start to the second half from Wolves, who have such a great opportunity to start their season with a win.
46 min Peep peep!
Well this is interesting Apparently the referee sent Jagielka off for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity rather than, as we first thought, serious foul play. That means Jagielka will miss one game rather than three.
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“So you thought Pickford should’ve saved the goal,” says Kevin Turner. “Really? Top corner! He’s England No1 but no chance with it.”
Yep. His positioning was wrong. He put his weight on the wrong foot, his right, which meant he had to spring too far. The free-kick wasn’t in the corner, good though it was.
Half-time reading
Half time chit chat
“I’m trying to be unbiased here, but I genuinely don’t think that would have been a yellow card in the World Cup - okay, maybe, but 100% definitely not a red,” says Gary Naylor. “So remind me - how many English referees were employed at the world’s leading football tournament?”
Yes, I think that’s a fair point. Things have changed completely since the days when referees responded to bone-jarring 50/50s by extravagantly waving play on. I suspect that, at some level, it’s all part of English football’s attempt to disown its past.
Half time: Wolves 1-1 Everton
Peep peep! A largely unhappy half for Wolves ended on a seriously high note when Phil Jagielka’s red card was followed by Ruben Neves’s equaliser. Wolves should now go on to win this game. See you in 15 minutes for the second half.
45+1 min “Following on from the Newcastle v Spurs MBM, I’ve taken Gary Naylor’s advice (usually a wise course) and bought a selection of houmouses,” says Matt Dony. “Jalapeño, and lemon and coriander. I look forward to tonight’s test drive. I hope the satisfaction at helping a man in need somewhat balances the disappointment of that red card and goal, Gary.”
45 min There will be three minutes of added time. Everton were cruising, and now they are hanging on for a point.
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GOAL! Wolves 1-1 Everton (Neves 44)
It’s a double blow for Everton because Neves has scored from the free-kick! He danced towards the ball and then whipped a curler towards the far corner that went through the left hand of Pickford. It was a good free-kick from a lovely player, though Pickford should have saved it.
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43 min Everton now have to readjust their team, so Mason Holgate comes on for Sigurdsson. I can see both sides of that red card, though on balance I think it’s a bit harsh.
PHIL JAGIELKA IS SENT OFF!
41 min This is pretty controversial, and Marco Silva is fuming. Jagielka miscontrolled the ball on the edge of his own area and tried to retrieve the situation with a desperate lunge at Diogo Jota. It was a slightly reckless tackle, with his studs following through into Jota’s ankle, though you can understand why Everton are aggrieved. I think that should have been a yellow card.
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38 min Richarlison picks up a loose ball near the halfway line and surges past Coady. It’s a two-on-one break, with Walcott to his right and only the last man Boly to beat, but Richarlison’s pass is woefully underhit and Wolves clear. At the other end, Costa’s well-struck shot from 20 yards is comfortably held by Pickford.
36 min A promising run from Jimenez, who twists Schneiderlin inside out on the right of the area before overrunning the ball.
34 min Richarlison makes the most of a foul by Neves, diving dramatically to ensure a free-kick is given. Nothing comes of it.
33 min The home crowd are starting to take their frustration out on the referee Craig Pawson. He hasn’t made any particularly egregious errors, apart from maybe aspiring to be a referee.
31 min “Rob, is Jota any good?” says Peter Crosby. “I’ve never seen him play before but every time the ball comes to him he seems to give it away and the move breaks down. Looks out of his depth.”
I thought he was excellent last season. The whole team look nervous today; they are better than this.
29 min Here’s Christine Kelly. “I know both Watford and Wolves play in yellow and that Richarlison played for Watford, but you may want to correct your teams in the report!”
Oh dear, I am less use. Thanks for pointing it out, I’ve amended it now.
28 min Although Wolves haven’t played badly, they look slightly inhibited by the reality of playing Premier League football. They need to take the handbrake off.
25 min Wolves have had 59 per cent possession so far, though Jordan Pickford hasn’t really had a save to make.
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22 min Costa’s cross is half cleared to Moutinho, who swishes the bouncing ball over the bar from 20 yards.
21 min “The Anti-Kane strikes!” says Gary Naylor, referring to the fact Richarlison scores around half his goals in the month of August.
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20 min Wolves started well enough in possession but, as the gents on BT Sport have just said, their passing has been a bit slow. You’d expect it to quicken up now they are a goal down.
18 min Richarlison started last season brilliantly at Watford and now he’s scored on his Everton debut.
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GOAL! Wolves 0-1 Everton (Richarlison 17)
Everton take the lead from the resulting free-kick. Baines tossed it in from the left, Keane’s header was blocked, but the ball fell perfectly for Richarlison to push it in from six yards.
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16 min Richarlison is hacked down by Doherty, who is a bit lucky not to be booked.
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14 min Richarlison is booked for a lunge at Joao Moutinho.
13 min “Nuno’s initials on his jumper makes me nostalgic for the early 90s,” says Leo Addor, “and the good ol’ Nintendo Entertainment System.”
And why not?
11 min A mistake from Boly allows Coleman to shoot from 15 yards, but it’s a tame effort with his weaker left foot and Rui Patricio makes an easy save.
10 min Richarlison, Baines and Sigurdsson combine nicely on the left, only for Baines to run into an offside position. Those three should combine well as the season develops.
7 min Wolves are having most of the ball, though it has been a slightly watchful start from both teams.
6 min Helder Costa zips past Walcott, who recovers to concede a corner. Keane heads it clear. The end.
4 min There’s a bit of a strut about Wolves in possession. After a patient passing move, Neves’s mishit cross lands on the roof of the net. Pickford jumped a little desperately after it but it looked likely to drop into the goal.
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2 min An early corner for Everton, to be taken by Sigurdsson. His inswinger is headed away at the near post by Diogo Jota.
1 min Everton kick off from left to right. They are in blue; Wolves are wearing gold and black.
There’s a proper atmosphere at Molineux, as you’d expect for Wolves’ first Premier League match since 2012. The ground has turned into a bouncy castle for the day.
The last time Wolves finished in the top half of the top flight was 1979-80, the days of Kenny Hibbitt, George Berry and Andy Gray. It’s a reasonable ambition this season, especially if they get off to a good start.
An email! By my estimation. we’ve had bubbles burst in the Premier League all afternoon, the bigger boys stamping on sandcastles,” says Everton fan Gary Naylor. “Now it’s hardly romantic, but I’m looking for the full set to be completed tonight.”
The 3pm kick-offs Bournemouth, Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Watford are all winning. Get the latest news with John Brewin.
Some pre-match reading
The teams
Wolves (3-4-3) Rui Patricio; Bennett, Coady, Boly; Doherty, Moutinho, Neves, Jonny; Costa, Jimenez, Jota.
Substitutes: Ruddy, Vinagre, Hause, Gibbs-White, Saiss, Enobakhare, Bonatini.
Everton (4-2-3-1) Pickford; Coleman, Jagielka, Keane, Baines; Schneiderlin, Gueye; Walcott, Sigurdsson, Richarlison; Tosun.
Substitutes: Stekelenburg, Holgate, Digne, Davies, Sandro, Calvert-Lewin, Niasse.
Referee Craig Pawson.
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Preamble
Hello and welcome to coverage of the top-of-the-table clash between Wolves and Everton at Molineux. The table to which we refer is the Guardian’s imaginary Pre-Season Optimism League. Both teams windowed well have had great transfer windows, with imaginative, eye-catching signings, and both have good reason to expect an enjoyable season. (Let’s not dwell on the fact that Everton felt exactly the same a year ago, eh.)
Most promoted sides fix their peepers firmly on 17th place. Wolves’ ambitions should be a bit grander, such is the quality of their squad. I can’t wait to see how Ruben Neves and Diogo Jota get on at a higher level, while the signings of Rui Patricio, Joao Moutinho and Leander Dendoncker were quite a statement of intent.
Everton will want to win the Premier League Second Division by finishing seventh. That might be a stretch for Wolves, but they are more likely to finish seventh than seventeenth.
Kick off is at 5.30pm.
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