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Pedro Neto’s 95th winner stunned Chelsea as the Wolves rallied to win 2-1 at Molineux on Tuesday night.
The Blues started the brightest of the sides and took the lead early in the second half through Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman clung to the center near Ben Chilwell’s post to push under Rui Patricio, with goal-line technology confirming that the 49-minute goal slipped.
But the Wolves, who saw Fabio Silva’s shot offside ruled out, recovered well and Daniel Podence tied them with a deflected shot after an ingenious footwork in the area.
The hosts received a penalty at the end when Pedro Neto fell under challenge from Reece James, but VAR aptly intervened to chalk the shot from the spot as no contact was made.
But the Lobos kept coming and Neto finished off an incisive counterattack to seal the three points for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men as Chelsea squandered the opportunity to go up.
Here are five talking points from Molineux.
1. Podence and Neto take a step forward
(Image: PA)
The question on the lips of Wolves fans in recent weeks: ‘Who can step up in the absence of Raúl Jiménez?’
Many assumed the burden would fall on Adama Traore, but the Spanish international found himself on the bench after failing to leave a mark in the loss to Aston Villa.
It was a ruthless decision by Nuno Espirito Santo, but one that paid off when Daniel Podence and Pedro Neto scored the important goals against Chelsea.
Neto’s goal was the fourth of the season and he seems to be settling in well during his second season at Molineux.
Meanwhile, Podence’s fantastic draw was the third of the season and was a handful for the Blues’ bottom line.
The two tough wingers adding goals to their repertoire instill faith that the Lobos can cope with Jiménez’s absence.
2. Giroud rewards Lampard’s faith
(Image: Chelsea FC / Getty Images)
After Chelsea failed to score in their loss to Everton last weekend, few could have blamed Frank Lampard if he had made sweeping changes to his front line.
But the boss of the Blues persisted with Olivier Giroud and was rewarded for his patience.
The evergreen Frenchman dived to the front post and beat Willy Boly to push the ball under Rui Patricio, with goal-line technology confirming the ball slipped.
Giroud was a threat to the Wolves defense throughout and arguably should have had two goals on the night when he headed in from an early corner.
His goal marked his sixth in four starts in all competitions and means he is Chelsea’s top scorer this season.
Given his limited minutes and 34 years, Giroud’s continued scoring production is remarkable.
3. The hosts turn back three
(Image: Getty Images)
In a clear show of respect to the visitors, the Wolves once again backed three for Chelsea’s trip to Molineux.
Nuno Espirito Santo has experimented with a four-man baseline in recent matches and has announced mixed results, including a win at Arsenal and a loss to Aston Villa.
The decision to return to the system that has brought great success in recent seasons allowed the Wolves an extra body on defense to help tackle Chelsea’s powerful front line.
The Wolves also benefited from a greater physical presence against a team that has shown its threat from set pieces through players such as Kurt Zouma, Thiago Silva and Olivier Giroud.
While the defense was undone by Olivier Giroud’s excellent move and the early finish in the second half, the Wolves were solid throughout the game.
It will be interesting to see if Nuno will stick with the system or switch to a more expansive four-on-the-back form for next Monday’s trip to Burnley.
4. Wolves without bite in the first half
(Image: Pool via REUTERS)
Incredibly, more than two-thirds of Wolves’ goals in the Premier League have come in the second half since the start of last season.
The hosts never seemed to score in the first 45 minutes and the weight of replacing the injured Raúl Jiménez is understandably weighing on teenage prospect Fabio Silva.
The 18-year-old has yet to open his Wolves account since he came in for 35 million pounds last summer, but he showed a good conscience and a deft touch to link the three forwards, while he was unlucky to watch. a strike ruled out for offside.
Along with Silva, Pedro Neto and Daniel Podence were industrious and tricky in wide areas, but shots on goal were limited to efforts from range in the first half.
It took a sublime solo effort from the latter to even the Wolves in the 66th minute and an even more phenomenal moment from Neto to take three points in the closing seconds.
Nuno Espirito Santo must find a way to get his forwards to shoot earlier in games.
5. Repercussions of the title race
Tottenham and Liverpool will have been watching the proceedings in the West Midlands closely ahead of their box office clash on Wednesday.
Chelsea needed a win to top both sides and reach the top of the Premier League to reassert their title bid after the loss to Everton last time.
But the Blues’ lead at Molineux lasted 17 minutes before Daniel Podence’s hit leveled the score, while Pedro Neto’s last hit means they remain fifth on the table.
With the challenging London derbies against West Ham and Arsenal to follow, Frank Lampard will be incredibly frustrated that his team got nothing out of the match.
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