Dropping points at the death hard to take, admits Wolves boss - 7M sport

Dropping points at the death hard to take, admits Wolves boss



Posted Thursday, February 22, 2018 by PA

Dropping points at the death hard to take, admits Wolves boss

Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo admitted Nelson Oliveira’s stoppage-time equaliser felt like a punch after Norwich snatched a point in a 2-2 draw at Molineux.

Sky Bet Championship leaders Wolves looked to be cruising as a Jamal Lewis own goal and Alfred N’Diaye’s header put them 2-0 up midway through the first half, but Christoph Zimmermann swiftly pulled one back and the Canaries were good value for their point.

Substitute Oliveira beat John Ruddy with a powerful effort from 35 yards in the dying seconds, just four days after Timm Klose had earned the Canaries a last-gasp draw against Ipswich.

“Of course there is a moment of sadness,” said Santo. “It feels like a punch.

“Then the final whistle, you do not have time left and you have lost something that you almost had.

“But we look in the game in total and, knowing that football is like that, until the end you have to maintain focus.”

Santo also defended goalkeeper Ruddy after he was beaten from distance against his former club.

“John gives us so many saves this season,” he added. “So many saves, so many points – it’s nothing to do with individuals.”

The first clear chance of the match fell Norwich’s way after 13 minutes, but, when a mix-up in the home defence saw Harrison Reed go clean through on goal, the on-loan Southampton midfielder fired wastefully over the bar.

Just seconds later Wolves were ahead, with Zimmermann missing his clearance and Diogo Jota hitting a low finish from the left-hand side of the penalty area against the far post and the unfortunate Lewis turning the ball into his own net.

Barry Douglas saw a long-range effort fly inches wide as the home side began to dominate and after 25 minutes it was the Scot’s corner which was headed in at the near post by N’Diaye.

Just two minutes later Norwich found a route back into the game when Zimmermann made amends for his earlier error by heading in a James Maddison free-kick for his first Norwich goal.

Ivan Cavaleiro should have restored Wolves’ two-goal advantage nine minutes into the second half when N’Diaye fed Matt Doherty down the right and his low cross was jabbed wide from six yards by the Portuguese winger.

Wolves substitute Morgan Gibbs-White missed a chance to put the game to bed late on when he dallied over his shot after dispossessing Zimmermann, while Maddison slashed an effort from distance over the bar and had another shot hacked clear before Portuguese forward Oliveira smashed home.

Norwich boss Daniel Farke praised Oliveira after his first goal of 2018 extended their unbeaten run to five games.

“Although it’s a late equaliser it’s well deserved and I’m pretty happy with my lads,” he said.

“Nelson has outstanding technique with his finish and the goalkeepers have problems when the ball is flying high and low.

“I was happy he decided to try, he’s been waiting so long for a goal and from 35 yards the equaliser – football is crazy.

“At the beginning we were not brave enough, but the gap was not that big. We spoke about it at half-time and second half we were a bit more brave.”

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