Jack Harrison and Marshall Munetsi traded strikes in a back-and-forth first half
Neither side was able to find a winner after the restart as the points were shared
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By JOE BERNSTEIN
Published: 16:51 EST, 8 March 2025 | Updated: 17:00 EST, 8 March 2025
Marshall Munetsi scored his first Wolves goal to compensate for the absence of Matheus Cunha as his side gained a precious point in their fight against relegation.
It looked like another tough night for Wolves when Jack Harrison gave Everton the lead with a deflected strike from the edge of the box.
But with Cunha watching from the stands as he began a three-match ban, Munetsi capitalised on a mistake by Jarrad Branthwaite to level before half-time.
It was the first downpayment of the £16million Wolves paid Reims for the Zimbabwe international in January and it was disappointing when he didn’t reappear for the second half – replaced by Pablo Sarabia.
The draw left Wolves six points above the drop zone while Everton stretched their unbeaten Premier League run to eight matches under David Moyes.
Ipswich’s defeat earlier on Saturday lifted some of the tension around Molineux but they still needed a result having picked up only 22 points from 27 games.
Everton broke the deadlock as Jack Harrison fired in, helped by a deflection off Matt Doherty
He obliged David Moyes' demand for more goals ahead of the game as he ended his drought
Everton went in to today's game looking to extend their impressive unbeaten run to eight
Vitor Pereira’s biggest decision was how to replace Cunha, sent off at Bournemouth last weekend and still to face a further FA charge of improper conduct.
Big No9 Jorgen Strand Larsen got the nod but it was the visitors who started brightly with Emmanuel Agbadou blocking a shot by Abdoulaye Doucoure and Branthwaite and Beto both going close from corners.
Wolves created their first chance when Joao Gomes beat Idrissa Gueye to help force a corner.
Munetsi won the set-piece clearly in the air forcing Jordan Pickford to save with his leg.
Everton went ahead after 33 minutes. Jesper Lindstrom slipped as he made a pass to Harrison on the edge of the penalty area but the ball still reached its intended target.
Harrison took a good first touch before firing into the corner via a deflection off Matt Doherty’s heel. It was the winger’s first goal of the season at the 28th attempt.
Wolves needed to respond quickly to lift the mood and it arrived after 40 minutes. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde advanced to the edge of the Everton area at pace and slid a pass for Munetsi to run onto.
Branthwaite, being watched by England coach Anthony Barry, should have dealt with it but got his feet in a muddle and the ball reached the African who stroked the ball comfortably past Pickford.
Marshall Munetsi equalised five minutes from half time to get off the mark for Wolves
Munetsi produced a smart finish to draw parity but was forced off at half-time through injury
Neither side could find a winner in the second half, with the points being shared come full-time
Munetsi didn’t reappear for the second half but Wolves continued to dictate. David Moyes was worried enough to add another midfielder, Tim Iroegbunam, off the bench.
They still needed Pickford to beat away a shot from Stand Larsen at point blank range to prevent Wolves going in front while Sa foiled Beto at the other end.
Wolves 1-1 Everton: MATCH FACTS
Wolves (3-4-3): Sa 7; Doherty 6, Agbadou 6, Toti 7; Semedo 7 (Bueno 90), Andre 7 (Doyle 90), J Gomes 6.5, Ait Nouri 6.5: Bellegarde 7 (Guedes 82), Strand Larsen 6 (Hwang 74 6), Munetsi 7 (Sarabia 45 6)
Subs unused: Johnstone (Gk), R Gomes, Djiga, Lima
Goal: Munetsi 40
Booked: Andre, Strand Larsen
Manager: Vitor Pereira 7
Everton (4-2-3-1:) Pickford 7.5; O’Brien 6, Tarkowski 7, Branthwaite 6, Mykolenko 6; Gueye 5.5, Garner 6 (Young 90); Lindstrom 6 (Iroegbunam 63 6), Doucoure 6.5 (Alcaraz 63 6), Harrison 7; Beto 6
Subs unused: Virginia (Gk), Begovic (Gk), Patterson, Keane, Chermiti, Coleman
Goal: Harrison 33
Booked: Alcaraz, Iroegbunam
Manager: David Moyes 6.5
Referee: Stuart Attwell 6