Marshall Munetsi scored an important equaliser against an in-form Everton to further lift Wolves from the relegation zone at Molineux Stadium.
Jack Harrison’s well-worked finish on 33 minutes meant Wolves faced an uphill battle in trying to climb as far away from the drop zone as possible.
But Munetsi, on his sixth appearance for the hosts, finished off an impressive run of play to score his first goal for the club since signing from French side Reims for £16m on deadline day.
A share in the points meant Wolves’ safety net increased to six points, whereas Everton sat comfortably in 14th before Sunday’s round of fixtures.
Story of the Match
Since David Moyes returned to the club, Everton have amassed 15 points in the Premier League, including this result, with only Liverpool earning more in that period of time.
In fact, the Toffees were unbeaten in their last seven league games ahead of kick-off, which is their longest run since December 2017 – and an earlier opener from Jack Harrison made extending that record a progressively achievable feat.
Jesper Lindstrom started with the ball on the right before switching to Harrison on the opposing side.
From there, the winger who, up to that point, had accumulated the least amount of touches out of any of his teammates, managed to set up a low shot on his left foot, which glided into the bottom right corner.
The frequency of the game gave the impression that the lead wouldn’t last long, however, and after just seven minutes, Munetsi equalised with a slick finish past Jordan Pickford.
Rayan Ait-Nouri passed inside to Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who drove towards the box before releasing a simple yet piercing pass to feed Munetsi’s acute run.
The pass could have been dealt with easily by Jarrad Branthwaite but he found himself tangled over his own feet before Munetsi poked the ball into the bottom left corner, taking a touch off Pickford on its way in.
Harrison scored the opener at Molineux (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Harrison scored the opener at Molineux (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
After 72 minutes, momentum had built from both sides but particularly Wolves, accompanied by a sold-out Molineux Stadium, when Jorgen Strand Larsen tested Pickford from an incredibly tight angle before Everton broke on the counter-attack.
Carlos Alcaraz, who replaced Abdoulaye Doucoure just after the hour, stabbed the ball past multiple onrushing yellow shirts before sending Beto through to his left.
The forward dispatched first-time in an attempt to curl the ball around Sa, but failed as the drama fizzled out.
Earlier on, both sides come close on a number of occasions – with Wolves generating the best chance across the opening 20 minutes.
Ait-Nouri managed to break free down the left and later moved further inside, cutting past James Garner before taking aim from just outside the box.
James Tarkowski managed to get a touch on the defender’s shot and forced a corner-kick, from which Wolves came even closer after 17 minutes.
Ait-Nouri, the provider this time, sent an inswinging ball towards the back post where Munetsi met it but, in the blink of an eye, Pickford made a reactive save.
Everton had made an adequate start to the game prior to Wolves’ maiden chances and, on 13 minutes, Beto – who has scored 10 goals so far this season – was inches from breaking the deadlock.
Harrison sent a first-time cross into the box where the Portugal forward tried to finish at the near post, past Jose Sa, but failed in making any contact with the ball as the chance frustratingly slipped away.
On 52 minutes, Pablo Sarabia came agonisingly close to what would have been a stunning free-kick goal had his effort not curled outward, making contact with the side netting from 27 yards out.