Wolves salvage a point with Raúl Jiménez’s stoppage-time penalty

Wolverhampton Wanderers opened their Championship campaign against Blackburn Rovers with a 2-2 draw. Marshall Munetsi gave Wolves the lead after a through-ball from Fer López, but Sean McLoughlin headed an equaliser for Blackburn from a Ryoya Morishita cross. Andri Gudjohnsen put the visitors ahead early in the second half. In the third minute of stoppage time, Raúl Jiménez converted a penalty after Ryan Alebiosu was judged to have handled Jackson Tchatchoua’s cross inside the box, securing a point for the home side.

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Wolves entered the second tier after relegation last season and appointed Portuguese coach César Peixoto in the summer. The squad retained most of its Premier League core, including veteran striker Jiménez, who returned after a World Cup with Mexico and a free transfer from Fulham. The match also marked Kieran Trippier’s debut for Wolves after his move from Newcastle United.

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• Final score: Wolves 2 – 2 Blackburn

Wolves stumble hands West Ham early promotion chance after Blackburn draw

• Goals: Munetsi (18’), McLoughlin (49’), Gudjohnsen (60’), Jiménez (penalty, 93+)

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• Attendance: 30,984 at Molineux

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• Substitutions: Jiménez entered in the second half; several changes were made by both managers later in the game.

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César Peixoto praised Jiménez’s composure, noting the striker’s experience was vital. Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray called the penalty decision “harsh” and suggested the handball occurred outside the box. Both coaches highlighted the need for greater defensive stability.

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Mowbray’s assessment sparked debate over the VAR ruling, arguing the defender’s arm was “away from his body” and that the spot-kick should not have been awarded.

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• “The team lost some organisation and played with their heart rather than their head and brains,” — César Peixoto, Wolves head coach

Wolves 2-2 Blackburn: Raul Jimenez scores stoppage-time penalty on his Molineux return to salvage a point

• “I’m not going to sit here and lie, I wasn’t expecting it,” — Kieran Trippier, Wolves player

The Guardian

Sources differ on the precise location of Alebiosu’s hand at the moment of the foul. The Guardian’s match report notes VAR questioning whether the defender was inside the area, while other accounts treat the handball as clearly inside the box.

The Guardian

The draw leaves Wolves with a point from their first Championship match, underscoring the challenges of adapting to a league where the games are relentless and pressure is immediate. Peixoto’s comments about organisational lapses suggest the team must tighten its structure to avoid dropping points. Blackburn’s ability to take the lead twice shows they can compete with a recently relegated side, adding intrigue to the promotion race.

Wolves stumble hands West Ham early promotion chance after Blackburn draw

Wolves aim to build on the late rescue to pursue an automatic-promotion push, while Blackburn look to convert their early-season competitiveness into a stable league position. Both clubs have further fixtures in the coming weeks as the Championship season unfolds.

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