Wolverhampton Wanderers needed a 93rd-minute penalty from Raul Jimenez to salvage a 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers in their Sky Bet Championship opener at Molineux. The Mexican striker, making his return to the club, held his nerve from the spot to snatch a point after Wolves had trailed 2-1 for much of the second half.
What happened in the match?
Wolves took an early lead through Marshall Munetsi in the 18th minute, with Fer Lopez providing the assist. However, Blackburn equalised nine minutes later when Sean McLoughlin headed in from Ryoya Morishita's cross. Andri Gudjohnsen then put Rovers ahead early in the second half with a close-range finish.
Despite Wolves' dominance in possession, they struggled to break down Blackburn's defence until a controversial penalty decision in stoppage time. Jackson Tchatchoua's cross struck Ryan Alebiosu's hand, and Jimenez stepped up to convert the spot-kick, securing a point for Cesar Peixoto's side.
Why it matters for Wolverhampton Wanderers
The result will be seen as a missed opportunity for Wolves, who were expected to start their Championship campaign with a win. The draw highlights areas for improvement, particularly in converting chances and defending set-pieces. Manager Cesar Peixoto acknowledged that his team played with heart rather than their heads in the second half, and they will need to address these issues if they are to challenge for promotion.
What comes next?
Wolves will now turn their attention to their next fixture, where they will be looking to build on the positives from this match. Raul Jimenez's return and his match-winning penalty will be a boost for the team, but they will need to be more clinical in front of goal to secure three points in their upcoming games. Blackburn, meanwhile, will be disappointed not to have held on for the win but can take confidence from their performance against a strong Wolves side.
