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Raúl Jiménez marked his return to Wolves with the stoppage-time equaliser that saved them from an embarrassing start to their return to the Championship.
The Mexico striker, who scored against England during the World Cup finals, retained his composure to convert a penalty given for handball by Rayan Alebiosu that would have had VAR questioning whether the defender was in the area when Jackson Tchatchoua’s cross struck his arm. Thankfully for Wolves, the video assistant referee is no longer their problem. Jiménez, who had bought scarves for all supporters in the South Bank in gratitude for their response to welcoming him home, tucked away his first goal in this second spell for the club he graced during their recent heyday.
All that’s gold does not glisten. Wolves may have reverted to a richer sheen of their traditional colour on their return to the Championship after nine years in the Premier League, but that does not mean the gloom of relegation ends there. Cesar Peixoto’s new era in the league got off to a disappointing start as they were fortunate to gain a point off unfancied Blackburn Rovers and their former West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Mowbray.
Goals from Sean McLoughlin and Andri Gudjohnsen allowed Blackburn to provide Wolves with a reality check after Marshall Munetsi had given them an early lead. Confidence is a fragile commodity and, after their decision to replace Rob Edwards with a manager with no experience of English football, the Wolves board know that their supporters’ patience is thin. Leading Gil Vicente to sixth place in the Portuguese first division does not make Peixoto a guaranteed winner.
Molineux was awash with fading golden sunlight and rising optimism at kick-off. A summer that started with such a surprising managerial departure is promising to end with renewed faith in the team’s direction of travel, if the early noises are anything to go by.
While Wolves had organised a stash of Starbars for the head coach’s corner of the away dressing room, in honour of Tony Mowbray’s legendary love of chocolate, the returning Wolves striker Jiménez had gifted a scarf for every supporter in the South Bank. But it was the Blackburn defence who were most giving in the early stages as they split generously to allow Marshall Munetsi a clean run through onto Fer López’s sumptuous pass. The left-footed finish from the Zimbabwean, himself coming back to Molineux after a loan at Paris FC, compounded the feelgood factor buzzing around the ground.
Cesar Peixoto has promised to bring a front-footed high press to Wolves, since he replaced Rob Edwards as head coach, and this has been effective in pre-season and against Port Vale in the Carabao Cup. But it also leaves gaps on transition. Blackburn, who finished 20th last season and have not done so much in the transfer market to suggest they should aim higher this term, got behind Wolves on several occasions. It was no great surprise therefore when, from another superb right-wing cross from Ryoya Morishita, Sean McLoughlin, timing his run off André to perfection, headed beyond Dan Bentley to equalise.
Some of Wolves’ best business so far this summer has been bringing players back to Molineux. While Jiménez started the night on the bench, after a late start to pre-season following his impressive World Cup for Mexico, López was the classiest player on view. Back from a loan spell at Celta Vigo, he has been invited to make the No 10 position his own, and the Spaniard so nearly regained Wolves the lead only to curl his shot just wide.
Receiving Kieran Trippier’s prompt, Mateus Mané also swerved a shot just over as Wolves finished the half on the up.
Blackburn continued to benefit from Wolves’ soft centre however. Oladapo Afolayan’s shot needed tipping over by Bentley before the right winger again got space down Wolves left – where David Møller Wolfe, the Norway left-back, was in for the injured Hugo Bueno – to cross for Andri Gudjohnsen to get in front of his man and turn in Rovers’ second goal.
By the hour mark, the South Bank were swirling their Jiménez scarves above their heads and chanting ‘Si Senor’ in honour of the veteran striker who was such an esteemed figure here at Molineux for five of the club’s best years in modern times. He was the pivotal attacking player during Nuno Espírito Santo’s reign when Wolves reached the latter stages of the FA Cup and the Europa League. The scene was set for the Mexican. Could he deliver?
Jiménez struck one free-kick into the wall, before laying an astute pass back for Tommy Doyle, though his fellow substitute could only hammer the ball over the bar after appearing to handle. It was interesting that Tripper was withdrawn, and Peixoto’s game plan was being questioned when two youngsters, in Pedro Lima and Tawanda Chirewa, were thrown on into a rejigged 4-4-2 for the final 10 minutes.
