Sean Neave came off the bench to score twice in seven minutes as Wolves came from behind to beat Bristol City and move into the Championship’s automatic promotion places.
Scott Twine’s free-kick put the hosts ahead after Wolves had controlled much of the first half, but Neave turned in the rebound from Adam Armstrong’s shot in the 82nd minute.
The Newcastle United loanee then headed home from a well-worked free-kick in the 89th minute to extend Wolves’ unbeaten run to five games and send them second, a point behind Middlesbrough.
Analysis
Cesar Peixoto made one enforced change from the win over Cardiff, as Jean-Ricner Bellegarde replaced Jordan James following his hamstring injury.
James is also expected to miss Saturday’s trip to Wrexham, while Armstrong made his 500th senior club appearance.
Wolves moved the ball well in the opening half hour and had plenty of success down Bristol City’s right, where Rafiki Said was their biggest threat.
Armstrong forced an early save from Bradley Collins, but Wolves’ final ball was too often poor and they created little from some promising positions.
Bristol City had a chance at the other end when Jose Sa was caught in no man’s land and Lorent Tolaj headed over at the back post.
The hosts then took the lead when Bellegarde gave away a clumsy free-kick on the edge of the area. Twine got his effort up and over the wall and found the corner to Sa’s right, beating the goalkeeper at full stretch.
Wolves continued to dominate possession after the break and opened up Bristol City shortly before the hour when Ladislav Krejci played Armstrong in behind, but Collins saved his effort at the near post.
Rodrigo Gomes looked to be through before a strong recovery tackle drew a roar from the home crowd, and Wolves could make nothing of the resulting corner.
Collins then produced an excellent save to keep out Krejci’s close-range header, but in the 82nd minute he could only spill another Armstrong effort. Neave, who had come on in the 73rd minute, was in the right place to turn in the rebound.
Peixoto urged his players to get the game restarted quickly and Neave had a big chance to put Wolves ahead soon after, only to send his effort wide from inside the box.
But the teenager took his next chance. Kieran Trippier delivered a free-kick into the box, Krejci nodded it into Neave’s path and the striker headed home from close range in the 89th minute to spark celebrations in the away end.
They were Neave’s first two Championship goals and earned Wolves another three points from a losing position on the road, just as they had at Burnley.
Key Moments
GOAL Twine’s free-kick puts Bristol City ahead
GOAL 82 Neave turns in the rebound from Armstrong’s shot to make it 1-1
GOAL 89 Neave heads home from close range to win it for Wolves
Team
Wolves: Sa, Trippier, Mosquera, Krejci, Bueno, Andre, Munetsi (R.Gomes 55), Lopez (Neave 73), Bellegarde (Doyle 73) , Said (Mane 73), Armstrong (Chirewa 85).
Subs not used: Virginia, Toti, Tchatchoua, Neave.
So pleased for Neave. Great striker positioning, and throughly deserved. Thank goodness we won that, because, apart from the feee kick Bristol offered very little. If our final ball had been better, especially during the first half, it should not have been that nerve wracking. But we got there and second in the table!!
Brill win! Neave a class act. Said should not start, so frustrating throughout...I could not wait for him to be replaced to be honest.