Terry Devlin struck late to secure a 1-1 draw for Portsmouth against Wolves at Molineux in the Championship on Tuesday. Substitute Jordan James had given the hosts the lead in the second half before Devlin’s dramatic late equaliser earned Pompey an unlikely share of the spoils.
First-Half Stalemate
The opening 45 minutes produced few clear chances as both sides struggled to find momentum. Andre had the only opportunity for Wolves in the first half, lofting a bouncing shot just wide of the target from 25 yards out after Devlin cleared a cross from Mateus Mane.
Portsmouth created their only notable chance of the first half in the 36th minute when Wolves failed to clear Adrian Segecic’s deep free-kick. After Nasser Djiga missed a header and Ebou Adams saw his angled effort blocked, Rocco Shein fired a low shot a few feet wide of the post.
Wolves Take the Lead After the Break
Wolves made a double substitution at half-time, bringing on Tawanda Chirewa and Jordan James in place of Sean Neave and Marshall Munetsi. The changes immediately energized the hosts, with Chirewa turning inside his marker and rattling the crossbar with a rising shot from a tight angle.
Mane dragged a low drive wide and Fer Lopez volleyed past the post from a cross by Rafiki Said as Wolves dominated possession. The pressure finally told in the 62nd minute when James initiated a move with a one-two with Lopez before slamming a fierce low shot past goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid at the near post.
Devlin Rescues a Late Point
Portsmouth missed an opportunity to level earlier when Adams headed over the bar from five yards following a corner. Wolves continued to search for a second goal, with a teasing cross from Tommy Doyle narrowly missing the sliding Chirewa.
However, Portsmouth punished the missed chances in the 86th minute when Devlin chested down a cleared free-kick and drove a brilliant volley into the corner of the net for his side’s first shot on target. Schmid was forced to claw another low shot from Chirewa around the post in stoppage time as Wolves pushed for a winner, leading to a brief confrontation between both coaching staffs at the final whistle before order was restored.
Manager Reactions
Wolves manager Cesar Peixoto told SkySports that anxiety from previous matches affected his team’s performance in the first half. “I think the players, because of the last games, were a little more anxious and played more secure. They didn’t find the right courage to play in the first 45 minutes,” he said, adding that the result felt unfair after controlling the second half.
Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho told SkySports that the draw was a fair reflection of the match. “I thought it was about right. Wolves had more possession and shots and the onus is on them as a club coming down from the Premier League to do that,” Mousinho stated. Speaking about the full-time touchline incident, Mousinho dismissed it as minor, explaining that he shook the opposing manager’s hand after a brief exchange of words.
Source: SkySports | News
