Substitute Sean Neave struck twice in the closing stages as Wolves overturned a one-goal deficit to beat Bristol City 2-1 at Ashton Gate and climb to second in the Sky Bet Championship. The Sean Neave late double, completed with an 89th-minute header, punished a Robins side that had led from the 34th minute through Scott Twine’s free-kick.
Bristol City had defended stubbornly for much of the night, but Wolves’ second-half pressure finally told when Neave turned in a rebound with eight minutes of normal time remaining, before adding his second from close range six minutes later.
Twine breaks the deadlock
The hosts took the lead when Twine was fouled 25 yards from goal and picked himself up to curl a right-footed free-kick beyond Jose Sa’s dive and into the top corner. It was a moment of quality that had been missing from an otherwise cagey opening period.
Wolves had looked the more threatening side before the goal, but their only clear sight of goal in the first half-hour came through an Adam Armstrong shot that Brad Collins saved comfortably. Bristol City, for their part, saw Lorent Tolaj head wide from a Rio Cardines cross in the 29th minute, but clear openings were rare for the hosts too.
Michael Skubala’s side appeared lifted by Twine’s strike and competed more aggressively for the rest of the half, though they did not create another clear chance before the interval.
Wolves turn the screw
With their travelling supporters massed behind the goal they were attacking, Wolves began the second period with renewed urgency and came close to equalising in the 57th minute. Rodrigo Gomes, only just on as a substitute for the injured Marshall Munetsi, broke clear through the middle but delayed his shot and was denied by a superb recovery challenge from Cam Pring.
Collins then spilled a low effort from Rafiki Said on 61 minutes but recovered to smother Armstrong’s follow-up. Four minutes later, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde met a Kieran Trippier corner with a downward header that the diving Collins parried away.
Cesar Peixoto made a triple change in the 73rd minute, introducing Mateus Mane, Neave and Tommy Doyle for Said, Fer Lopez and Bellegarde. The switch tilted the contest decisively in Wolves’ favour.
Neave delivers the decisive blows
Wolves’ equaliser arrived on 82 minutes. Trippier volleyed a cross back into the danger area from the right, Armstrong’s first-time shot was saved, and Neave reacted quickest to force in the rebound. Six minutes later, the same player headed home from close range after Ladislav Krejci had flicked on a Trippier free-kick.
Bristol City had late efforts from Dom Ballard and Tolaj, but Neave’s opportunism settled the outcome and left the hosts empty-handed despite a dogged defensive display.
Managers' reactions
Skubala described the defeat as a sucker punch, pointing out that his side had been ahead with 80 minutes gone against a strong opponent and should have taken something from the game. He felt the goals conceded were soft and that his players could have been stronger in preventing the second in particular. The Bristol City boss also highlighted poor decisions and loose possession in the opposition half, noting that the chance for Pring’s recovery tackle stemmed from his team giving the ball away. He acknowledged positives but admitted his side did not get the job done and said home form is a concern ahead of Saturday’s visit of Norwich.
Peixoto praised his team’s character and spirit, saying they kept believing until the end and were backed by supporters who stayed with them at a goal down. He felt the result was deserved, noting that Wolves had created chances from wide areas in the first half without getting on the end of them often enough, and that they did not move the ball quickly enough before the break. He said the players responded to half-time instructions by doing everything quicker in the second half. On Neave, Peixoto said the goals will do the young player a lot of good, describing him as humble with plenty of ability who plays for the team. The Wolves manager also noted the quick turnaround before the next game and the need to help his players recover.
What it means
The win lifts Wolves to second in the Championship table, while Bristol City are left to reflect on a late collapse that cost them at least a point. Skubala’s men have another home fixture against Norwich on Saturday to try to address their home form.
