The Daily Telegraph - 26.08.2019

Weary Wolves

finish strongly

to salvage draw

Wo l v e s

Jimenez 90 pen^1

Burnley

Barnes 13^1

Att: 30,522

By John Percy

at Molineux

Nuno Espirito Santo’s Wolves have

established a reputation for late

drama and here was another ab-

sorbing finish for the collection.

Seven minutes into added time,

Wolves were facing their first home

defeat since Jan 2, with the post-

match inquest threatening to centre

on the club’s Europa League exploits

and the balancing act facing Nuno.

But Raul Jimenez’s late penalty,

confirmed by the video assistant

referee, following a collision be-

tween the Mexican forward and

Burnley defender Erik Pieters, ena-

bled Wolves to maintain their long

unbeaten record and leave Burnley

manager Sean Dyche frustrated.

For 80 minutes it was difficult to

shift the theory that this was a game

too far for Nuno’s squad, three days

after the Europa League first leg in

Italy against Torino.

Nuno had attempted to freshen

up his squad, making five changes

from Thursday’s game, but there

was a lack of spark and invention,

with lethargy a clear factor until

Jimenez made his 97th-minute

contribution.

After eight games already this

season, the weary Wolves squad

have now been rewarded with their

first day off. “We are still unbeaten

and that is a big plus for us which

people need to understand,” Nuno

said. “Nobody knows how

tough it’s been for the boys

and I’m going to give them

their first day off since I don’t

remember when.

“We are very aware of the

cycle that we have. We started

competing on July 25.

“It’s about taking all

the reserves that we

have, but I’m very

proud and we have

to go again on

Thursday for the

second leg. It says

so much about

our spirit and

shows that the

game is never over.

Playing with tiredness

is something we have to

improve on, it is about

taking it step by step.”

Dyche knows all about

the difficulties of juggling

the Europa League and

domestic requirements

from last season: his side

were knocked out at the

final qualifying stage and

it was not until Sept 22 that

they recorded their first

Premier League win. Wolves

had made a far better start to

body. In doing so he has fouled the

Tottenham striker.

So why has Dean not given a

penalty? I can only imagine it was

because he did not have a good

enough view although he was in

“acceptable proximity”.

But this decision again flagged up

a serious flaw in how the English

game is not making adequate use of

pitchside monitors. Had Dean

watched the incident again in slow

motion, I am sure he would have

changed his mind. I think the

reluctance to use fully the

technology available might be

down to a fear that it would bring a

staccato nature to games because of

the inevitable delays.

It was suggested by TV pundit

and former England defender

Joleon Lescott that Kane had tried

to initiate contact by stepping

across Lascelles’s line.

Absolute nonsense. One could

clearly see Kane was about to pull

the trigger and shoot.

VAR was brought in so that we

would have correct decisions, but

this one was plainly wrong.

their campaign, but were tentative

for much of an excruciating and hot

Black Country afternoon, their

flights to Belfast, Armenia and Tu-

rin finally catching up with them.

Burnley had already threatened

before scoring in the 13th minute

with a moment of brilliance from

Ashley Barnes. Chesting the ball

down 25 yards from goal, the for-

ward then arrowed the ball into the

corner of the net to continue his

impressive start to the season.

They could have increased their

lead four minutes later, with Ben

Mee’s header striking the crossbar

before Conor Coady frantically

cleared the ball.

Wolves’s passing was frequently

awry and there was little movement

in the final third. Burnley’s back

four, organised superbly by Mee,

were content to soak up pressure.

There was a moment 20 minutes

from time which encapsulated

Wolves’s frustration, when substi-

tute Pedro Neto and Matt Doherty

both attempted to cross the ball in a

bizarre act of miscommunication.

Nuno rolled the dice by sending

on speedy winger Adama Traore as

time began to tick away and sud-

denly there was more urgency and

impetus. Agonisingly for Wolves,

Jimenez struck a post in added time

with a shot on the turn and that had

appeared to be their final chance.

But the £30 million signing was

caught by Pieters moments later,

with referee Craig Pawson pointing

to the spot. After the VAR check,

the penalty was confirmed and

Jimenez made no mistake with his

sixth goal of the season.

GETTY IMAGES

Tumbling: Jamaal Lascelles falls into

Harry Kane’s path and hauls him down

Dyche insisted

Burnley deserved to

win. He said: “I’m a

big fan of VAR, so

no problem with

that, but a big de-

cision has gone

against us. VAR

won’t get every-

thing right and

there will be

awkward ones.

This was defi-

nitely a con-

tentious one.

“Everybody has

been saying we’ve had

a tough start, but we

look a different animal

to this time last season.

The players have learnt

from it and they’ve come

back with a real edge to

their performances.”

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Raul Jimenez’s goal for Wolves

after 96 minutes and 55

seconds was the latest scored

in the Premier League since

January 2017, when Alexis

Sanchez scored after 97 min

14 sec for Arsenal

against Burnley.

Jimenez leaves it late

penalty shows need to use pitchside monitors

The Daily Telegraph Monday 26 August 2019 *** 11

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