Everton 1-2 Wolves: Rayan Ait-Nouri scores late winner for visitors

Everton 1-2 Wolves: It’s joy for Julen Lopetegui and a sickener for Frank Lampard as Rayan Ait-Nouri’s last-gasp strike steals the points for the new Wolves boss at Goodison Park

  • The home side drew first blood when Yerry Mina headed home from a corner
  • But Wolves equalised after a well-worked set piece through Daniel Podence
  • Both goalscorers were eventually substituted in the latter stages of the game 
  • Everton sub Thomas Cannon had a would-be winner cleared off the line 
  • But Wolves would have the last laugh when Rayan Ait-Nouri scored in injury time 

Wolves climbed off the bottom of the table with an injury-time winner in manager Julen Lopetegui’s first league game in charge to heap more pressure on Everton boss Frank Lampard.

Substitutes Adama Traore and Rayan Ait-Nouri combined in virtually the attack of the game to leave devastated Evertonians venting their frustration at the final whistle.

Lampard’s next game is at Manchester City and with his side only a point above the relegation zone, he need results soon after a run of one win in nine.

Julen Lopetegui’s reign at Wolves got off to a winning start thanks to an injury-time goal from Rayan Ait-Nouri

The result sees the Spaniard’s side climb off the bottom of the Premier League table

Everton had taken an early lead at Goodison through the recalled defender Yerry Mina but Daniel Podence levelled midway through the first half before the late twist.

With the two teams starting the day as the lowest goalscorers in the division, nobody headed to Goodison expecting a Boxing Day thriller.

Mina came in for Conor Coady, on loan from Wolves and ineligible to face his parent club, while the polo-necked Lopetegui gave 20-year-old midfielder Joseph Hodge his first league start.

Yerry Mina’s header after just seven minutes put Everton in the lead at Goodison Park

But Wolves hit back to equalise thanks to a goal from Portuguese winger Daniel Podence

Wolves have confirmed the loan signing of Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha from Atletico Madrid but he isn’t available until the transfer window opens on January 1.

The big surprise therefore was two goals in the opening quarter of the game.

Everton struck first when Mina nudged marker Hugo Bueno out the way and met Dwight McNeil’s outswinging corner with a glancing header beyond Jose Sa.

It was the Colombian’s first league outing since August when he injured an ankle against Chelsea and he celebrated with a choreographed dance along the touchline.

Mina’s next involvement was clutching his head when Diego Costa landed on top of him and the visitors then levelled after 22 minutes with only their ninth goal of the season.

A gritty second-half saw a total of six yellow cards handed out by referee Craig Pawson

It came from another corner that reached Joao Moutinho on the edge of the box. He dinked a pass to Podence who was allowed too much space before finishing low past Pickford.

Wolves tried to build on the momentum and Pickford saved from Costa. But Everton still had chances to lead before half-time when Sa raced from his goal to keep out Neal Maupay’s counter and then showed great reflexes to stop Anthony Gordon from close range.

Some Everton fans let their displeasure known at the interval but they didn’t improve in a niggly second period even though Lampard had sent on Damarai Gray for McNeil after only 56 minutes.

Lopetegui saw Pickford save from Bueno and then he decided to use his full allocation of substitutions before reaching the final 10 minutes. When Wolves fans sang derogatory songs about Pickford during a lull in play, the England goalkeeper gave them a cheery wave in acknowledgement.

With all signs pointing towards the game ending a draw, Rayan Ait-Nouri scored his first Premier League goal of the season to secure three points

One of the loudest cheers of the afternoon came after 83 minutes when 19-year-old striker Thomas Cannon was introduced for his first taste of Goodison.

It raised the urgency levels for the closing stages. Cannon threw himself at a cross by Nathan Patterson but the ball squirted off his ribs rather than his head.

Wolves had showed plenty of fight throughout with five bookings and they saved the best until last. With Everton pushing for a winner, Traore sped down the right and had the composure to find Ait-Nouri at the far post convert past Pickford.

EVERTON VS WOLVES MATCH FACTS AND RATINGS

Everton (4-3-3): Pickford 6: Patterson 5.5, Mina 7 (Godfrey 76 6), Tarkowski 6, Mykolenko 6; Iwobi 6.5, Gueye 6 (Doucoure 83), Onana 6; Gordon 5.5, Maupay 6 (Cannon 83), McNeil 6.5 (Gray 56 5.5)

Subs unused: Begovic (Gk), Holgate, Vinagre, Coleman, Davies

Goal: Mina 7

Booked: Patterson

Manager: Frank Lampard 5.5

Wolves (4-2-3-1): Sa 7: Semedo 6, Collins 6, Kilman 6, Bueno 6 (Ait-Nouri 59 7); Hodge 6.5 (Nunes 59 6), Neves 6.5; Hwang 5.5 (Traore 60 7), Moutinho 7 (Toti 78 6), Podence 7.5 (Guedes 72 6); Costa 6 

Subs unused: Sarkick (Gk), Ronan, Lembikisa, Jimenez

Goals: Podence 22, Ait-Nouri 90+5′

Booked: Podence, Kilman, Toti, Neves, Costa

Manager: Julen Lopetegui 7

Referee: Craig Pawson 6

Attendance: 39,252




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