Ipswich Town snatched a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux, leaving Gary O’Neil teetering on the brink amid mounting frustration from players and fans alike.
Jack Taylor’s stoppage-time header sealed Ipswich’s second league win of the season, sending their supporters into raptures and deepening the gloom surrounding Wolves. The winning goal, scored in the fourth minute of added time, came from a Jack Clarke corner that found Taylor unmarked to nod home, sparking jubilant scenes among the visitors and a chorus of boos from the home crowd.
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Early Woes for Wolves
Wolves fell behind in comical fashion after just 15 minutes. Ipswich winger Liam Delap overpowered Nelson Semedo on the right flank before delivering a cut-back that Omari Hutchinson couldn’t convert past Sam Johnstone. A scrambled clearance only set up Conor Chaplin, whose shot ricocheted off Toti Gomes and Matt Doherty, rolling agonizingly into Wolves’ net.
The defensive calamity typified Wolves’ struggles, as they extended their league-high tally of 20 goals conceded from set-pieces this season.
Cunha’s Momentary Rescue
After a flurry of missed chances, Wolves equalized in the 72nd minute when Matheus Cunha, their standout performer, blasted a shot past Arijanet Muric with help from a deflection. The goal, assisted by Gonçalo Guedes, briefly lifted the mood inside Molineux as the home side rallied for a winner.
Jørgen Strand Larsen and Cunha came close to delivering that elusive second goal, but Ipswich held firm. Wolves’ late surge proved fruitless as Ipswich struck the decisive blow deep into stoppage time.
Boiling Frustrations
The match ended in chaotic scenes, with tempers flaring both on and off the pitch. Rayan Aït-Nouri received a second yellow card after the final whistle for his part in an altercation, while unused substitute Craig Dawson had to usher him down the tunnel. The atmosphere among Wolves fans turned increasingly hostile, with chants against owner Fosun and chairman Jeff Shi reverberating around the stadium.
Adding to the turmoil, Mario Lemina’s demotion from captaincy earlier in the week—following a heated clash with assistant coach Shaun Derry during Wolves’ defeat to West Ham—highlighted the instability within the club.
A Season in Crisis
Wolves’ fourth consecutive league defeat leaves them just four points above the relegation zone, with a league-worst total of 40 goals conceded. The pressure on O’Neil, who signed a four-year contract in August, has reached boiling point. Despite the team’s evident flaws, the hierarchy seems reluctant to make a change.
For Ipswich, the victory offers a glimmer of hope in their relegation battle, with Ed Sheeran’s applause from the directors’ box symbolizing a rare moment of joy for the Suffolk club.
As Wolves look ahead, the question looms large: how much longer can Gary O’Neil hold on?
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