Brentford miss out on Europe after Marshall Munetsi stunner snatches Wolves draw
Amid all the action, the Wolves fans were referencing Manchester United with their songs, aimed at Matheus Cunha who was possibly playing his last match for the club ahead of an anticipated summer move to the Red Devils.
Wolves forced the issue in the second half in a bid to avoid a fourth successive defeat and the hosts got a deserved equaliser thanks to Munetsi's bullet finish in the 75th minute.
The result saw Wolves finish in 16th place, below United on goal difference, while Brentford signed off the campaign in 10th and outside the European spots.
Cunha looked the brightest player through the early stages on what could be his last appearance in the black and gold of Wolves and his header forced Mark Flekken into his first save.
The hosts started in rampant fashion, and Nelson Semedo, another player who could also be out of Molineux by the time next season starts, lashed wide before a tame effort on target was easily saved by Flekken.
It did not take long for Thomas Frank's side to warm into the contest though, Wolves keeper Jose Sa having his first meaningful save to make when he kept out Kevin Schade after he had danced inside and tried his luck.
Wolves were the creators of their own downfall as the visitors took the lead in the 20th minute.
The hosts tried to play it quick from the back but Rayan Ait-Nouri was caught in possession and the Bees swarmed forward, with an initial strike bouncing out to Christian Norgaard who picked out Mbeumo to open the scoring.
Brentford could have made it two before the break. Wolves wanted a foul when Cunha was brought down at one end, but play continued and Brentford broke forward with Yoane Wissa. He played the ball into Keane Lewis-Potter but, having been one-on-one with Sa, he made a mess of his end product.
Flekken remained busy throughout the first 45 minutes and he was on hand to keep out Cunha's half-volley from range before stopping Semedo from similar distance soon after.
Brentford had another chance to double their lead at the end of an entertaining first half when Wissa took a cross down down well and stabbed towards goal. Sa did not know much about it but did enough to keep the ball out.
Wolves came flying out of the traps in the second period and should have been on level terms as Munetsi's ball across found an unmarked Goncalo Guedes but he could only scuff wide of the target.
Molineux erupted with 15 minutes to go with an equaliser.
A long ball up the field was headed down by Jorgen Strand Larsen and into the path of Munetsi who rifled past Flekken with a magnificent first-time finish from 20 yards into the top corner.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Ollie Watkins' telling exit comment as Man Utd add Aston Villa star to three-man wishlist
Manchester United have expressed an interest in Ollie Watkins but Aston Villa insist their player isn't for sale, even though the Englishman has made it clear he will not accept a squad role Ollie Watkins has made it clear he will never be one of those players who his "happy to sit on the bench" after Aston Villa rejected an advance from Manchester United to land the striker. The Red Devils are on the lookout for a No 9 and have shortlisted three players with the England international among them. Villa signed Watkins several years ago after he impressed in the Championship and he's since proven himself in the Premier League. Villa, who lost Jhon Duran back in January, have made it known that they have no interest in selling their forward despite interest from those on the red half of Manchester. Watkins will hope to return to the club's first choice striker after a difficult few months to end the season. Ironically it was the loan arrival of Marcus Rashford from United that saw Watkins' playing time suffer as a result. Rashford has since left and joined Barcelona on loan, but it means Watkins will face less competition as things stand. Last term Villa enjoyed a run to the last eight of the Champions League, beating Club Brugge, before running PSG close in the quarter-finals. For that tie Unai Emery opted for Rashford over Watkins - which was not well received. The ex-Brentford striker made it clear that was not a role he wanted. Watkins said last season: "He's the manager at the end of the day and you've got to respect his decision, but I'm not one of those players that's happy to sit on the bench. I was fuming I wasn't playing and I let him know that." Emery also had Marco Asensio as a loanee for the second part of the season, but he and Rashford have since left. Villa are yet to make any major attacking additions this summer and the Spanish manager has rejected the prospect of Watkins leaving with Arsenal keen on him back in January. Emery said: "I don't want (to sell Watkins). It is good news to have offers from other clubs. We want to keep our sporting objective through the players we have in the squad." He also maintained: "Watkins is our striker." United are also thought to have considered moves for PSG's Randal Kolo Muani and Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic. Ruben Amorim though has claimed that he would be happy to go on with his squad as it stands, claiming: "If I start the season with this squad I will be happy."
BreakingNews.ie
22 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Ruben Amorim says Manchester United will not let players go cheaply
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim insists the club will not sell unwanted players on the cheap and he is prepared to welcome them back into the fold if necessary. Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia were left out of the tour of the United States – Marcus Rashford subsequently went on loan to Barcelona – and the so-called 'bomb squad' have been training at the club's Carrington complex. Advertisement United's transfer dealings have been widely criticised in recent seasons and Amorim said chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox would not be taken advantage of just to get rid of those surplus to requirements. Alejandro Garnacho is one of four unwanted players left at home by Manchester United (Peter Byrne/PA) 'Some players have to find a new place to have more space in the team and others clearly show they want a new challenge and want new teams,' Amorim told a press conference ahead of the the Premier League Summer Series game against West Ham on Saturday. 'We are just allowing these players to have time to think and to decide. If we reach a point where they have to join the team, they will join the team because they are our players. 'I know for a fact that these people, Omar and Jason, and the club have a number (price) for these players. If they don't reach that, they will be Manchester United players, no doubt about that. Advertisement 'I understand clubs are maybe waiting for the last minute, but they can have a surprise and I'm ready. I'm ready to receive the players. 'They have more competition – if you want to play in the World Cup you need to play, so I'm really happy with that because I have more options. If they have to fight each other to play, for me it is perfect.' United have spent about £130million on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Diego Leon but are still in the market for a defensive midfielder and a striker. However, previous mis-steps on transfers mean United are being more circumspect this summer. Advertisement 'At the moment, our club needs to be really careful when we sign a player,' added Amorim. 'So if we have to start the season with this squad, I'm happy because all the players that are here want to be here – and that for me is the most important thing.'
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Daily Record
Ipswich spoil Aberdeen party as Jimmy Thelin's shake up after Scottish Cup glory becomes clear
The Dons slumped to a 3-1 defeat in front of the fans with the new season just days away Ipswich Town came up and spoiled Aberdeen's Scottish Cup homecoming. The Tractor Boys ploughed through Pittodrie, thanks to a double from Jaden Philogene and another from Scotland cap George Hirst. Jimmy Thelin 's cup winners started brilliantly but then the English Championship promotion pushers just had too much for them. Hirst and Sam Szmodic neatly combined to give Philogene a tap-in before the half-hour. They doubled their lead 10 minutes later when Dimitar Mitov pushed out a Szmodic shot and Hirst rammed in the rebound. Philogene netted a third in the second period when he too easily beat Mitov. Sub Peter Ambrose was an unlikely goal hero as he netted a consolation late on for Aberdeen. It leaves Thelin's Euro-bound squad with plenty to ponder before Monday's Premiership opener at Hearts, as he looks to improve on last season's fifth place finish. A new-look for the Scottish Cup winners It was the first Pittodrie outing since the Aberdeen lifted the Scottish Cup. The glow of that win still shines over the city. It was almost just over two months ago since Thelin had taken the trophy back to the Granite City for the first time in 35 years. It was a chance for the Red Army to come out and see their remaining heroes and those who Thelin had added over the course of the summer. The likes of Adil Aouchiche, Kusini Yengi, Nicolas Milanovic, Nick Suman, Alfie Dorrington and Kjartan Kjaransson. Old European foes This game was marked as a re-run of their legendary 1981-82 encounter in the UEFA Cup. The Dons drew 1-1 at Portman and Road then knocked Bobby Robson's side out 3-1 at Pittodrie thanks to a Peter Weir double and another from Gordon Strachan. This time it was nothing more than a glamour friendly. Both sides have very different ambitions away from a Battle of Britain. Ipswich are looking to get back into the English Premier League, while Aberdeen are fighting for third place in Scotland. Would Jimmy Thelin change tack? The Swede when it came to his formation was very one dimensional. It was 4-2-3-1 all season until he finally threw a curve ball in the Scottish Cup final. Would that encourage him to mix things up going into the new season. Yet last night it was back to the old safety blanket of 4-2-3-1, which many teams had learned to counteract last season. Will he show more flexibility or will he stick with what he knows? New faces Thelin has been relatively busy in the transfer window this summer. Kusini Yengi and Adil Aouchiche were the only two new boys who were handed starts. The big striker hardly got any service in this game and this certainly wasn't a game to judge him. On-loan Aouchiche played just behind him. He looked neat and tidy on the ball and could pose a real attacking threat. Winger Milanovic was another big-money buy and he came on for Shayden Morris at the interval. He also looks lively. It took him a few minutes to drive inside the box and fire across the face. He also had a shot blocked on the line that allowed Ambrose to follow up for his goal. Will Aberdeen be ready for Hearts? They and Celtic will be the last in the Premiership to kick a top-flight ball. They have lost their last two outings against Fulham and Ipswich but the argument will be that they are both likely to be better than most sides they will be facing domestically. Thelin is still trying to bed his new players in and it is unlikely they are going to repeat their sizzling start of last season. Traditionally, Aberdeen don't have a great record at Tynecastle. Hearts have also hit their strides under Derek McInnes so the Dons could have asked for much of a tougher challenge in the opening game.
