Wolves leave it late to deny struggling Bristol City
Wolves left-back Matt Doherty struck in stoppage time to ensure that struggling Bristol City's hoodoo at Molineux continued as they crashed to a 2-1 Sky Bet Championship defeat.
Nathan Byrne scored from close range in the 47th minute to give Wolves the lead before Aden Flint looked to have earned City a point when he grabbed a 78th-minute equaliser.
But Doherty's late header set the relegation alarm bells ringing loudly for City. Wolves have now not lost to the Robins in 19 home league games - a record that stretches back all the way to March 1931.
City had chances to take control of the game in the first half but their finishing let them down as they slipped to their third defeat in six games under the control of recently-appointed manager Lee Johnson who has won his other three games in charge.
Wolves' late, late show earned them only their second win in 10 league games - with those coming in their last two home encounters.
After a pedestrian opening spell, Wolves belatedly sparked some life into the game when Jeremy Helan's 25-yard free-kick flew just over the bar after Joe Mason had been fouled by Nathan Baker in the 10th minute.
City had an even narrower escape two minutes later after a surging run down the left-wing by Conor Coady. Coady teed-up George Saville just outside the area and his low drive was fumbled by goalkeeper Richard O'Donnell.
Wolves striker Mason looked set to pounce on the rebound but City's defence managed to hustle the ball to safety.
The lively Luke Freeman was at the centre of City's best attacking moves and he should have done better four minutes before half-time when he found himself well placed on the edge of the area. But he could not keep his shot down and it flew aimlessly over Carl Ikeme's bar.
The visitors did come closer to taking the lead on the stroke of half-time when Lee Tomlin set-up Jonathan Kodjia. Kodjia's first-time shot did beat Ikeme but unfortunately for City it went the wrong side of the post.
That proved to be a crucial piece of good fortune for Wolves that they quickly took advantage of at the start of the second half. Doherty surged to the goalline and his low cross was bundled home at the far post by Byrne.
The shock of falling behind could easily have deflated City but they mounted a determined search for an equaliser and could have been back on level terms only to be denied by a last-ditch challenge from Doherty in the 58th minute.
Joe Bryan's cross was inch perfect for Kodjia and he looked certain to beat Ikeme at his near post before the intervention of Doherty who blocked his shot.
Bryan had better luck as a creator when he whipped in a long looping cross from the right wing that Flint ghosted in to steer home from three yards.
It looked enough to earn City a share of the spoils only for Doherty to deny them at the death when he headed home Helan's free-kick.
Source: PA
