Wolves denied by Mowbray

TONY LEIGHTON

Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 Ipswich Town 2

Wolves were denied the chance to take all three points by a bizarre injury-time equaliser in a match they should have won comfortably. After two goals from Don Goodman had seemingly set the managerless First Division strugglers on the road to their first league victory since October, it was a cruel finish.

If, or more certainly when, Mark McGhee, the Leicester City manager, switches his allegiance from the east to the west Midlands, he will find himself in a similar if not more hopeful situation than the one he inherited at Filbert Street 12 months ago.

But this time, and certainly on the evidence of this performance against Ipswich, McGhee should be able to guide his new club away from the danger area. Displaying the new spirit and belief instilled in them by caretaker manager Bobby Downes, Wolves were in control throughout.

However, the profligacy which has cost them so many points this season was once more their undoing. Although Goodman netted his 11th and 12th goals of the campaign, half a dozen good chances were wasted before and after Ian Marshall gave Ipswich a 30th-minute lead.

Mike Stowell, having conceded a free-kick by sliding out of the penalty area with the ball in his arms, compounded his error by palming Simon Milton's free-kick straight to Marshall for a side-footed shot into the net.

After Dean Richards, Steve Bull and Goodman had all missed the target from further openings, the equaliser arrived on the hour. Andy Thompson's low cross threaded its way through a sea of legs to leave Goodman with a simple tap-in.

Ten minutes later, an excellent through-ball from Darren Ferguson led to Goodman bagging his second with a neat chip over the advancing Fred Barber, Ipswich's on-loan debutant goalkeeper.

That seemed to be that, but in the second minute of injury time, Neil Thompson's corner was headed goalwards by Tony Mowbray and when Ferguson cleared the ball off the line, it struck the unfortunate Stowell and rebounded into the net.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (5-3-2): Stowell; Rankine, Richards, Law, Venus, A Thompson; Emblen (Birch, 82), Atkins, Ferguson; Goodman, Bull. Substitutes not used: M Williams, Jones (gk).

Ipswich Town (5-3-2): Barber; Taricco (Mason, 74), Mowbray, Sedgley, Thomsen, N Thompson; Stockwell (Uhlenbeek, 74), Milton, G Williams; Mathie, Marshall. Substitute not used: Gregory.

Referee: G Cain (Bootle).

Man of the match: Goodman.

Attendance: 20,867.