EPL

Wolves 1-2 Ipswich: Late Taylor header boosts survival hopes

By Sports Desk December 14, 2024

Jack Taylor scored a 94th-minute winner as Ipswich Town secured a vital 2-1 victory over fellow relegation candidates Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Both teams entered the game off the back of three successive defeats, with Wolves – and their head coach Gary O'Neil – under particularly fierce pressure at a disgruntled Molineux.

A calamitous Matt Doherty own goal handed the Tractor Boys a first-half lead, only for Matheus Cunha to tee up a grandstand finish with his 72nd-minute leveller.

However, it was Ipswich who took all three points, with Wolves' set-piece failings haunting them once again as Taylor nodded Jack Clarke's deep corner home.

The result sees 18th-placed Ipswich move within one point of Crystal Palace in 17th, while Wolves - who had Rayan Ait-Nouri sent off after the final whistle - remain mired in 19th, four points adrift of safety. 

Data Debrief: Ipswich snap Wolves hoodoo

Ipswich have their first victory against Wolves in 10 years, ending a run of seven meetings without victory, having drawn five and lost two. Their last win over Wolves prior to Saturday's contest was in November 2014.

Taylor's goal also brought up Ipswich's first winner scored in the 90th minute or later in the Premier League since Fabian Wilnis netted against Coventry City in November 2000.

There is chaos at Wolves, but Cunha continues to perform. He has been directly involved in four goals in his last four home league games, but the big question may be whether Wolves can keep their star man in the January transfer window.

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    Kieran McKenna was delighted to see Ipswich Town on the right side of late drama as Jack Taylor's 94th-minute header handed them a vital win over fellow strugglers Wolves.

    McKenna's men had been on the receiving end of late losses already this season, squandering valuable points at home to Leicester City and away to Brentford.

    The Tractor Boys had already lost 15 points from winning positions in the Premier League ahead of Saturday's action, the most in the division this campaign.

    Last weekend's home defeat to Bournemouth, which saw them concede two goals in the final five minutes to lose 2-1 having led for the majority of the match, was perhaps the most crushing loss of all and McKenna admitted it was a great feeling to experience the thrill of a late goal in their favour.

    He told BBC Sport: "It is a really nice and brilliant moment for us, the supporters and everyone at the club.

    "We have had some that have gone against us so it is nice to be on the other side of it."

    The Ipswich boss refused to be drawn on the importance of a win against a team close to them in the table but was pleased to see his side bounce back after a three-game losing streak.

    When asked whether the result could be crucial at the end of the season, McKenna responded: "Who knows?

    "We have missed out on points lately that we feel we should have won.

    "To pick up those points was really good. We will train this week and take each one as it comes. We will enjoy every one."

    Ipswich will try to claim back-to-back victories for the first time this season when they host Newcastle United next weekend.

     

  • Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa: Dramatic Elanga strike takes hosts into top four Nottingham Forest 2-1 Aston Villa: Dramatic Elanga strike takes hosts into top four

    Anthony Elanga played the role of super sub as Nottingham Forest scored two late goals to clinch a dramatic 2-1 win over Aston Villa and go fourth in the Premier League table.

    Forest and Villa entered Saturday's late kick-off fifth and sixth in the standings respectively, with both knowing a victory would lift them into the UEFA Champions League places.

    Chances were few and far between until the second half, when Jhon Duran – having replaced Ollie Watkins in the Villa attack – opened the scoring with a fine header, generating all his own power to guide John McGinn's cross into the roof of the net. 

    Chris Wood saw a potential leveller disallowed following a VAR review in the 82nd minute, with substitute Elanga adjudged to be offside when breaking into the box to cross for the New Zealander.

    However, Forest continued to push and equalised via a powerful Nikola Milenkovic header in the 87th minute, Emiliano Martinez getting two hands to the ball but failing to prevent it creeping over the line.

    Elanga then completed the turnaround four minutes into stoppage time, side-footing home after Elliot Anderson dispossessed Matty Cash to cross from the left-hand side.

    That goal ensured Forest climbed above Manchester City with 28 points, three ahead of Villa, ahead of visiting Brentford next Saturday.

    Data Debrief: Late show for Forest

    Forest emerged as the winning side despite trailing after 86 minutes and 14 seconds – the latest they have ever been behind in a Premier League game before going on to win.

    Meanwhile, it was the latest point at which Villa had led and gone on to lose in the Premier League since November 2019 versus Liverpool (1-0 up until 86:35, lost 2-1).

    With 28 points, Forest have managed their best start to a top-flight campaign through 16 games since 1994-95 (also 28), when they went on to finish third. 

  • Bayern to use Mainz defeat as 'fire' for Leipzig clash, says Kompany Bayern to use Mainz defeat as 'fire' for Leipzig clash, says Kompany

    Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany had a clear message for his players following their shock 2-1 defeat away at Mainz, which was their first Bundesliga loss of the season. 

    Lee Jae-Sung struck twice either side of half-time, and despite Leroy Sane reducing the deficit late on, Bo Henriksen's side were able to hold on for a huge triumph. 

    Mainz have now won four of their last five Bundesliga home games against Bayern. Since the start of the 2020-21 campaign, no other side has won more against them. 

    It also marks Kompany's first league defeat since taking the reins at the Allianz Stadium, having only lost in the Champions League and DFB-Pokal in his debut season. 

    And Bayern struggled at the Mewa Arena, despite becoming the only team to score in all of their 14 Bundesliga games so far this season. 

    Kompany's side managed an expected goals (xG) total of 1.48 from their 13 efforts, though they had just one on target, which came from Sane's strike late on. 

    On the back of feeling frustrated at seeing his streak ended, Kompany insisted there was no time to dwell on the result, ahead of hosting RB Leipzig in their final game of 2024. 

    "We played against a team with a lot of life and spirit, they were prepared to fight for every moment," Kompany said post-game.

    "From our side, there was not a lack of fighting. We did that to the best of our ability. Today we were just not at our best. 

    "This game, we can't play it any more, it's done. We'll use it to build a fire for next week. That's the only way to give an answer.

    "We can't win this game in Mainz this year, but in the future, we're looking forward to it."

    The clash with Leipzig is followed by a three-week break from league action, as the Bundesliga hits pause until mid-January. 

    Bayern are still top of the Bundesliga table, but saw their lead reduced to four points on Saturday after champions Bayer Leverkusen beat Augsburg 2-0. 

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