Wolves 4 Leicester City 3 – Report and pictures

Wolves made their best start to a game this season, netting twice inside the opening 12 minutes through Diogo Jota's close-range finish and Ryan Bennett's header, both via Joao Moutinho crosses.

Attack-minded Leicester levelled things up inside the space of four minutes just after half-time with Demarai Gray pulling one back before Harvey Barnes' shot deflected off Conor Coady and beat Rui Patricio.

Jota took a wonderful Neves pass to make it 3-2 before Wes Morgan equalised with a header – and then in injury time Jota sidefooted home from Raul Jimenez's pass to spark wild scenes.

Analysis

And they say lightning never strikes twice.

There was no comeback this time, as there was in 2003, but the drama was just as awe-inspiring Wolves beat Leicester 4-3 at Molineux yet again, writes Tim Spiers.

Wolves have created some unforgettable memories so far this season and, for all their victories against the Premier League's big boys, a last-gasp winner from Diogo Jota in front of a disbelieving South Bank may be the best yet.

It's fair enough to say that 12.30pm games tend to produce drab, fairly lifeless encounters, but this was the total opposite.

Before Jota's dramatic winner how you viewed this game from a Wolves perspective depended on your disposition.

The positive among you will have enjoyed a fabulous game of attacking football – an enthralling goal-fest with chances, shots and incidents galore.

You'll have been marvelling at Wolves scoring three goals at Molineux for the first time since March last year (against Burton) and purring at the performances of Ruben Neves and Jota.

The glass-half-full-minded would have been fuming at Wolves' at-times comical defending, straight out of the 'Some Mothers Do Ave Em' school, which contributed to Leicester coming from 2-0 and 3-2 down to look as if they would earn a point.

But at the final reckoning Wolves edged a lunchtime cracker at Molineux and, in attacking terms, laid down a marker for the standards they should try to aspire to this season.

Jota netted more than once in a game for the first time since September 2017, Neves looked back to his Championship form, spraying sumptuous passes for fun, while Leander Dendoncker was excellent and Joao Moutinho and Raul Jimenez inspirational.

The problems came at the back, with Willy Boly's absence felt as he missed his first meaningful league game for 18 months.

But on a madcap day like this – when Wolves suggested again they have the credentials to finish seventh – the analysis can wait for another day. What a day, what a winner, what a match – and what a team.

Match report

Nuno left Matt Doherty, whose partner gave birth this week, on the bench with Ruben Vinagre coming in and Jonny Castro Otto switching to the right flank.

Romain Saiss replaced the suspended Willy Boly at centre half with Leander Dendoncker keeping his place in midfield.

Under-fire Leicester boss Claude Puel handed a first ever Foxes start to Harvey Barnes, who was recalled from a prolific loan spell at West Brom recently, with James Maddison dropping out the XI.

Early kick-offs often produce drab encounters and with Leicester tending to enjoy sitting deep and playing on the counter, there were fears this could have been a lifeless match at freezing cold Molineux – not a chance.

For once this season Wolves netted early – specifically their earliest goal of the season – and what followed what a thoroughly entertaining half with chances and incidents galore.

Ruben Neves set the tone with a rasping 30-yarder that Kasper Schmeichel magnificently tipped over at full stretch.

A minute later rampant Wolves were ahead. Dendoncker won possession in midfield, Raul Jimenez played wide right to Joao Moutinho and his come-and-get-me cross was met by Diogo Jota, who edged ahead of Danny Simpson to finish from close range for his third goal in six appearances.

It was just what Wolves needed but they almost gifted Leicester an instant equaliser when Rui Patricio inexplicably started dawdling in possession on his six-yard line – Jamie Vardy nipped in but the keeper just recovered in time, before Harry Maguire headed over a corner from a great position.

It was end-to-end and Wolves doubled their lead after just 12 minutes when Moutinho's teasing corner was met by Ryan Bennett who powered a header past Schmeichel, netting his first goal since that last-gasp winner at Bristol City many moons ago.

The undeterred visitors continued to attack – another Patricio error occurred when he passed straight to a Leicester player and Saiss had to block a goalbound effort, before the keeper made amends with a fine stop from Demarai Gray.

Wolves were all over the shop at the back but still causing Leicester problems at the other end and Jota should have made it 3-0 when he headed straight at the keeper after wonderful work from Jimenez down the right, the 13th shot of the match after just 30 minutes.

The rest of the half was dominated by referee Chris Kavanagh who turned a couple of penalty appeals down for challenges on Jota, then booked several players in quick succession including Nampalys Mendy for a crunching and cynical tackle on Jota, then Jota himself when he barely touched his man. It sent Nuno and most of the players into a rage and the referee was duly booed off at half time.

Leicester could perhaps feel hard-done-by with the 2-0 scoreline - but they made amends with a goal immediately after half-time.

Bennett mis-timed a header and Vardy played to the onrushing Gray, who took on the despairing dive of Saiss and drilled low past Patricio from the right of the box.

Barnes was close to an equaliser just a minute later when his effort was tipped over by Patricio, but the former Albion man didn't have to wait long for his big moment.

Jonny, under pressure from Chilwell, gifted the ball to Barnes who drilled his shot through Coady and into the corner from 15 yards for Leicester's second goal inside four minutes as the game was turned on its head.

It was the 51st minute and most of Molineux were wondering when Wolves were going to come out for the second half.

Well, after finding a foothold again, they began to flourish, with the inspirational Neves at the heart of everything.

He curled over the defence for Jota, who almost got a free shot away before Wes Morgan intervened – referee Kavanagh turned down another penalty appeal.

And the same combination worked a treat a couple of minutes later as Wolves re-took the lead in style. Neves nonchalantly pinged a 60-yarder into the path of Jota who bounded into the box and confidently lashed into the net for his second of the afternoon.

Wolves had looked shellshocked after that Leicester comeback but now they were thriving, with almost everything Neves touching turning to gold in a performance reminiscent of his Championship days.

Nuno, who had earlier replaced Vinagre with Doherty, sent on Morgan Gibbs-White for Moutinho with 10 minutes left.

But Leicester weren't done yet. They began to pile forward and lay the pressure on – which told with only three minutes remaining when a free kick saw Morgan get ahead of Dendoncker and beat Patricio, who was rooted to his line.

It looked set to finish 3-3 but Wolves had other ideas – Neves sprayed wide to Jimenez and, with seconds left on the clock, he played into Jota's pass who sidefooted home to send Molineux absolutely delirious. Nuno sprinted down the touchline to celebrate and was sent off by the pernickity ref – but absolutely no one cared when he blew his full-time whistle to end a fabulous, breathless encounter.

Key moments

02 - Wolves have come flying out of the blocks! The ball falls kindly to Neves, who catches it in trademark beautiful style from 30 yards. The right-footed curler is destined for the top corner, but Schmeichel makes a fantastic save to tip it over.

04 - GOOAALLLL!! Nuno's team are in front! They have begun the game like a house on fire, and Jota capitalises with a smart finish. Jimenez holds the ball up and feeds Moutinho on the right. The Portuguese pass master plays a perfect cross to Jota, who volleys home.

12 - GOAAALLLLL!!! The hosts score their second, with Moutinho the provider yet again. This time, he floats a corner right to Bennett, who rises high and heads past a perplexed Schmeichel. Bennett's first goal of the season, got the power and placement required.

47 - Goal! Leicester pull one back, punishing Wolves with a swift counter-attack. Bennett misjudges a Foxes clearance, allowing Vardy to get on the ball. He finds Gray, and he skips past the challenge of Saiss and slots into the far corner with his left foot.

51 - Goal! Leicester are level, thanks to some shambolic defending by the hosts. Otto stumbles and gifts the ball to Barnes. The former Albion man has a crack, and it deflects off Wolves skipper Coady and past Patricio. Really poor from Nuno's charges.

64 - GOOOOOAAAALLLL!!! A Neves pass of the absolute highest order falls right at the feet of Jota, who finishes with his left foot to put Wolves back in front! Sublimely over the top of the Foxes defence, you will struggle to find a better assist anywhere in the world.

87 - Goal! Wolves, yet again, do not cover themselves in glory at the back, and Leicester skipper Morgan comes up with a late equaliser. After Otto's foul, the ball is launched into the area. Morgan beats Dendoncker to it, to nod past Patricio.

90 - GOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!! Jota completes the hat-trick in dramatic fashion! The Foxes push forward and are caught out at the back. Jimenez manages to stay onside, to receive another superb Neves pass. He squares it across the face of goal to Jota, who finishes first-time to send Molineux into delirium.

Teams

Wolves (3-4-3): Patricio; Bennett, Coady (c), Saiss; Otto, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho (Gibbs-White, 80), Vinagre (Doherty, 73); Jimenez, Jota

Subs not used: Ruddy (gk), Giles, Traore, Costa, Cavaleiro

Goals: Jota (4, 64, 90+2) Bennett (12)

Leicester City (4-3-3): Schmeichel; Simpson (Iheanacho, 83), Maguire (Evans, 48), Morgan (c); Pereira, Mendy, Ndidi, Chilwell; Gray, Vardy, Barnes (Maddison, 73)

Subs not used: Ward (gk), Fuchs, Choudhury, Albrighton

Goals: Gray (49), Coady (OG, 53), Morgan (87)

Attendance: 31,278

Referee: Chris Kavanagh (Lancashire)

League position

8th (32 points from 23 matches)

Next up

Wolves travel to face Shrewsbury Town in the FA Cup fourth round next Saturday, 3pm. Their next league game is the following Tuesday (29th) when they host West Ham United at Molineux, kick off 7.45pm.