Wolves 3 Spurs 3: Steven Fletcher levels late after Jermain Defoe and Kevin Doyle doubles
Tears were replaced by goals, incident and controversy at Molineux as a thrilling advert for the Barclays Premier League ended with both managers leaving with smiles on their faces. The two clubs came together before kick-off to salute their former defender Dean Richards, who died nine days ago aged just 36 after a long-term illness. But then they collided for 90 absorbing minutes in which both camps had reason to bemoan their luck. Wolves undoubtedly came off the worse following two contentious decisions by referee Mark Halsey, but earned the point they deserved with Steven Fletcher's 87th-minute header. All square: Fletcher rises to to head home the equaliser for Wolves with just a few minutes remaining Despite the late equaliser, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was relatively happy too. MATCH FACTSWOLVES (4-4-1-1): Hennessey; Foley, Stearman, Berra, Elokobi; Hammill (Fletcher 73), Henry, Milijas, Jarvis; Ward (Ebanks-Blake 60); Doyle. Subs not used: Hahnemann, Craddock, Mouyokolo, Doherty, Griffiths. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-2): Gomes; Hutton, Gallas, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto; Pienaar (Bale 69), Jenas , Sandro , Modric (Kranjcar 84); Pavlyuchenko (Lennon 73), Defoe. Subs not used: Palacios, Crouch, Bassong, Cudicini. Referee: M Halsey He was clearly not overjoyed with his team's defending but three high-class finishes and a return to action for Gareth Bale ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League return against AC Milan had undoubtedly lifted his spirits. Kevin Doyle's first-half header for Wolves was wiped out by two sumptuous Jermain Defoe shots from outside the area. However, as the opening half drew to a close, Alan Hutton pulled back Nenad Milijas as the Serb chased a loose ball inside the Spurs area. Halsey awarded a penalty converted by Doyle but the homecrowd were incensed by Hutton being spared a red card. Roman Pavlyuchenko arrowed a left-foot screamer past Wayne Hennessey shortly after the re-start to restore Spurs' lead before the other contentious issue 10 minutes from time when visiting goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes appeared to throw the ball into his own net after a floated free-kick. Two good: Defoe scores his second, almost a carbon copy of his first, to turn the game on its head The referee blew for an infringement,but the sense of injustice felt by the home fans was eased by Fletcher's late equaliser. McCarthy said: 'It is the party line that when someone challenges a keeper, most keepers are given a free-kick. I think it's poor that the goalkeeper gets the benefit of thedoubt. It wasn't a free-kick at all. As for the penalty, I didn't see it at the time but the rules are that if you stop a clear, goalscoring opportunity then it's a red card.' Redknapp accepted that Hutton should have been sent off but he was more concerned with Defoe's return to goal-scoring form after 323 days without a league goal. Tribute: Players from both teams applaud in memory of Dean Richards who played for both clubs 'He just scored them like he did whenhe was 15 half a yard, then bang,' said Redknapp of his No 18. 'There were loads of positives for me. Gareth (Bale) has a chance of starting on Wednesday, as does Aaron Lennon and Rafael van der Vaart.' The game ended with both sets of fansshouting 'There's only one Deano', in reference to Richards. A fitting end. Heads up: Doyle climbs to nod the ball past Gomes as Wolves make a positive start Farewell, Deano: Tributes for former Bradford, Wolves and Spurs starToure ban will hand us a Euro boost, claims Spurs boss RedknappAll the latest Tottenham news, features and opinionAll the latest Wolves news, features and opinion Explore more:People: Kevin Doyle, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Hennessey, Adam Hammill, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Matt Jarvis, Michael Dawson, William Gallas, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Nenad Milijas
Tears were replaced by goals, incident and controversy at Molineux as a thrilling advert for the Barclays Premier League ended with both managers leaving with smiles on their faces. The two clubs came together before kick-off to salute their former defender Dean Richards, who died nine days ago aged just 36 after a long-term illness. But then they collided for 90 absorbing minutes in which both camps had reason to bemoan their luck. Wolves undoubtedly came off the worse following two contentious decisions by referee Mark Halsey, but earned the point they deserved with Steven Fletcher's 87th-minute header. All square: Fletcher rises to to head home the equaliser for Wolves with just a few minutes remaining Despite the late equaliser, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp was relatively happy too. MATCH FACTSWOLVES (4-4-1-1): Hennessey; Foley, Stearman, Berra, Elokobi; Hammill (Fletcher 73), Henry, Milijas, Jarvis; Ward (Ebanks-Blake 60); Doyle. Subs not used: Hahnemann, Craddock, Mouyokolo, Doherty, Griffiths. TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (4-4-2): Gomes; Hutton, Gallas, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto; Pienaar (Bale 69), Jenas , Sandro , Modric (Kranjcar 84); Pavlyuchenko (Lennon 73), Defoe. Subs not used: Palacios, Crouch, Bassong, Cudicini. Referee: M Halsey He was clearly not overjoyed with his team's defending but three high-class finishes and a return to action for Gareth Bale ahead of Wednesday night's Champions League return against AC Milan had undoubtedly lifted his spirits. Kevin Doyle's first-half header for Wolves was wiped out by two sumptuous Jermain Defoe shots from outside the area. However, as the opening half drew to a close, Alan Hutton pulled back Nenad Milijas as the Serb chased a loose ball inside the Spurs area. Halsey awarded a penalty converted by Doyle but the homecrowd were incensed by Hutton being spared a red card. Roman Pavlyuchenko arrowed a left-foot screamer past Wayne Hennessey shortly after the re-start to restore Spurs' lead before the other contentious issue 10 minutes from time when visiting goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes appeared to throw the ball into his own net after a floated free-kick. Two good: Defoe scores his second, almost a carbon copy of his first, to turn the game on its head The referee blew for an infringement,but the sense of injustice felt by the home fans was eased by Fletcher's late equaliser. McCarthy said: 'It is the party line that when someone challenges a keeper, most keepers are given a free-kick. I think it's poor that the goalkeeper gets the benefit of thedoubt. It wasn't a free-kick at all. As for the penalty, I didn't see it at the time but the rules are that if you stop a clear, goalscoring opportunity then it's a red card.' Redknapp accepted that Hutton should have been sent off but he was more concerned with Defoe's return to goal-scoring form after 323 days without a league goal. Tribute: Players from both teams applaud in memory of Dean Richards who played for both clubs 'He just scored them like he did whenhe was 15 half a yard, then bang,' said Redknapp of his No 18. 'There were loads of positives for me. Gareth (Bale) has a chance of starting on Wednesday, as does Aaron Lennon and Rafael van der Vaart.' The game ended with both sets of fansshouting 'There's only one Deano', in reference to Richards. A fitting end. Heads up: Doyle climbs to nod the ball past Gomes as Wolves make a positive start Farewell, Deano: Tributes for former Bradford, Wolves and Spurs starToure ban will hand us a Euro boost, claims Spurs boss RedknappAll the latest Tottenham news, features and opinionAll the latest Wolves news, features and opinion Explore more:People: Kevin Doyle, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Hennessey, Adam Hammill, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Matt Jarvis, Michael Dawson, William Gallas, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Nenad Milijas
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