Everton Draw At Wolves To Extend Unbeaten Run

Everton extended their unbeaten run in the Premier League to eight games but were forced to settle for a point after a 1-1 draw with Wolves at Molineux.

The Blues opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark, as Jack Harrison found the bottom corner via a deflection, after Jesper Lindstrøm's intelligent switch of play, with the wide pair immediately answering manager David Moyes' call to produce more in terms of attacking numbers.

But the hosts got themselves back on level terms before the half-time break, Marshall Munetsi slotting home after Jean-Ricner Bellegarde's slide-rule pass.

Both teams had chances to win it in the second period - most notably Beto, after a superb solo run from Charly Alcaraz, but Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa was equal to the striker's shot and both teams were forced to settle for a point.

FIRST HALF

Abdoulaye Doucoure returned to the starting line-up in place of Alcaraz in the only change to the Everton side that began the 1-1 draw with Brentford last time out.

Ten days had passed since that trip to the capital, with David Moyes taking his side on a warm weather training camp in the United Arab Emirates before heading to the West Midlands.

It was a move which, Moyes hoped, would refresh his in-form side, who headed into this encounter on the back of an impressive seven-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.

And it was the Blues who created the first spell of pressure and opportunities of the contest.

Doucoure, who missed the trip to Brentford due to his wife giving birth, went close with 11 minutes on the clock, bringing down a ball that had popped up into the air following Vitalii Mykolenko's low cross from the left before prodding a shot towards goal that needed a last-gasp intervention from Emmanuel Agbadou to keep it out.

Jarrad Branthwaite went close from the resulting corner, delicately glancing Harrison's in-swinging corner but this time Munetsi was on hand with a vital clearance with Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa beaten.

Another corner followed and after a short one-two between Harrison and James Garner, the former produced a menacing cross that Beto was unable to apply a telling touch on.

Wolves responded with their first meaningful attack moments later. Rayan Ait-Nouri skipped past a Garner challenge before taking aim from the edge of the penalty area but captain James Tarkowski - as he so often is - was on hand to provide an important block at the crucial moment. 

Jordan Pickford was called into action for the first time from the resulting corner, providing an excellent reaction save to keep out Munetsi, who had rose highest at the far post to connect with a powerful header.

A quieter quarter of an hour ensued before the Blues broke the deadlock on 33 minutes.

Moyes' challenge to Lindstrøm and Harrison had been laid out in no uncertain terms heading into this game. "Both players are yet to register on either front [goals or assists] this season," said the boss in his pre-match press conference. "Let's be fair - you won't have longevity if you're not going to get me assists and goals. You have to find ways of coming up with those numbers. I think both have done well but I need goals from them, I need assists from them. They both need to improve greatly on that."

Challenge accepted, as Lindstrøm provided the assist with brilliant vision and a pass from right to left for Harrison, who set himself before unleashing a powerful left-footed strike that found the bottom corner of the net via a deflection to send the 3,010 travelling Evertonians into raptures.

The lead would prove to be short lived, though, with the hosts back on level terms five minutes before the interval.

Toti began the move in Wolves' backline before Ait-Nouri helped it in field but it was Bellegarde's excellent slide-rule pass that would prove to be the key to unlock Everton's stubborn defence, allowing Munetsi a simple finish from close-range.

SECOND HALF 

Wolves goalscorer Munetsi made way for Pablo Sarabia for the beginning of the second half and there Spain international threatened moments after the restart with a free-kick that whistled inches wide of Pickford's left-hand upright.

Everton responded with a speculative effort of their own, but Idrissa Gana Gueye's 20-yard shot sailed high over the crossbar. 

Moyes shuffled his pack with a double switch just after the hour mark - Tim Iroegbunam and Charly Alcaraz replacing Doucoure and Lindstrøm, with Garner pushed forward into a more advanced central role.

The game felt very much in the balance, with both sides believing they could convert one point into three - highlighted by a breathless 60 seconds with chances at either end.

First, Wolves went close when Jorgen Strand Larsen managed to shake off a challenge from Branthwaite and thunder a shot on goal, only to be expertly denied by the feet of Pickford. 

From there, Everton launched a counter-attack via substitute Alcaraz, who did superbly to carry the ball from the edge of the Toffees' penalty area to deep inside Wolves territory before playing an inch-perfect pass for Beto, who did everything right with his first-time curling shot but was denied by a strong palm from Sa.

Alcaraz was proving a thorn in Wolves' side. He threatened again in the closing stages when, after dropping a shoulder to evade a defender, his left-footed shot was spilled by Sa but the goalkeeper quickly recovered to pick up the loose ball.

That would prove to be the final presentable chance on a night where Everton extend their positive run under Moyes, with West Ham next up when the Hammers visit to Goodison Park on Saturday 15 March.