MATHEUS CUNHA nervously chewed his fingernails as he fidgeted in his seat in his executive box.
If Wolves’ Brazilian forward didn’t realise it before he certainly does now – just like every single Old Gold fan inside Molineux.
Without their talismanic matchwinner, Wolves are in for a nerve-shredding end to the season.
Make no mistake, this was a game crying out for Cunha’s spark of genius and scoring touch.
But without their top scorer – banned for a MINIMUM of three matches following his brainstorm at Bournemouth last week – Vitor Pereira’s men had to settle for a share of the spoils.
Yet every Wolves fan left Molineux last night convinced that if Cunha had been around he would have conjured up a match-winning moment of magic to turn one point into three.
Instead, Wolves had to settle for Marshall Munetsi’s first goal for the club earning a share of the spoils as he stepped up to the plate to compensate for Cunha’s absence.
As for Everton, David Moyes was able to uncork a bottle of red in the early hours of the morning, content at stretching the Toffees’ unbeaten run to eight games.
Moyes has been loving every minute of his second honeymoon with Everton.
Since taking over from Sean Dyche in January, the Scot has dusted himself down from an opening day defeat by Aston Villa and led them to almost certain safety.
His side arrived at Molineux with their batteries recharged after a training camp in Abu Dhabi, brimming with confidence.
That was in stark contrast to Wolves who had lost six of their last eight top flight matches and were without talismanic matchwinner Matheus Cunha.
The Brazilian was banned for at least three games following his meltdown against Bournemouth last week and, without their attacking inspiration, Wolves looked lost.
Abdoulaye Doucoure had a shot on the turn blocked by Emmanuel Agbadou.
Jarrad Branthwaite was unlucky to see his header bounce off Marshall Munetsi’s head as it sped towards the net following a James Garner corner.
And Beto was centimetres short of getting on the end of Jack Harrison’s wicked low cross from a short-corner before Jordan Pickford was called into action.
The England No.1 had to be on his toes to block Marshall Munetsi’s point-blank header with his right knee.
But Everton’s pressure paid off after 33 minutes when they took the lead as Jack Harrison answered his manager’s pre-match ultimatum.
Moyes challenged his two on-loan wingers Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom to start producing an end product if they wanted to extend their stay with the Toffees.
Moyes pointed out neither had contributed a goal or an assist this season and it was time to shape up or ship out.
Clearly the message got through because Harrison responded by scoring for the first time in 40 matches – and Lindstrom provided the assist!
Agbadou’s long ball out of defence was pounced upon by James Tarkowski who nodded it forward to Lindstrom and the Dane swept a crossfield ball to Harrison on the left.
The on-loan Leeds man let fly and deserved his slice of luck as the ball deflected off Matt Doherty’s right calf and flew into the far corner of Jose Sa’s net.
It was Harrison’s first strike since he scored against Spurs one year and five days earlier.
Things looked bleak for a Wolves side who have conceded first in 18 games this season and only recovered to win once!
But Everton failed to build on their lead and allowed Wolves to roar back with an equaliser seven minutes later.
Rayan Ait-Nouri fed Jean-Ricner Bellegarde who split the Toffees’ defence with a superb diagonal pass.
Branthwaite was wrong-footed as he tried to cover Jorgen Strand Larsen and the ball sped by him to Marshall Munetsi who slipped it beyond Pickford to open his Wolves account.
Sadly for Pereira, the one man who looked destined to provide the x-factor Cunha usually provides never came out for the second half.
Munetsi felt a twinge and had to remain inside at the break and he was replaced by Pablo Sarabia.
The sub came close to giving Wolves the lead when he swept in a free kick which had Pickford scrambling as it rippled his side netting.
Strand Larsen was booked for lashing out at Tarkowski and Moyes sent on Carlos Alcaraz and Tim Iroegbunam for Doucoure and Lindstrom.
Suddenly this slow burner burst into life as Pickford beat away Strand Larsen’s angled shot.
Everton raced straight down the opposite end and this time it was Jose Sa’s turn to excel when he brilliantly pushed Beto’s low shot to safety, following a two-on-two break.
The keeper was relieved when Alcaraz then shot straight at him when he had a clear sight at goal.
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