Match Reports

Gross grabs late glory as Albion win at Wolves

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German adds to first-half efforts by Adam Lallana and Kaoru Mitoma in 3-2 victory at Molineux.

By Bruce Talbot • 05 November 2022

By Paul Hazlewood
Adam Lallana celebrates his first Albion goal since March 2021.

Pascal Gross was on target for the second successive game as Albion scored three goals for the second successive game at Molineux to seal a deserved 3-2 win.

Substitute Deniz Undav assisted his fellow German with his touch seven minutes from time after Wolves had played the second half with ten men.

Albion made a great start with Adam Lallana scoring his first goal since March 2021 to give us a ninth-minute lead.

Goncalo Guedes quickly equalised then a controversial penalty against Lewis Dunk and converted by Ruben Neves put Wolves in front.

But Kaoru Mitoma headed in his first Albion goal to make it 2-2 and Wolves ended a breathless first half with ten men after Nelson Semedo was shown a straight red for bringing down Mitoma.

Albion kept plugging away in the second half and after Dunk, Adam Webster and Alexis Mac Allister had gone close, Gross finished off a terrific move to make it back to back wins for Roberto De Zerbi and his team.

By Paul Hazlewood
Delight for Adam Lallana after his clever finish made it 1-0.

An unchanged Albion were on the front foot from the start. Leandro Trossard’s appeals for a penalty after he was challenged by Max Kilman were ignored by referee Graham Scott before Alexis Mac Allister dragged a right-foot shot wide of the post from 18 yards.

Then a combination of Nathan Collins and Hugo Bueno did superbly to block Solly March’s shot after Lallana had pulled a long ball by Lewis Dunk out of the sky to set up the chance.

But Albion weren’t to be denied much longer, going ahead on nine minutes with an outstanding goal. Mitoma attacked Semedo on the left before finding Trossard. His touch teeds up Lallana who took a touch before curling the ball into the top corner.

Wolves looked shaky but they responded with an equaliser three minutes later. Guedes was picked out in lots of space down the right by Boubacar Traore’s pass and he held off Mitoma and steers right-foot shot inside the near post.

Albion were soon into their stride again and Trossard went close in the 23rd minute. Mac Allister and Pervis Estupinan were both involved in the build-up before Mitoma slipped Trossard in but the Belgian lifted his shot over Jose Sa and the bar.

By Paul Hazlewood
Leandro Trossard went close with his first-half shot.

Instead, Wolves took the lead in controversial circumstances in the 33rd minute when Daniel Podence’s cross from the edge of the six-yard box struck Dunk on the elbow. The Albion skipper had his arm raised, but wasn’t facing the ball. The VAR John Brooks intervened amid Wolves’ protests and three minutes later, after referee Graham Scott had spent more than a minute at the pitch-side monitor, Neves drilled the penalty down the middle as Sanchez dived to his right and it was 2-1.

That was harsh on Albion at that stage and Wolves’ fans were howling for another penalty moments later for a foul by Dunk on Guedes, but the referee waved play on.

But parity was restored three minutes before the break. March did well on the right to keep possession and find Lallana. He attacked the space then picked out Mitoma who rose above Semedo to head powerfully past Sa from a couple of yards.

Semedo’s afternoon was to go from bad to worse. In stoppage time, Mitoma controlled Adam Webster’s long ball and was brought down by the Wolves’ defender on the edge of the box who was shown a red card by Mr Scott. Alexis Mac Allister’s free kick was hit with power but straight at Sa.

Albion started the second half strongly too. March won the ball back from Bueno in front of the away fans and drove into the box before unleashing a powerful shot which Sa blocked at his near post. Dunk met the resulting corner well but diverted his header a yard wide.

By Paul Hazlewood
Kaoru Mitoma gets above Nelson Semedo to score his first Premier League goal.

Albion threatened again from another corner on 56 minutes but it was Webster this time who couldn’t keep his effort on target after meeting March’s delivery from the left with a firm header.

As they had in the first period Albion were dominating possession. Wolves settled into a low block with Hwang Hee-Chan left up front.

Webster threatened again from another set piece on 62 minutes when Mitoma was fouled 22 yards out. Mac Allister whipped the ball in at pace and the defender’s diving header again flew the wrong side of the upright.

Danny Welbeck replaced Lallana and his first involvement saw him clipped by Collins on the edge of the box. Mac Allister curled the free kick round the wall but Sa plunged to his left to keep it out – a top save.

Mac Allister was even better placed in the 77th minute after Trossard was fouled centrally 22 yards out but this free-kick was whipped wide of the left-hand post.

By Paul Hazlewood
Solly March takes on Goncalo Guedes.

Wolves still carried a threat and when a free kick was played into the path of substitute Adama Traore he tested Sanchez with a fiercely struck shot from an angle which the keeper deflected behind for a rare home corner.

De Zerbi made a double change with ten minutes to go, bringing on Billy Gilmour and Deniz Undav and moments later Undav had an assist and Albion were back in front. After more patient build-up stretched the home defence, Mitoma skipped into the box and slipped a pass to Undav. He helped it onto Gross who lashed a shot high into the roof of the net.

Undav tested Sa after another good move as Albion sought the comfort of a fourth goal but it wasn’t required and we had back-to-back wins.

Albion: Sanchez, Gross, Dunk, Webster, Estupinan (Gilmour 82), Caicedo, Mac Allister, March, Lallana (Welbeck 65), Mitoma (Veltman 90), Trossard (Undav 82).

Subs not used: Steele, Lamptey, Colwill, Sarmiento, Enciso.

Referee: Graham Scott