Wolverhampton Wanderers were forced to settle for a point in their Championship opener after Raul Jimenez’s dramatic late penalty rescued a 2-2 draw against Blackburn Rovers at Molineux.
Wolves looked on course for victory after Marshall Munetsi opened the scoring, but Blackburn responded through Sean McLoughlin and Andri Gudjohnsen to turn the match around.
Tony Mowbray appeared destined to celebrate a dream return to the Blackburn dugout until a late handball gave Wolves a lifeline. Jimenez kept his composure from the spot in the 93rd minute to deny Rovers all three points.
The result means both teams begin the new Championship campaign with a point, although Wolves will feel they missed an opportunity to make a winning start in front of their home supporters.
Quick Match Overview
| Competition | Championship |
|---|---|
| Match | Wolves 2-2 Blackburn Rovers |
| Venue | Molineux Stadium |
| Attendance | 30,984 |
| Half-Time Score | Wolves 1-1 Blackburn |
| Full-Time Score | Wolves 2-2 Blackburn |
| Player of the Match | Andri Guðjohnsen |
| Wolves Scorers | Marshall Munetsi, Raul Jimenez |
| Blackburn Scorers | Sean McLoughlin, Andri Guðjohnsen |
Wolves Start Quickly Through Munetsi
Wolves began the match with plenty of attacking intent and were rewarded after just 18 minutes.
Summer signing Kieran Trippier played an intelligent pass inside from the right before Fer López produced a clever turn and threaded the ball into the inside-left channel.
Munetsi timed his run perfectly before finishing left-footed beyond Blackburn goalkeeper Balazs Toth.
It was an important moment for the Wolves midfielder, who had not scored for the club since the final day of the 2024-25 season.
The home side continued to threaten, with López and Mateus Mané both coming close with dipping efforts that narrowly missed the target.
Blackburn Respond Through McLoughlin
Blackburn did not allow Wolves to control the match for long.
Nine minutes after Munetsi’s opener, the visitors found an equaliser from a corner.
Ryoya Morishita delivered a dangerous cross from the right after Blackburn retained possession from the set piece.
Sean McLoughlin reacted brilliantly, glancing his header across Dan Bentley and into the bottom corner.
The goal was McLoughlin’s first for Blackburn and completely changed the momentum of the match.
Wolves had looked dangerous going forward, but Blackburn demonstrated that they could punish defensive lapses.
Gudjohnsen Completes Blackburn’s Comeback
The visitors then produced the game’s next major moment shortly after half-time.
Just three minutes into the second period, Andri Guðjohnsen put Blackburn ahead.
Dapo Afolayan burst down the right before creating the opportunity, allowing Guðjohnsen to finish from close range at the near post.
The goal was particularly memorable given the striker’s family connection to English football.
Andri is the son of former Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea striker Eidur Guðjohnsen.
Suddenly, a Wolves side that had looked comfortable early in the match found themselves chasing the game.
Jimenez Comes Off the Bench to Save Wolves
Wolves struggled to rediscover their first-half attacking rhythm as Blackburn defended their advantage impressively.
Cesar Peixoto introduced Raul Jimenez from the bench, hoping the experienced forward could provide the spark his side desperately needed.
For long periods, it looked as though Blackburn would hold on.
Then came the decisive moment.
Jackson Tchatchoua sent a cross into the Blackburn penalty area and the ball struck Ryan Alebiosu’s outstretched right arm.
Referee Farai Hallam immediately pointed to the spot.
Jimenez stepped forward and produced a composed finish, sending the ball into the bottom-right corner in the 93rd minute.
It was a long, stuttering run-up, but the Mexican forward kept his nerve when Wolves needed him most.
A Special Return for Jimenez
The penalty was even more significant because it marked Jimenez’s return to league football at Molineux.
The Mexican forward and his wife had arranged for around 5,000 supporters to receive black scarves featuring “SI SENOR”, a tribute to the famous terrace song associated with him.
Those scarves were raised around the stadium as Jimenez converted the penalty.
It transformed what had looked like a disappointing Wolves defeat into a dramatic opening-day draw.
Tony Mowbray Denied a Dream Start
For Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray, the result will feel particularly frustrating.
Returning for his second spell in charge, Mowbray appeared close to securing an impressive away victory after his side recovered from going behind.
Blackburn defended strongly for much of the second half and even threatened to extend their lead.
After the final whistle, Mowbray admitted that he believed his side were capable of winning.
He also expressed frustration at the late decisions but stopped short of questioning the referee’s integrity.
The former West Bromwich Albion manager will nevertheless have plenty of positives to take from Blackburn’s performance.
Wolves Still Have Work to Do
Wolves were widely regarded as one of the teams capable of challenging for promotion, making the opening-day draw somewhat disappointing.
Their attacking play before half-time was encouraging.
They created dangerous situations through:
- Fer López
- Mateus Mané
- Marshall Munetsi
- Kieran Trippier
However, they struggled to maintain the same intensity after the interval.
The introduction of Jimenez ultimately rescued them, but Peixoto will know that Wolves cannot afford to surrender control of home matches if they are serious about challenging near the top of the Championship.
Match Turning Points
| Minute | Event |
|---|---|
| 18′ | Munetsi gives Wolves the lead |
| 27′ | McLoughlin equalises for Blackburn |
| 48′ | Guðjohnsen puts Blackburn ahead |
| 90+3′ | Jimenez scores a penalty to make it 2-2 |
The biggest turning point came late in the second half.
Blackburn had defended their lead effectively and appeared capable of seeing out the match before Alebiosu’s handball changed everything.
Player of the Match: Andri Guðjohnsen
Andri Guðjohnsen was named Player of the Match after an impressive performance.
The 17-year-old striker scored Blackburn’s second goal and consistently threatened the Wolves defence.
His close-range finish gave Blackburn the lead early in the second half and demonstrated the young forward’s ability to make an impact on a major occasion.
His performance will be one of the biggest positives for Mowbray to take from the match.
What’s Next?
Wolves will return to Championship action on Saturday, August 22, when they travel to Deepdale to face Preston North End.
Blackburn will also play on August 22, but they will finally return to Ewood Park for their first home match of the campaign.
Mowbray’s side will welcome Middlesbrough in what should be an emotional homecoming for the returning manager.
Both clubs are also continuing to work on their squads before the transfer window closes.
Wolves have reportedly been linked with Wales international Jordan James, who currently plays for French club Rennes after previously spending time on loan at Leicester City.
Key Takeaways
- Wolves drew 2-2 with Blackburn Rovers in their Championship opener.
- Marshall Munetsi gave Wolves an early lead.
- Sean McLoughlin scored his first Blackburn goal to equalise.
- Andri Guðjohnsen completed Blackburn’s comeback shortly after half-time.
- Raul Jimenez rescued Wolves with a 93rd-minute penalty.
- Tony Mowbray was denied victory on his return to the Blackburn dugout.
- Guðjohnsen was named Player of the Match.
- Wolves will travel to Preston next, while Blackburn host Middlesbrough.
Final Thoughts
Wolves will probably view this 2-2 draw as two points dropped rather than a point gained.
They had the stronger attacking moments before half-time and looked capable of starting their promotion campaign with a victory. Instead, Blackburn responded impressively, turned the game around and came within minutes of securing a memorable away win.
For Tony Mowbray, the frustration will be balanced by the performance of his young side, particularly Guðjohnsen, who produced one of the afternoon’s standout displays.
And for Wolves, Raul Jimenez’s late penalty provided a dramatic escape.
The Championship season is only one game old, but Molineux has already delivered a reminder of how unpredictable this division can be.
