Wolves suffer pre-season defeat in first summer loss

Wolves suffered their first pre-season defeat of the summer at the hands of last season’s Spanish cup winners Real Sociedad.

The first chance of the fixture came when Marshall Munetsi won the ball well in midfield, allowing Tommy Doyle to release Rodrigo Gomes down the right.

His cross reached Mateus Mane at the far post, who forced a save.

Toti Gomes also had a headed palmed away following a corner, as Wolves made a solid start to the game and took the lead in the 17th minute.

Cesar Peixoto was audibly urging a high press from the sidelines and his players responded by pouncing on the opposition, as Sociedad tried to play short from a goal-kick.

Rodrigo Gomes was the beneficiary as he pressed aggressively and finished first time.

Moments later, Doyle whipped in a dangerous ball as Wolves pressed for a second.

Sociedad grew more into the game and equalised 10 minutes before the break after Ander Barrenetzea knocked down a long ball for Orri Oskarsson to finish into the bottom corner.

Wolves fans were complaining to the linesman that Barrenetzea was offside, but the goal stood, while goalkeeper Dan Bentley could have done better with the shot.

Moments later, Bentley’s horror pass to Andre under pressure saw him lose the ball and Sociedad almost grabbed a second.

Wolves had looked sharp for most of the half but conceded a poor goal and had a sloppy end to the first 45, as they entered the break drawing 1-1.

Wolves settled again for the start of the second half and mostly dominated the ball, as Mane cut in off the left and curled an effort towards the far post and was not far from finding the target.

Even as they made some changes to give others minutes, Wolves did well to repel Sociedad attacks and control the ball and the tempo of the game, despite not creating clear-cut chances of their own.

However, for all of their control, it was Wolves that went behind in the 84th minute when Pedro Lima overran the ball and it fell for Alex Lebarbier, who whipped the ball into the far corner.

That was the last major action of the game, as Wolves fell to defeat.

Wolves: Bentley, Trippier, Mosquera (Djiga, 77), Toti, H.Bueno (Tchatchoua, 77), Andre, Munetsi (Traore, 77), Doyle (Chirewa, 73), R.Gomes (Lima, 73), Mane, Edozie (Armstrong, 60).

Subs not used: Brooks, Gracey.