Wolves player ratings vs Everton as Kalajdzic grabs dramatic winner

Wolverhampton Wanderers player ratings from their Premier League game at Everton

Sasa Kalajdzic's dramatic 87th-minute intervention gave Wolves a 1-0 win at Everton, and their first points of the season.

The Austrian striker had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he got on the end of Pedro Neto's inswinging cross to glance the ball home - and send the travelling supporters to his left into raptures.

The hosts had the better of the first half, as James Tarkowski missed a fine chance to put them in front, but Wolves were far better in a more open second half in which Fabio Silva had a goal ruled out for offside and also missed a golden chance.

Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure forced a superb save from Jose Sa and also had a goal ruled out ten minutes from time - but Kalajdzic's first goal for the club settled the contest.

Wolves boss Gary O’Neil had made two changes to the side that started the 4-1 defeat at home to Brighton last week as Hee Chan Hwang and Hugo Bueno were recalled in place of Matheus Nunes, who was serving a one-game ban, and Rayan Ait-Nouri, who was dropped to the bench.

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That meant Jose Sa playing behind a back four of, from right to left, Nelson Semedo, Craig Dawson, Max Kilman and Bueno. Mario Lemina and Joao Gomes resumed their central midfield partnership while Hwang, Pedro Neto and Matheus Cunha were an attacking three supporting central striker Fabio Silva.

Hwang deserved his spot after his efforts off the bench against Brighton but suffered a frustrating start as he was denied a free kick before an Everton break that only ended when Nathan Patterson’s dangerous cross from the right eluded everyone for a goal kick.

Wolves had more to worry about when Arnaut Danjuma was clean through on 15 minutes. However, Jose Sa got enough on the ball to deflect shot on to the post before the assistant referee put his flag up for offside.

Everton should have taken the lead, on 28 minutes, when a corner was only half cleared to James Garner whose shot took a deflection, forcing a reaction save from Sa. The ball bounced out to James Tarkowski who slashed a volley into the side netting as the goal beckoned.

Wolves escaped again, on 36 minutes, as Patterson’s cross dropped to Danjuma who sidefooted a volley a yard wide from 12 yards.

O’Neil made a change at the break with Rayan Ait-Nouri replacing Hwang on the left wing. But the first half pattern continued as Everton fashioned a chance for Garner who couldn’t connect cleanly at the far post.

But Wolves had a goal disallowed on 57 minutes after Lemina's clever pass found Bueno on the left. He bent the ball in to Silva who was just offside as he finished by sidefooting the ball home just ahead of Jordan Pickford.

The visitors came even closer when Neto’s free kick deflected off Branthwaite and forced a superb reflect stop from Pickford.

But Everton thought they had taken a 67th-minute lead when Garner’s cross was met by a stooping header from Abdoulaye Doucoure at the far post only for an off-balance Sa to get across and touch the ball over.

Everton came close again on 79 minutes when Doucoure forced his way into the area and hooked the ball over the line, but the goal was ruled out for offside – Wolves surviving a nervy VAR check.

And O'Neil's side won it when Neto's inch-perfect cross found Kalajdzic for an emotional moment for the striker after a year out injured.

Wolves player ratings vs Everton

Jose Sa: Kept out Danjuma’s shot and wasn’t to know the striker was offside. Reaction stop to keep out Garner’s deflected effort. Gave away a corner early in the second half but rectified that with a double save. Brilliant stop to deny Doucoure. 8

Nelson Semedo: Turned by Dobbin early but his pace got him out of trouble. Booked for a trip on the same player before the break but alert to deny Doucoure. 7

Craig Dawson: Certainly kept busy as Wolves kept Everton at bay before the break. 7

Max Kilman: Solid alongside Dawson as they got the Brighton game out of their system. 7

Hugo Bueno: Recalled in place of Rayan Ait-Nouri at left back. Steady performance even though miscontrolling a crossfeld pass into touch wasn’t his finest moment. Great ball in for Silva’s disallowed goal. 7

Joao Gomes: On edge after an early booking but still played an important part with a typically busy performance in central mdfield. 7

Mario Lemina: Threatened with an effort from the edge of the area but was mostly busy on a more defensive role as Wolves battled away in midfield. Booking early in the second half made his life difficult. 7.5

Hee Chan Hwang: Recalled in place of the suspended Matheus Nunes, deservedly so after impressing off the bench against Brighton. A couple of early decisions didn’t go his way. Fortunately not inured by a collision with a cameraman. 6

Cunha: Often pushed up with Silva in an attacking line up, even though Wolves didn’t create that much before the break. Played as the lone central striker once Silva was replaced by Sarabia. 7

Neto: Threatened intermittently on the right although a heavy touch cost him an opportunity after he had been played in by Semedo. Improved after the break as the game opened up and supplied a brilliant cross for the winner. 7

Silva: Couldn’t make much of an impact before the break. Smart finish from Bueno’s cross but was just offside early in the second half. Should have done better than fire just wide moments later. 6

SUBS

Ait-Nouri (Hwang, 45) Has to take some credit for Wolves’ much improved second-half performance. 6.5

Sarabia (Silva, 74), Toti (Bueno, 85), Kalajdzic (Cunha, 85)