Raúl Jiménez scored a stoppage-time penalty to secure a 2-2 draw for Wolves against Blackburn in Friday’s Championship season opener at Molineux. Marshall Munetsi opened the scoring for the hosts, but goals from Sean McLoughlin and Andri Gudjohnsen put Blackburn ahead before the veteran striker’s late intervention saved a point.
A Dramatic Return for Jiménez
Raúl Jiménez marked his return to Wolverhampton Wanderers with a 92nd-minute penalty that rescued a point in the club’s first Championship match in eight years. The 35-year-old Mexico striker, who rejoined the club following a spell at Fulham, was introduced as a second-half substitute to a rapturous reception from the Molineux faithful. He converted from the spot after referee Farai Hallam ruled that Blackburn defender Ryan Alebiosu had handled a cross from Jackson Tchatchoua inside the penalty area.
The decision proved controversial, with Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray expressing frustration after reviewing footage of the incident. I’ve just been shown an angle by my analyst where he is outside the box; another angle I’m told shows he’s just inside the box,
Mowbray said. I just felt like more and more decisions were starting to sway their way.
Tactical Struggles for Head Coach César Peixoto
For Wolves head coach César Peixoto, the match served as a difficult introduction to English football. While the hosts started brightly—with Marshall Munetsi netting the opening goal in the 18th minute after a precise through-ball from Fer López—the team struggled to maintain control as the game progressed. Peixoto admitted that his players lost their composure after falling behind, noting that they relied on emotion rather than tactical discipline.
“After that we played more with heart than with our heads or brain. We lost organisation and it was more difficult after that.”
César Peixoto, Wolves head coach
The match marked the first competitive outing for Peixoto, who was hired during the off-season to replace the sacked Rob Edwards. The board’s decision to appoint a manager without prior experience in the English game has left supporters’ patience thin, and the defensive lapses against Blackburn highlighted the work still required to stabilize the squad following their relegation from the Premier League.
Blackburn’s Resilient Performance
Despite entering the campaign with low external expectations, Blackburn Rovers nearly secured an upset victory. After falling behind to Munetsi’s strike, they leveled the score in the 27th minute when Sean McLoughlin headed in a cross from Ryoya Morishita. The visitors took the lead early in the second half through Andri Gudjohnsen, who turned in a precise square ball from Oladapo Afolayan.
Blackburn’s defensive structure remained largely effective until the closing moments, and they were denied a third goal in the 85th minute when Yerson Mosquera hooked the ball off the line following a corner. While they left Molineux with only a point, the performance signaled that the squad is capable of competing despite limited activity in the transfer market.
Player Gestures and Team Outlook
Beyond the scoreline, the evening was defined by the reception for Jiménez, who purchased “Si Señor” scarves for supporters in the South Bank to acknowledge their ongoing support during his absence.
While the goal provided a morale boost, the veteran striker was candid about the team’s need for improvement. It’s not the result we were looking for in our first home game of the new season, so we need to learn from this,
he added.
Lingering Questions for the Championship Campaign
The result leaves both clubs with immediate questions to answer as the season begins.
For Blackburn, the challenge will be maintaining the intensity shown in their opening fixture throughout a grueling campaign. With the Championship season underway, the gap between the tactical ambitions of the new coaching staff and the reality of their squad’s current performance level remains the central uncertainty for Wolves, a team currently positioned as second favorites for promotion but clearly still finding its rhythm.
