Wolves secured a hard-fought point against Everton at Molineux, with several players rising to the occasion.
After Ipswich Town dropped points late on against Crystal Palace and with Leicester City yet to play, Wolves earned a valuable point against the Toffees.
Following Wolves’ 4-0 defeat to Everton at Goodison Park earlier in the season, a lot of improvement was evident at Molineux.
Marshall Munetsi scored his first goal following his January transfer to earn the vital point but, it was another player who truly spared the Old Gold’s blushes.
Jose Sa applauded for decisive save against Everton
Wolves had control over Everton for the majority of the fixture however, Vitor Pereira’s side were almost punished in the second half.
In the 71st minute, Beto was through on goal with the chance to give the visitors the lead against the run of play but thankfully, Jose Sa had other ideas.
The goalkeeper got down instantly to push the striker’s shot away from the danger, a moment that earned him high praise from Express and Star reporters Nathan Judah and Liam Keen.
“Jose Sa against Beto, one on one, that is the save that’s got them [Wolves] a point there so got to give him credit,” Judah said when discussing the standout performers on the night.
The journalist’s assessment of the Portugal international’s reaction to Everton’s break was shared by Keen, who applauded the 32-year-old for keeping the Toffees at bay where possible.
“The one big moment that he [Sa] did have, Everton break, I think it’s a good save, he pushes it away perfectly, goes down perfectly and salvages Wolves a point.”
Prior to the game, there was debate as to whether Pereira would start Sa over Sam Johnstone, with the manager’s trust repaid by the shot-stopper.
Overdue praise for Sa after Fulham nightmare
After Johnstone starred in Wolves’ FA Cup defeat to Bournemouth, many called on the boss to up the competition by handing the Englishman a Premier League start.
Instead, Pereira stuck by his first choice, which despite paying off against Everton, was surprising to some degree given the ‘keeper’s recent struggles.
Sa was called ‘ridiculous’ against Fulham by pundit Clinton Morrison, who reacted boldly to the Portugal international’s mishap to hand the visitors their winning goal.
It’s not been the easiest of campaigns for the 32-year-old, whose season was branded ‘awful’ by Jamie Carragher, making his vital moment against Everton all the more celebratory.
Unfortunately, Wolves couldn’t get the win against the Toffees but, Sa ensured a defeat wasn’t on the cards, denying Beto when it mattered most.