At a glance

  • Michael Kayode scores his first Brentford goal

  • Igor Thiago adds a second in first half for hosts

  • Adam Armstrong pulls a goal back for Wolves before break

  • Tolu Arokodare nets 77th-minute leveller for the visit

  • PLAYER RATER

Brentford missed the chance to strengthen their Champions League credentials after blowing a two-goal lead to bottom-placed Wolves.

Tolu Arokodare's headed equaliser earned a deserved point for the visitors, with the Nigeria striker also hitting the bar as Wolves chased a winner.

Michael Kayode's first Brentford goal and Igor Thiago's 22nd strike of the season had put the hosts in charge in the first half but Adam Armstrong's superb curling effort pulled one back for Wolves before the break.

Victory would have left Keith Andrews' Brentford just two points behind fifth-placed Liverpool as they remain in the Champions League hunt.

They still sit seventh in the Premier League, chasing European football for the first time in their 134-year history having been one of the pre-season relegation favourites.

"The fact I'm getting asked question like that [about Champions League qualification] is really nice," said head coach Andrews.

"It's a good position to be in. Our destiny, where we finish in the league, what we achieve, is very much on us.

"That's the big message. What do we want to do? Continue to push hard? Because I do. I really want to push hard in these last eight games which is why it's disappointing we were unable to find three points.

"We need to manage the game better, perform better in the second half, deal with whatever way the game flows and try to mature a bit more. We didn't perform as well in the second half and we got punished for that."

The Bees were 2-0 up inside 37 minutes as defender Kayode buried Keane Lewis-Potter's excellent delivery and Thiago - who received a first Brazil call-up on Monday - added a simple second after Dango Ouattara's brilliant set-up.

Thiago nodded against the post as Wolves - bottom and 12 points from safety - looked like they would buckle but Armstrong's first goal for the club just before the break cut the deficit.

The striker almost made it 2-2 in the second half, only to turn Jackson Tchatchoua's cross against the woodwork.

Substitute Arokodare did nod in a leveller with 13 minutes left and, two minutes later, his header came back off the bar

Reiss Nelson then missed a glorious late chance for the hosts when he headed wide as Brentford had to settle for a point.

"There's a tinge of that," said Wolves boss Rob Edwards when asked if he was disappointed not to win.

"We're really proud of the way the players fought back again. We've been 2-0 down fairly recently as well against Arsenal and showed the character and quality so full credit to the boys for showing that fight.

"It's obviously a really difficult situation we're in but it's certainly a lot better if we're showing the fight and the quality and getting results than if we were giving up.

"It was looking like everything was just falling apart. It's not looking like that now."

Brentford analysis: Thiago goals can still create history

Media caption,

'Some of the players need to have a good look in the mirror' - Andrews on Brentford

Of Thiago's 22 goals this season, 19 have come in the Premier League leaving him jut three behind leading scorer Erling Haaland.

And it is the Brazilian's goals that have turned Brentford into unlikely Champions League contenders.

Thiago could celebrate an excellent season by helping his country in the World Cup after his first call-up to Carlo Ancelotti's squad.

Injury wrecked the 24-year-old's first season after a £30m move from Club Brugge with a meniscus injury suffered in pre-season setting him back almost immediately.

A joint infection also ruined his recovery and he made just eight appearances without scoring.

But since netting in the opening-day defeat at Nottingham Forest he has never gone more than six games without a goal. Then, he ended his mini drought with a hat-trick in the win at Everton in January.

Players at Brentford inevitably move on, like Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa in the summer, and Thiago is likely to eventually follow suit as it is the club's model.

But he is revelling in his form and fitness to become Brentford's main man this season, one which could still end with European qualification.

Wolves analysis: Fighting spirit epitomises improvement

Media caption,

'If we got away with it we'll take it' - Rob Edwards on Wolves draw

Wolves may be going down but they are going down with a fight.

For the second time in six games Edwards' side came from 2-0 down to earn a deserved point.

The first time it was against champions-elect Arsenal and, on Monday, Wolves proved their fightbacks are not down to luck.

Two defeats in eight games in all competitions show the improvement under Edwards and they were well worth a point at the Gtech Community Stadium.

It was a timid first-half display until Armstrong's goal just before the beak gave them a lifeline which they built on in the second half.

The players have rallied to Edwards' call to remain committed to the cause and he has fostered the unity which was leaving Molineux before his November arrival.

Wolves are running out of games, with just seven left, and they are 12 points from safety having played a match more than their rivals.

It will be a fight they will ultimately lose but Edwards has fulfilled the brief from when he replaced Vitor Pereira.

He has restored hope and desire within the squad and the fanbase and, despite impending relegation, Wolves can look to the future with some optimism.

What's next for these teams?

Brentford travel to Leeds on Saturday (20:00 GMT) and then host Everton on 11 April (15:00) after the international break.

Wolves do not play for almost a month and return to London on 10 April to play West Ham (20:00) before heading to Leeds on 18 April (15:00).

Player of the match

Number: 9 A. Armstrong
Average rating 7.77
Number: 9 Igor Thiago
Average Rating: 6.36
Number: 1 C. Kelleher
Average Rating: 6.29
Number: 33 M. Kayode
Average Rating: 5.96
Number: 23 K. Lewis-Potter
Average Rating: 5.91
Number: 24 M. Damsgaard
Average Rating: 5.55
Number: 19 D. Ouattara
Average Rating: 5.54
Number: 6 J. Henderson
Average Rating: 5.44
Number: 22 N. Collins
Average Rating: 5.18
Number: 4 S. van den Berg
Average Rating: 5.17
Number: 8 M. Jensen
Average Rating: 5.15
Number: 7 K. Schade
Average Rating: 4.72
Number: 18 Y. Yarmoliuk
Average Rating: 4.33
Number: 20 K. Ajer
Average Rating: 4.28
Number: 11 R. Nelson
Average Rating: 4.22

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.