Calamitous Tchatchoua own goal costs Wolves in derby
Jackson Tchatchoua's calamitous own goal earned Birmingham City a point as it drew 2-2 with Wolves in an absorbing West Midlands derby in the Championship.
Wolves were looking to go second in the early-season table with a win, but they were pegged back twice as the rivals shared four goals in the first half, and they were arguably fortunate to escape St. Andrew's with a draw as Birmingham bossed the second half.
Wolves made a lightning start as Rodrigo Gomes's low cross from the right was turned home by Fer Lopez in the third minute, though Gomes missed a huge chance to double his side's lead shortly afterwards, with James Beadle getting a hand to his attempted lob.
Jay Stansfield's crashing volley inside the near post got Birmingham level in the 22nd minute, but Wolves soon got back on top as Ladislav Krejci – making his first start since representing Czechia at the World Cup – reacted to Andre's flick-on with a bullet header into the top-left corner.
A defensive debacle saw Wolves pegged back once again, as Tchatchoua's terrible back pass sailed over Jose Sa and into the net, and they were unable to re-establish their lead before half-time as Raul Jimenez's free-kick thumped against the crossbar.
It was the host side which came out stronger after the interval, with Phil Neumann's towering header taking a touch off Tchatchoua before it rebounded off the bar, then fellow centre-back Christoph Klarer nodded wide when left completely unmarked from a free-kick.
Despite Wolves spending long periods penned back inside their own area, they missed a glaring chance for a winner when the game became stretched late on, with Adam Armstrong blazing over an unguarded net after being teed up by Lopez.
Chris Davies's host also went close when Tchatchoua gave away a needless free-kick deep into stoppage time, with Sa diving to his right to repel Marvin Ducksch's attempt.
Jackson Tchatchoua
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
