Diogo Jota hat-trick sees Wolves edge Leicester City in Premier League game of the season

Diogo Jota of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates after scoring a goal to make it 1-0 with Joao Moutinho of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City
Diogo Jota (18) prompted wild celebrations after completing his hat-trick in extra time  Credit: Getty Images

While Nuno Espirito Santo raced onto the Molineux pitch to celebrate with his players, Claude Puel stood with his head in hands, in total isolation.

They were the contrasting emotions of both managers as Diogo Jota settled an absorbing, frankly bonkers, Midlands derby in added time with the crucial winning goal which also secured his hat-trick.

Nuno was sent off by referee Chris Kavanagh for his over-exuberance, but the Wolves head coach could perhaps not be blamed after this thrilling advertisement for Premier League football.

It was arguably the game of the season so far. Leicester’s famous slogan is ‘Foxes Never Quit’ and their dramatic second-half response had appeared to have come at the perfect time for Puel.

Twice they came back to frustrate Wolves until Jota struck at the death to increase the pressure on Leicester’s beleaguered manager, who has now lost four of his last five matches.

Leicester City manager Claude Puel reacts following Wolverhampton Wanderers's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leicester City
Leicester City manager Claude Puel shows his anguish at the full-time whistle Credit: Getty Images

Jota became the first Wolves player to score a top-flight hat-trick since John Richards in October 1977 (which was also against Leicester).

Nuno said: “It’s tremendous happiness to finish like that for everybody at Molineux.

“As a manager it's difficult because there are so many circumstances during the game that I think we should avoid, but it was a very good game because both teams went for it. If there were no mistakes there would be no goals.

“We should manage the game better but it's football.”

On his sending-off, Nuno said: “That is the law and I accept it. I tried to avoid going inside the pitch but it is clear and I was sent off for it and it is the right decision."

Miracles can clearly happen twice, for there was also a remarkable 4-3 win for Wolves over Leicester here in October 2003.

That time it was Leicester who threw away a 3-0 half-time lead, yet on this occasion it was their opponents who were nearly guilty of tossing aside three points.

Wolves were ahead after just four minutes, and could even have scored before that.

Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo celebrates with his staff after Diogo Jota (not pictured) scored their first goal 
That was in contrast to the emotions on the Wolves bench Credit: Action Images

Kasper Schmeichel had produced an outstanding save from Ruben Neves but barely 60 seconds later was easily beaten by Jota, who got in front of Danny Simpson to jab Joao Moutinho’s cross home from four yards.

It was the worst possible start for Puel, who wheeled around angrily in his technical area.

There was a nervy moment for Wolves when Rui Patricio, the goalkeeper, almost gifted Jamie Vardy a swift equaliser but the home team increased their lead in the 13th minute, after further suspect defending.

This time it was Harry Maguire at fault, with Ryan Bennett climbing above the England defender to head in Moutinho’s corner.

“You’re getting sacked in the morning,” chanted the Wolves fans, with some Leicester supporters applauding in response.

It could have been worse before half-time, with Schmeichel saving from Jota and Raul Jimenez.

But Leicester produced their first snarl of defiance in the 47th minute with a fine individual goal from Demarai Gray. The winger collected the ball from just near the halfway line and then advanced towards goal, eluding Bennett to arrow a shot across Patricio into the bottom corner.

Harvey Barnes, making his first Leicester start in the league, was then denied by Patricio but produced the leveller in the 52nd minute, driving home the loose ball through Conor Coady’s legs. Rather harshly, Barnes’s effort was later credited as a Coady own goal.

Diogo Jota of Wolverhampton Wanderers celebrates after scoring his team's third goal 
Jota became the first Wolves player to score a top-flight hat-trick since John Richards in October 1977 Credit: Getty Images

The game was now ebbing and flowing, and Wolves regained the lead in the 64th minute. It was the result of a superb through ball from Neves, with Jota picking up the midfielder’s 50-yard pass and shooting under Schmeichel.

Game over? Nah. Morgan then produced another leveller, heading in substitute James Maddison’s free kick at the far post. It was Morgan’s first goal since the Champions League win over Sevilla in March 2017.

Jota had the last word, though, sweeping home Jimenez’s cross to spark scenes of delirium in front of the South Bank.

Puel said: “It was a crazy game and I’m thinking lots of things.

“It was a fantastic feeling to get back from a difficult situation, but we didn’t manage at the end of the game with the right attitude. We were naïve a lot, and that is a big disappointment.

“We have to correct our inconsistency because we are so up and down with our performances. It’s a big shame to lose all these points.”

                                                                                                    

Full-time! Wolves 4 Leicester 3

It's all over. A Diogo Jota hat-trick has sealed a win for Wolves in arguably the game of the season so far. 

90+4 min - Wolves 4 Leicester 3 

Nuno sprints onto the pitch to celebrate with his players and is sent off! Carnage at Molineux. 

GOAL!!!! Wolves 4 Leicester 3 (Jota 90+3')

GOAL!! Wolves have won it at the death!!! It's absolute bedlam at Molineux, as Jimenez breaks clear down the right and squares for Jota, who makes no mistake and cooly passes a finish beyond Schmeichel at the near post. Incredible end to an incredible game! 

90+2 min - Wolves 3 Leicester 3

"I just don't want this to end...possibly the best Premier League game this season". Jamie Carragher is absolutely loving this. 

90 min - Wolves 3 Leicester 3

This is so much fun. Wolves counter at pace, but the ball just won't drop for Jimenez, and Maddison can head clear. From the subsequent corner, Wolves want a handball off Ricardo. No pen says Chris Kavanagh. 

Three minutes of time to be added on. 

88 min - Wolves 3 Leicester 3

The last time these sides met in the Premier League at Molineux it ended 4-3. Surely that can't happen again? 

GOAL!!!! Wolves 3 Leicester 3 (Morgan 87')

GOAL!! Leicester are level. From the resulting free-kick Maddison whips in a beauty from the right, and Morgan climbs highest to nod past Patricio. What a game! 

Credit: AFP

86 min - Wolves 3 Leicester 2

Jonny booked for hacking down Mendy near the touchline. 

84 min - Wolves 3 Leicester 2

What a chance for Leicester! Ricardo keeps Chilwell's cross in play and delivers a low centre that Maddison scuffs wide from close range. Iheanacho does finally come on, replacing Simpson. Ricardo drops to right-back, and Gray moves to right wing. 

81 min - Wolves 3 Leicester 2

Maddison looks to bend a cross in for Vardy that's just overhit. Wolves make a second change - Gibbs-White on for Moutinho, who set up Wolves's first two goals. Puel wants to bring on Iheanacho, but he's not yet ready to come on. I mean...

78 min - Wolves 3 Leicester 2

Gray and Maddison not on the same wavelength and the ball rolls harmlessly away for a Wolves goal kick. Have Leicester got it in them to mount a second comeback? 

Credit: PA

75 min - Wolves 3 Leicester 2

Patricio is grateful to hack the ball away after Gray's low shot almost lands perfectly at the feet of Maddison. 

73 min - Wolves 3 Leicester 2

Change for Wolves at left wing-back: Doherty on for Vinaigre. 

Leicester also make a change: Maddison on for Barnes. 

70 min - Wolves 3 Leicester 2

Sounds like the second Leicester goal will be given as a Coady OG - his second in two games - as Barnes' shot was going wide. Wolves force a corner, but Neves can only slice a volley well wide. 

67 min - Wolves 3 Leicester 2

Crazy moment as Schmeichel palms away a cross and then charges out to tackle the ball away. He gets there just in front of Jota, who was looking for the penalty. 

GOAL!!!!! Wolves 3 Leicester 2 (Jota 64')

GOAL! Wolves are back in front! This bonkers game takes another twist. Neves produces one of the passes of the season to loft a through ball perfectly into the path of Jota, who collects the ball and smashes a shot that Schmeichel gets a touch on but can't keep out. Leicester so open defensively again. 

Credit: AFP

62 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 2

Wolves want a penalty when Jota - put through by a sumptuous Neves pass - goes down under challenge from Morgan. Not enough in that. 

60 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 2

Quieter couple of minutes. When do the managers start making changes? A reminder of the two benches:

Wolves: Ruddy, Doherty, Cavaleiro, Costa, Gibbs-White, Giles, Traore 

Leicester: Ward, Fuchs, Evans, Choudhury, Albrighton, Maddison, Iheanacho

57 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 2

Leicester force a corner but Saiss heads clear. Ndidi is booked for chopping down Neves. It's all Leicester at the moment. 

GOAL!!!! Wolves 2 Leicester 2 (Coady OG 52')

GOAL! Would you believe it? Leicester are level! Chilwell flies forward down the left, and though he's tackled the ball lands perfectly to Barnes to lash an effort from just inside the box that deflects off Coady past Patricio. What a start to the second half for Leicester! 

Credit: AFP

50 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 1

The injured Maguire has to be replaced by Evans, but Leicester are suddenly purring. Vardy feeds Barnes down the left, and Patricio is forced to palm his near-post shot over the bar. 

GOAL!!!! Wolves 2 Leicester 1 (Gray 47')

GOAL! The visitors are right back in it. Brilliant counter from Leicester, led by Vardy, who wriggles away from Bennett and feeds Gray. The Wolves defenders back-peddle, and Gray roars past Saiss before angling a finish beyond Patricio. 

Credit: PA

46 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

We're back under way for the second half. No changes for either side at half-time. 

Sacked in the morning?

Good going forward, but dreadful defensively. Wolves honestly could have put about four past Leicester that half. Claude Puel will need to earn his corn in the dressing room over the next 15 minutes, or he might be picking up his P45 in the next couple of days. 

Credit: PA

Half-time: Wolves 2 Leicester 0

The half ends with Jota picking up a ridiculously harsh booking after making minimal contact with Simpson. On the plus side, they lead 2-0 against a defensively shambolic Leicester. 

Credit: PA

45 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

Wolves streak clear on the counter, and Ricardo is forced to scythe down Jota and take a booking. Two minutes of time to be added on. 

44 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

After Vinagre's poor corner is cleared, Neves has a blast at goal from the edge of the box that's blocked. Wolves finishing the half much the stronger. Bennett is then booked for blocking off Vardy as he looked to break clear down the left. 

43 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

More chaos in the Leicester box as first Jimenez has a volley blocked and then from their own throw, Morgan is forced to block Jota off. It wasn't a penalty, but so sloppy again. Jamie Carragher is raging about the Leicester defending in commentary. 

40 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

Wolves close to a third again. Jimenez twists past Maguire and prods a shot towards goal that Schmeichel blocks smartly with his feet. 

37 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

Leicester pushing for the goal before half-time, but Wolves have dug in and dropped deeper in the last 10 or so. Leicester now struggling to create anything. 

33 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

Neves is down feeling his head after being bulldozed to the ground by Vardy. 

Credit: AFP

30 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

Leicester are completely overrun in midfield but Jota fails to spot Jonny haring outside him on the right for what would have been a one-on-one. Jota goes left instead and the chance goes. 

28 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

How is it not 3-0? Jimenez does brilliantly down the right to race past Chilwell and dig out a cross that finds Jota completely free plum in front of goal. Jota though heads straight at Schmeichel from about six yards out. Where were Morgan and the other Leicester defenders? 

26 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

Barnes is having a really tough time on his Premier League debut, struggling to make any impact and giving the ball away. Wolves meanwhile nearly have a third, but there's no-one on hand to get on the end of Dendoncker's low cross. 

23 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

Rob Hawthorne just said "Here's Jonny". It made me chuckle. 

Credit: Movie clips

20 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

Make that nine attempts as Gray's shot is blocked, and Ricardo then drags a shot wide of the near post from inside the area. Wolves look so open defensively, but Leicester wasteful thus far. 

Ryan Bennett makes it 2-0 to Wolves in the 12th minute Credit: AFP

20 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

More good approach play from Leicester sees Barnes tee Gray up for a volley that's straight at Patricio. Leicester have had seven attempts to Wolves' three so far.

18 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

Great football from Leicester ends with Gray pinging off a shot from the edge of the box that Patricio does well to push wide. 

15 min - Wolves 2 Leicester 0

Patricio again looks shaky, kicking the ball straight to Barnes. He and Vardy work the ball to Gray, whose shot is deflected wide. There are definitely goals in this for Leicester. 

GOAL!!! Wolves 2 Leicester 0 (Bennett 12')

GOAL! Wolves double their lead with the simplest of goals. Moutinho floats in a corner and there's Bennett - rising above Maguire - to bury a header into the far corner. "You're getting sacked in the morning", the Wolves fans gleefully sing to Leicester manager Claude Puel. 

10 min - Wolves 1 Leicester 0

Maguire seems alright to continue for now. 

Credit: AFP

9 min - Wolves 1 Leicester 0

Both teams look all over the place defensively, which is making for an extremely entertaining - if slightly comical - spectacle. Long may it continue. Maguire is down receiving treatment after crashing into a combination of Jonny and Mendy. 

7 min - Wolves 1 Leicester 0

Gray jinks away from Bennett down the right and wins a corner. Maguire heads the resulting delivery way over. Think it would have been a foul on Patricio had that gone in. 

5 min - Wolves 1 Leicester 0

Leicester so nearly level after the Wolves goalkeeper Patricio loses the ball to Vardy in his own six-yard box. Patricio does well to recover and get down to smother the ball. Vardy is eventually crowded out. 

What a start to the game! 

GOAL!!!!!!! Wolves 1 Leicester 0 (Jota 4')

GOAL!Leicester clear the corner, but Gray is dispossessed and Wolves work the ball wide to Moutinho. His floated cross is met on the volley by Jota, and Wolves have an early lead!  

3 min - Wolves 0 Leicester 0

Beautiful curling strike from about 25 yards by Neves is kept out by an excellent Schmiechel save. That was heading straight for the top corner. 

2 min - Wolves 0 Leicester 0

An early booking for Mendy for clattering Jimenez. Barnes' under-hit pass put Mendy in all sorts of trouble there. 

1 min - Wolves 0 Leicester 0

Vardy finds some space and looks for Barnes in the area. Patricio comes out to make an easy claim. 

Kick-off

We're underway at a grey Molineux. A reminder of the teams for this one. 

Wolves: Patricio, Bennett, Coady, Saiss, Otto, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho, Vinagre, Jimenez, Jota

Subs: Ruddy, Doherty, Cavaleiro, Costa, Gibbs-White, Giles, Traore

Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell, Ndidi, Mendy, Ricardo, Barnes, Gray, Vardy.

Subs: Ward, Fuchs, Evans, Choudhury, Albrighton, Maddison, Iheanacho

Teams are out

The players are met with dazzling pyrotechnics - what else for a mid-table battle between 8th and 11th? - as they take to the Molineux pitch. Kick off a few minutes away.

Another one to watch

Harvey Barnes, who was so impressive for West Brom in the first half of the season, makes his first Premier League start for Leicester today. A pacy, direct runner - Barnes, 21, adds to Leicester's considerable threat on the break this afternoon alongside Demarai Gray and Jamie Vardy.  

Whiter than White

A lot of love for Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White in the build-up. He gives a very polished interview to Sky Sports, and receives rich praise from studio guests Matt Murray and Emile Heskey. Gibbs-White was part of the England under-17 team that won the 2017 World Cup in India, and has already produced some very impressive performances for Wolves this season. He's on the bench today but you'd expect him to come on if Wolves need a goal. 

Credit: Getty Images

Why is Molineux called Molineux?

It's always struck me as a really incongruous stadium name for a midlands club. So today I thought you know what, I have access to Google, I'm just going to Google it. So I did, and it turns out the stadium is named after Benjamin Molineux, an 18th-century local merchant who bought the land on which the stadium was eventually built. 

So there you have it. 

And in written form + what it all means

Wolves:Patricio, Bennett, Coady, Saiss, Otto, Dendoncker, Neves, Moutinho, Vinagre, Jimenez, Jota

Subs: Ruddy, Doherty, Cavaleiro, Costa, Gibbs-White, Giles, Traore

So Doherty is benched, and Saiss  fills in for the suspended Boly. Otto plays on the right of the back five, and Vinagre starts in the left wing-back position. Dendoncker, who some thought would slot in at centre-back, starts in midfield to allow Moutinho to push further forward. 

Leicester: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell, Ndidi, Mendy, Ricardo, Barnes, Gray, Vardy.

Subs: Ward, Fuchs, Evans, Choudhury, Albrighton, Maddison, Iheanacho

Three changes for Leicester from the side that lost 2-1 to Southampton last week. Danny Simpson, Demarai Gray and Harvey Barnes come in for James Maddison, Marc Albrighton and Hamza Choudhary, who all drop to the bench. 

Demarai Gray starts for Leicester  Credit: PA

Team news

Wolves at the door

Two mid-table teams, but two very differing moods. 

Where Wolves have enjoyed a thrilling first season back in the Premier League, at Leicester there is a lingering fug of discontent. 

On the face of it, there would appear to be little reason for Leicester supporters to be disgruntled. Their team are eighth, have posted wins recent wins over Chelsea and Manchester City, and could well finish the season as the best of the rest outside of the 'Big Six'. 

The issue stems from Claude Puel's supposedly negative tactics, which has been a simmering issue since he took over in 2017, and last week saw Leicester start with three defensive midfielders at home against a Southampton side that started the day in the relegation zone. Leicester ended up losing 2-1 in a match that was also characterised by the marginalisation of Jamie Vardy - another key sub-plot this season. With Leicester chasing the game they resorted to punting crosses into the box, which led to Vardy finishing the match with just 14 touches - the same number of headed clearances made by the Southampton centre-backs. 

Numbers like these help explain the curious situation where Puel, despite Leicester's healthy league position, is the favourite to be the next Premier League manager sacked. 

Claude Puel is coming under increasing pressure at Leicester Credit: PA

"It’s a common thread, all press conferences, I cannot manage these rumours," Claude Puel said this week of his future. "It’s often we have a lot of bets about my future. But I’m sorry for lots of people who made this bet because they lost a lot of money."

Perhaps today's trip to Molineux will provide a lift for the under-pressure (I don't think he's quite in beleaguered territory) Puel. The onus will be on Wolves to attack, which should in theory leaves gaps in behind for Vardy to exploit. 

As for Wolves, manager Nuno Espirito Santo could do with a win after consecutive league losses to Crystal Palace and Manchester City. Generally, Wolves have saved their best performances for the 'bigger' teams, but whether that includes Leicester is a bit of a moot point. When the two sides met in August, Leicester won 2-0. Should Wolves win today, they will climb from 11th above Leicester into 8th position. 

We'll be getting team news at 11.30, ahead of a 12.30 kick-off. 

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