Diego Costa was sent off in second-half stoppage time as Wolves secured a rare away point at Brentford but still remain in the Premier League bottom three.
The striker was sent off for violent conduct after appearing to headbutt Brentford’s Ben Mee.
Earlier, Ruben Neves’ equaliser cancelled out Mee’s superb volley early in the second half.
Wolves move up one place to 18th, while Brentford go up to 11th.
An attritional and injury-laden first half gave way to a livelier second period, with Brentford’s Ivan Toney missing from close range late on.
But the Bees’ prolific striker was also booked for his fifth yellow card of the season, meaning he will miss their next outing against Nottingham Forest.
Costa, 34, had become more of a threat as the game developed and forced David Raya into making a save with a shot from a tight angle, before being dismissed for the first time in the Premier League.
Last week’s 4-0 defeat by Leicester City had featured chants from sections of Wolves’ Molineux support aimed at technical director Scott Sellars, who was later defended by interim head coach Steve Davis.
And their struggles in front of goal this season, with only five scored before kick-off, continued with substitute Joao Moutinho coming closest in the first half when his volley direct from a corner was deflected away by Mee.
But the Brentford centre-back’s goal stung them into action, with Neves being picked out with a pass from the right from Nelson Semedo before he shot past a motionless Raya into the bottom corner.
Costa’s clash with Mee on the edge of Brentford’s box late in the game was referred to VAR and when referee Bobby Madley consulted the pitchside monitor, it felt inevitable that the ex-Chelsea forward would see a straight red card.
Struggling in front of goal all season and without a permanent manager, Wolves are now set to be without Costa for three matches until they resume after the World Cup against Everton on Boxing Day.
source – BBC
