Tommy Doyle celebrates his excellent equalizer. Photo: Getty Images/Jack Thomas -25cc-4e0c-9526-a786fc56c045.html?direct=true&id=a2449bdd-25cc-4e0c-9526-a786fc56c045' class='tmg-particle sport-widget wrp-a2449bdd-25cc-4e0c-9526-a786fc56c045' name='Match Summary: Brentford vs Wolverhampton Wanderers data-business-type='editorial' loading='eager' scroll='no'frameborder='0' style='width: 100%; min-width: 100%; border: none; position: static; display: block; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;'>
Tommy Doyle's strike for the ages typified the defiance of Wolves' 10-man squad at Brentford Community Stadium and sent them into a week of training in Abu Dhabi with an eye on a replay.
Gary O'Neill's side were reduced to 10 men in just nine minutes after Joao Gomes' dismissal in what appeared to be their final injustice of the season. Gomez stuck out his leg to try to win the ball from Christian Norgaard in a tackle. His right leg clipped the Brentford midfielder just above the ankle, an injury that forced Norgaard to be replaced but hardly justified the red card shown by referee Tony Harrington.
Just Tommy Doyle doing Tommy Doyle stuff 🤷
The @Wolves man just loves scoring hecklers 🚀#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/5EHfzYRuSB
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 5, 2024
O'Neil said: “It was a tough night that turned into a positive one and I’m really pleased with the performance. It would have been very easy for players to give up on this, but none of that happened.
“I know Joao very well. He didn't mean for it to land on Norgaard's foot like that, and I hope Norgaard is okay.”
If the Wolves were shocked, they have largely lost their emotional immunity this season. A 4-1 win over Brentford at the same stadium nine days earlier also boosted their belief.
They were given a chance early on when Brentford goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha fired a shot straight into the feet of Matheus Cunha, who then hesitated just long enough to see Strakosha clear. Wolverhampton defender Toti nearly turned Mads Rörslev's cross into his own net before Brentford took the lead in the 41st minute. Mathias Jensen's free kick caused confusion between his two teammates, Mathias Jorgensen and Nathan Collins, but the ball accidentally fell to Neal Maupay, who converted the shot.
It can't be stopped 😳@nealmaupay_ @BrentfordFC#EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/C4EcGZmeLA
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 5, 2024
The goal should have sent Brentford, who had never progressed beyond the quarter-finals, into the fourth round. Instead, the fading faith in west London that had accompanied Thomas Frank's side on their descent down the Premier League table was picked up by a confident Wolves side despite their numerical superiority.
Their equalizer was a clear confirmation as Doyle took aim from the free-kick and fired into the far corner.
He could have repeated the feat a few minutes later, but this time his shot hit Jensen square in the face and hit the midfielder.
Disappointed Frank said: “Yeah, it feels like a missed opportunity. Today we can only blame ourselves for the lack of quality throughout the entire field.”
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