Vela save former liverpool manager from debut defeat

Carlos Vela saved Roy
Hodgson from defeat in his
first match as West Bromwich
Albion manager as the
Mexican striker's last-gasp
goal earned a 1-1 draw
against local rivals Wolves
on Sunday.
Hodgson was moments away
from opening his reign at the
Hawthorns in the worst
possible manner as Albion
trailed to Jamie O'Hara's first
goal for Wolves.
But Vela, on loan from
Arsenal, spared Hodgson's
blushes with a stoppage time
equaliser which kept fourth
bottom Albion outside the
relegation zone and three
points ahead of bottom club
Wolves.
Former Liverpool boss
Hodgson, appointed after
Roberto Di Matteo's sacking,
made one enforced change
as midfielder Youssouf
Mulumbu was ruled out with a
hamstring injury, leading to a
recalle for Gabriel Tamas.
Wolves had an early chance
when O'Hara made a
determined run at the
Baggies defence inside the
first 30 seconds, only for the
on-loan Tottenham
midfielder's shot to be
blocked by Jonas Olsson.
Peter Odemwingie almost got
clear when he ran onto
Tamas's throughball but
Albion's top scorer was
denied as Wolves
goalkeeper Wayne
Hennessey cleared from the
edge of the area.
Matt Jarvis was causing
problems down the left flank
for Gonzalo Jara and another
probing centre was headed
over by O'Hara.
Paul Scharner's glancing
header from a Nicky Shorey
cross went just past the
post, then Marc-Antoine
Fortune should have done
better when he headed a
curling shot from Graham
Dorrans over the bar from
close range.
Just as Hodgson's side were
starting to take control,
O'Hara put Wolves ahead
with a fabulous strike.
Nenad Milijas squared a
free-kick to O'Hara and his
curling shot flashed past
Boaz Myhill's despairing dive
into the roof of the net.
Jarvis wasted a glorious
opportunity to double
Wolves' lead after 51
minutes.
Tamas made a mess of trying
to head the ball back to
Myhill and Jarvis nipped in
with only the keeper to beat.
But from 10 yards out he
dragged the shot wide of the
far post.
Albion pressed hard for an
equaliser after that narrow
escape and Odemwingie
released Fortune but his
shot from a narrow angle
was turned aside by
Hennessey.
Hodgson's side should have
equalised after 63 minutes
when Odemwingie headed the
ball across the box to
Fortune. However the former
Celtic striker failed to make
any contact as he missed his
kick from close range.
Another chance came and
went for Albion when Jarvis
headed a near post Olsson
header off the line from Chris
Brunt's corner.
Hodgson sent on Vela in
place of Dorrans soon after
and his change almost paid
off immediately as Hennessey
beat out the forward's shot
after he cut in from the left.
Vela always looked
dangerous and, with seconds
remaining, he was perfectly
placed to equalise after
Hennessey spilled James
Morrison's low drive