Brentford failed to qualify for Europe as Bryan Mbuemo’s 20th Premier League goal of the season was cancelled out by a cracker from Marshall Munetsi of Wolves.
Thomas Frank’s side needed a series of results to go their way to play Europa Conference League football next season but winning at Molineux was the first requirement to finishing eighth.
Things looked bright when Mbuemo stabbed home Christian Norgaard’s pass after 20 minutes and excitement grew in the away end when rivals Brighton fell behind at Spurs.
But it proved to be a false dawn with the Seagulls mounting a comeback in north London and Wolves pressure in the second half producing reward when Jose Sa’s goal-kick was flicked on by Jorgen Strand Larsen for Munetsi to lash home from the edge of the box.
Matheus Cunha missed two chances to score on his likely farewell appearance for the old gold. The Brazilian is set for a summer move to Old Trafford and home fans delighted in singing “Who the f*** are Man United.”
And both sides slipped down the table after picking up a point each with Brentford finishing 10th and Wolves 16th.
Brentford arrived on the back of seven away wins from nine whilst Wolves had lost their last four.
But it was the hosts who made the running with Cunha’s header saved by Mark Flekken
Bees took their chance to strike when Wolves wing-back Rayan Ait-Houri was too casual and lost possession.
Though Yoane Wissa’s initial shot was blocked, the rebound fell to Christian Norgaard and the captain showed great composure to pick out Mbuemo who finished crisply from just inside the box.
Wissa slipped in Keane Lewis-Potter to almost make it 2-0 but the full-back’s dink over Sa was fractionally high and ended on the roof of the net.
On the stroke of half-time, Nelson Semedo forced Flekken into the best stop of the opening 45 minutes with a strike with the outside of his right boot tipped away by the flying ‘keeper.
Wolves started the second half brightly and there were groans from the crowd when striker Goncalo Guedes, selected ahead of Jorgen Strand Larsen, scuffed his finish into the ground when set up on a plate by Marshall Munetsi in front of goal.
Guedes, who has scored only seven times in three years at Molineux, put his arm up in apology and was hooked for Strand Larsen whose power in the air created an equaliser.
Both sides face an interesting close season with Bees manager Thomas Frank linked with a move to Spurs. He went down the line of the travelling fans at the final whistle to applaud them all.
His Brentford defender Nathan Collins also deserves his summer holiday. He finished 2024/25 as the only outfield player to have played every minute of every game for his club in the Premier League this season.
