Wolves 2 Real Betis 3 - match report

Richard Stearman on four minutes and Leigh Griffiths (50) twice put Wolves ahead, but poor defensive mistakes allowed the La Liga side back into the game as Salva (15) and Cedrick (55) quickly levelled things up before Matilla grabbed a 71^st-minute winner.

If we are to read anything about how the team will line up against Preston next week, head coach Kenny Jackett has made several interesting decisions.

Carl Ikeme won the nod ahead of Wayne Hennessey in goal, while Bjorn Sigurdarson was preferred ahead of Jake Cassidy.

But the Icelandic forward operated at wide right for the first time in pre-season, with Dave Edwards playing in the hole behind Griffiths as Jackett played a 4-4-1-1 formation.

And there was no place in the squad for Tongo Doumbia as rumours circulated that transfer-listed midfielder Jamie O'Hara was playing for QPR in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Leyton Orient.

When the action started, Sigurdarson went close to putting Wolves ahead after just 44 seconds when he raced clear after cutting out a pass but saw his shot blocked by the legs of keeper Sara.

Wolves didn't have long to wait to take the lead however, as Stearman nodded home from three yards out after the impressive Danny Batth headed the ball back into the danger area when Griffiths's corner had been cleared.

Sigurdarson saw a shot charged down in the area after a fine run and cross by Bakary Sako in the eighth minute as Wolves started brightly.

Griffiths then fired home on 12 with an angled shot but his effort was ruled out for offside after latching onto Stearman's through ball.

Betis's first effort came seconds later when Cedrick cut inside Matt Doherty before lashing a firm shot into the chest of Ikeme, who held well.

But Betis were soon level and it was a belter as Salva made no mistake with a thunderous drive from the edge of the box which went down Ikeme's throat and into the roof of the net after a square pass from Cedrick on the left as Wolves were caught ball watching.

From then on, the Spanish side were the more dominant outfit and pretty much controlled the rest of the half.

Chuli fired wide on 32 minutes before Sako beat the same player only to lash well wide from 30 yards seconds later.

Betis went desperately close to taking the lead four minutes from the break when Nono's left-foot drive skidded against the foot of the post and Salva was denied three times from the rebound, with Doherty in the thick of the blocking.

Wolves regained the lead with the first attack of the second half and it was a familiar scorer this pre-season as Griffiths raced onto a flick-on by Sigurdarson to fire home first time from 12 yards.

Inspired by his latest goal, Griffiths saw a chip blocked by a Betis hand and took the free kick himself, floating it inches over the bar on 54.

Within a minute however, Betis were level again after some sloppy play from Wolves.

David Davis hit a poor backpass which was seized upon by Cedrick, who raced through and skipped over a desperate challenge from Stearman before coolly slotting past Ikeme.

Despite Betis's comeback, Wolves continued to take the game to the Spaniards and Davis dragged a low effort wide before Doherty was inches away after letting fly on the run.

And Wolves' chances of retaining their unbeaten record in pre-season were hit when they conceded again.

More sloppy play saw a sliced ball across from Ricketts put Batth in trouble and Matilla seized his chance as the defence seemed to stop and the midfielder sidefooted past the exposed Ikeme.

Four substitutes for Wolves disrupted the flow of the game somewhat on 72 as Hennessey returned for his first game at Molineux since April 2012, while he, Kevin Foley, George Elokobi and Jake Cassidy replaced Ikeme, Davis, Ricketts and Griffiths.

Liam McAlinden came on for Edwards in the 80^th minute and helped force a late rally from the hosts.

Sako saw a fierce shot beaten away by Sara on 84 before McAlinden teed up Cassidy, who forced a superb save from point-blank range.

A late equaliser proved elusive however, but the final whistle was greeted by warm applause from the 7,741 fans at Jackett's new-look youthful team.