ANDREW BENNETT SHARES HIS THOUGHTS ON WOLVES DEFEAT TO BRIGHTON
After a summer of departures and off the pitch chaos for Wolves we welcomed the pack and new manager Gary O’Neil to Molineux for the first home game of the season. Following an enthusiastic and encouraging display against Manchester United on Monday evening a golden Molineux was optimistic on what the new season has to offer.
HOW THE SIDES SET UP
Wolves:
Sa, Semedo, Dawson (Toti, 71), Kilman, Ait-Nouri (Bueno, 86) – Nunes, Lemina, Gomes (Sarabia, 55), Neto – Cunha, Silva (Hwang, 55).
Brighton:
Steele, Milner (Veltman, 56), Webster, Dunk, Estupinan – Gross (Dahoud, 80), Gilmour, March – Enciso (Ferguson, 66), Mitoma (Lallana, 80), Welbeck (Pedro, 56).
FIRST HALF
At no moment during the first half did it feel like Wolves had any control, but at least we were in the game and did create chances which I’d back all other 19 Premier League teams to find a goal from.
After 15 minutes Mitoma the very impressive Japanese winger went past Semedo and Kilman with ease to find himself right in the middle of Jose Sa’s goal to easily find the bottom corner. From a Wolverhampton perspective to not stop Mitoma even if illegally is a shocker. At this level you simply can’t let this kind of goal happen.
Two big chances then fell to Wolves with Cunha playing through Fabio Silva who had the whole goal to aim at but hit a timid effort at Jason Steel for a corner. The second Silva this time played in Ait Nouri who blazed the ball over the bar from the angle to not put the ball on target is simply not good enough.
Apart from these moments Brighton dominated the ball for the majority of the half and looked in control without adding to their 1-0 lead.
SECOND HALF
The start of the second half Brighton were a knife cutting through the melted defence of Wolverhampton Wanderers with three pretty much identical moves in the first 10 minutes leading to a 4-0 scoreline.
Shambolic defending by all four of the back line made it so easy for goals from Estupinan and Solly March. The first, Welbeck got in behind the back line where Sa made the save but didn’t push the ball out enough so the ball could be easily collected by Mitoma who slides in Estupinan to easy tuck it home. The moments of madness continued when Enciso beat Dawson for pace and put a fast cross into the middle from the left hand side and it was simply tucked home by March. The final Brighton goal of the afternoon again came via Enciso fast movement to slide in March and before you could blink it was 4-0 to the Seagulls.
The rest of the half Wolves did try to push forward and create chances but it was much of the same in the offensive game with a lack of movement and poor decisions in the final third.
Our best moments of the half came from two Sarabia corners the first Lemina crashed the ball of the crossbar for Cunha to then hit at Steele from point blank range. Sarabia hit another corner this time to the far post for Hwang to head back across goal and the ball nestled in the far corner, a first goal of the season missed by the majority of the home crowd as Molinuex emptied after Brightons flurry.
One more moment of positive attacking play came through Hwang bursting into the box only for Ait Nouri to take a touch instead of striking the ball allowing Brightons defenders to get close and the chance fizzled out.
Just before the game ended a shambolic moment for Nunes who had already received a yellow card for throwing the ball away; the Portuguese midfielder pushed a Brighton defender and got into a completely pointless argument to then receive a second yellow and his marching orders to boos from the home crowd that remained.
A poor first trip to Molineux for the home crowd; next up for Wolves are two tough away trips to Everton and Crystal Palace before the first international break of the campaign.
ARTICLE BY ANDREW BENNETT
From my first Wolves match against Chelsea in 2003 I fell in love with the team and matchday experience. I work in digital marketing and have lived in Germany and Estonia over the past few years, this doesn’t stop me following Wolves and ensuring all my international friends become invested to the Wolf pack. I enjoy football, board games, a pint and travelling always excited to try new things. You will find me in the north bank on a matchday.