ANDREW BENNETT REPORTS ON WOLVES 2-3 BRIGHTON
Wolves offered lots of fight and spirit this bonfire night but not enough quality as Brighton take three points back to the south coast. Waking up to the firework of Julen Lopetegui being announced as the new Wolves manager, he will have a lot of work to turn it around for Wolves after the World Cup break starting off at Goodison Park on Boxing Day.
On a personal note due to the World Cup and personal commitments this is the last time I will see Wolves at Molineux until 14th January. All I asked for is goals and entertainment to see out the new year and I definitely got that!
The teams:
Wolves:
Sa – Semedo, Collins, Kilman, Bueno – Neves, Traore, Moutinho – Podence, Hwang, Guedes.
Brighton:
Sanchez – Webster, Dunk, Estupinan, March – Caicedo, Gross, Mac Allister – Mitoma, Lallana, Trossard.
FIRST HALF
The game started quietly with Wolves holding their defensive shape as Brighton nicely knocked it around their defenders. After 10 minutes the game sparked into life with Adam Lallana firing into the top corner after a nice move and one two with Trossard, from a Wolves perspective highly suspect defending from Nathan Collins allowed too much space to his man. Almost instantly Gonçalo Guedes put Wolves back on level terms with a great run into the box, where he could’ve fallen over to win a penalty but kept to his feet and drew Wolves level. A lot of respect has to be given to Boubacar Traore in Wolves midfield who put himself about and won the ball back to play in Guedes and set up the move.
The remainder of the half provided chances to both sides. Mitoma easily beating Semedo and playing in Trossard who shot wide before Wolves were awarded a penalty following a Podence cross hitting Lewis Dunk’s arm. The penalty awarded by VAR after one of the longest waits I’ve personally seen at Molineux. Neves, as he does, confidently sent the keeper the wrong way to hit home. Wolves had scored two goals at home for the first time in the Premier League this season; we were playing well showing a lot of spirit and looked good to go into half time in the lead. Then as Wolves like to do, hope was ripped away.
Brighton got an equaliser through Mitoma (who I have to give credit to as he best Semedo over and over again, always looking dangerous) after a cross from Lallana. Another goal with lacklustre defending from Semedo to allow Mitoma get in behind him as well as Bueno and Kilman who between them probably shouldn’t have allowed the cross in the first place. Despite this, Two-two at half time would put Wolves into a good position attacking a loud (cursed) Southbank in the second half. This was made even more difficult for Wolves when on the stroke of half-time a long ball put Mitoma and Semedo in a foot race, Semedo seemingly getting the wrong side of Mitoma who he fell into. Mr Scott todays official immediately pulled out a red card and Nelson Semedo’s awful evening came to an end with this soft red card.
HALF TIME 2-2
SECOND HALF
The first half started with Podence being withdrawn for Jonny Otto who came on to play right back following Semedo’s departure. This substitute changed Wolves to pursue a much narrower formation with less men. The half started with Wolves looking shaky both Kilman and Jonny being beaten far too easily and Brighton chances being blocked by Collins and Jose Sa respectively. For the most part of this half Brighton had a lot of the ball without creating much and it looked like Wolves fight might prove enough to hold on for a point or get a winner.
Wolves creating chances through a quick free kick from Neves into Adama (who had earlier come on for Hwang), Sanchez tipping over the bar again Sanchez was involved saving with his feet as Jonny was fed to the byline.
Brighton’s only other chances of the half came through Mac Allister who forced a great save from Jose Sa before Pascal Gross hit home Brightons winner on the 82nd minute after some more questionable defending and inability to get the ball out.
A memorable evening for Conor Ronan who Wolves brought on for his Premier League debut on the 90th minute but a little too late from Wolves who suffered another home defeat. Arsenal are next to visit Molineux in the Premier League before the World Cup break, if anything doesn’t fill me with excitement it’s Bakayo Saka and co running at this fragile defence who have conceded 7 goals in their last two home games.
full time wolves 2-3 Brighton
Julen Lopetegui will have his work cut out to push Wolves up the table but following the fight I have seen in our last two matches I have a lot more faith we can turn it around and see a more exciting and less fragile team. Let’s hope for the best in arguably a free hit against high flying Arsenal but we have some things to look forward to with the former Spanish, Real Madrid and Sevilla manager taking the reigns at Molineux.
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.