Wolves are still searching for their first win of the Premier League season as they conceded late on at home to Brighton on Sunday to draw 1-1.
WATCH — Full match replay
Marshall Munetsi’s shot hit the bar and then Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen before going in to give Wolves a first half lead, as their manager Vitor Pereira was sent off for his behavior on the sidelines just before they went 1-0 up.
Wolves had several good chances to double their lead through Jhon Arias and Jorgen Strand Larsen but Brighton kept pushing and late on they grabbed an equalizer.
A short corner was headed home by Jan Paul van Hecke and that was how it ended.
With the draw Wolves move on to two points for the season as they’ve drawn back-to-back games 1-1 after taking the lead but then coughing up late equalizers. Brighton move on to nine points for the season as they have had an inconsistent start.
Nervous Wolves feeling the pressure
Wolves are the only Premier League team who are yet to win this season and this performance shows why. Vitor Pereira was sent off in the first half, which didn’t help, but his side had a similar anxious, erratic energy. It never felt like one goal would be enough to see them win this game and they looked nervous as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes. The way they switched off on a short corner to cough up their first win of the season will have incensed Pereira as his players and staff fumed at one another. Wolves had chances to win this game on the break with Arias and Strand Larsen both going close and that is the difference this season. They haven’t been clinical enough when chances pop up on the break and they look uneasy defending a lead. Pereira has been given a new contract and he insists that they are heading in the right direction as new players settle in. But coughing up two 1-0 leads late on in back-to-back games suggest there is still plenty of work to be done and their next two games at Sunderland and at home to Burnley are absolutely must-win. If Wolves don’t win those, then we can start to be seriously worried about their relegation credentials.
Next up
Wolves head to Sunderland on Saturday, October 18. Brighton host Newcastle on the same day.
Wolves vs Brighton score: 1-1
Verbruggen OG 22'; Van Hecke 86'
Wolves vs Brighton live updates! — By Joe Prince-Wright
Van Hecke heads home!
Brighton take a corner short and catch out Wolves as the cross is whipped in and Jan Paul van Hecke climbs high and heads home superbly. 1-1! Wolves’ coaching staff and most of their players are furious with the marking.
Strand Larsen hits the post
Wolves break superbly once again and Strand Larsen finishes cleverly but the ball hits the post.
Johnstone with a brilliant save!
Minteh’s cross from the left is spot on and Rutter sends a great half volleyed finish towards goal but somehow Sam Johnstone responds so quickly to push it away. Sensational save from the Wolves goalkeeper to keep his side ahead.
Arias fires over!
What a brilliant counter from Wolves. Strand Larsen does so well to hold the ball up and wait for support. He then finds Hwang he has Bueno overlapping and his cross back to Arias is really good. But Arias is stretching and puts the ball over from seven yards out. A glorious chance for Wolves to go 2-0 up.
Brighton having lots of the ball, but not creating much
Georginio Rutter came on at half time for Brighton with Baleba coming off. It’s a very attacking lineup now for the Seagulls and they are dominating possession, but not doing much with it.
Half time: Wolves 1-0 Brighton
Clinical first half from Wolves who looked dangerous on the break and took their big chance when it arrived. Brighton have huffed and puffed but haven’t really got going in attack and Hurzeler will likely make plenty of changes early in the second half.
Hwang fires just over
Wonderful effort from the edge of the box from Hwang but his powerful effort flies just off target.
Gruda’s deflected shot flies just wide
A mazy run from Gruda sees him get his shot off and it deflects off Bueno and flies just wide. Brighton have responded well to going behind.
Munetsi’s volley hits the bar, Verbruggen and goes in!
The free kick isn’t cleared well by Brighton as Welbeck heads it straight back into danger and Marshall Munetsi hammers a volley on goal which Bart Verbruggen saves, but the ball then hits the bar and hits him on the back and goes in.
Vitor Pereira sent off!
After a foul wasn’t given to Wolves, their manager Vitor Pereira is sent off for his behavior on the sidelines.
Wieffer’s shot deflects over as Brighton crank up the pressure
Brighton with a fluid attack and it ends with Wieffer’s shot deflecting over for a corner. They are pushing Wolves back deeper and deeper.
Wolves lineup
Johnstone; Tchatchoua, Bueno, Krejci, Bueno; Andre, Gomes; Arias, Munetsi, Hwang; Strand Larsen
Brighton lineup
Verbruggen; Wieffer, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Baleba, Ayari; Minteh, Gruda, Gomez; Welbeck
Wolves team news, focus
Pereira is only missing Leon Chiwome through injury and he will have taken plenty of positives from Wolves’ draw at Spurs last weekend. They still have plenty of quality in attack and midfield with Jorgen Strand Larsen their main threat up top. If Wolves can whip in enough crosses, he will finish plenty of them.
Brighton team news, focus
The Seagulls have been hit hard by injuries pretty consistently in recent years but they keep finding a way to step up. Adam Webster, Solly March, Jack Hinshelwood and Joel Veltman are all out, while star winger Kaoru Mitoma is a doubt. Hurzeler isn’t afraid to rotate his squad and Yankuba Minteh and Diego Gomez have been excellent so far this season, while veteran Danny Welbeck continues to score goals and leads the line so well and could start in this game.
Wolves vs Brighton preview
Vitor Pereira’s side thought they had grabbed a shock win at Spurs last weekend but let in a late goal to come away with a 1-1 draw. That point was their first of a tough season so far as selling several key players this summer has come back to bite Wolves hard. Can they move off of the bottom of the table with a big win? Pereira signed a new contract recently, so the club seem to have full faith in his ability to turn things around.
Brighton have had plenty of movement in and out of their squad, once again, but as always they’ve done some incredible work in the transfer market and Fabian Hurzeler is a fine young coach. Brighton won 3-1 at Chelsea last weekend to continue their solid start to the season as they’ve got eight points on the board and have beaten Manchester City and Chelsea and drawn with Spurs.
Wolves vs Brighton prediction
This feels like Wolves will struggle to contain Brighton’s fluid attackers and suffer yet another defeat. Wolves 1-3 Brighton.
How to watch Wolves vs Brighton live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 9am ET Sunday (October 5)
Venue: Molineux — Wolverhampton
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock
