Jack Kaye take apart Brighton's best ever win
A L B I O N R E P O R T - ( 27 )
29 APRIL 2023 -
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 6 ( Undav 2l Gross 2 Danny Welbeck ) WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0
PREMIER LEAGUE -
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM, FALMER.
Following a hectic seven days the Albion were back at the Amex to meet Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, the match being covered "live" by Talksport 2 and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
After the 1-3 reverse at Nottingham Forest on the 26 April, Albion Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made five changes to his starting line-up from that game, including some surprises, with Joel Veltman, Adam Webster, Billy Gilmour, Deniz Undav and Danny Welbeck coming in for Levi Colwill, Moises Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister, Facundo Buonanotte and Kaoru MItoma, the latter five dropping down to the substitutes bench.
Wolves parted company with Head Coach Bruno Lage in October 2022 after a poor start to the season and in November 2022 appointed former Spain, Real Madrid and Sevilla Head Coach Julen Lopetegui as their new Head Coach. At the time of Lopetegui's appointment Wolves were lanquishing in 19th spot in the Premier and since then their situation has improved and they currently occupy 14th position in the league and virtually safe from relegation.
In their previous Premier League outing Wolves beat Crystal Palace 2-0 at Molineux on the 25 April and for the visit to the Amex Head Coach Lopetegui made two changes to his starting line-up from that game, with Joao Gomes and Pedro Neto replacing Hee-Chan Hwang and Matheus Cunha.
Earlier this season the Albion beat Wolves 3-2 at Molineux on the 5 November 2022, with their goals coming from Adam Lallana (10m), Kaoru Mitoma (44m) and Pascal Gross (83m) with Wolves goals coming from Goncalo Guedes (12m) and Ruben Neves, penalty (35m).
In their meetings last season, Wolves won 1-0 at the Amex on the 15 December 2021, with their goal coming from Romain Saiss (45+1m). In the reverse fixture at Molineux on the 30 April 2022, Albion ran out 3-0 winners, with their goals coming from Alexis Mac Allister, penalty (42m), Leandro Trossard (70m) and Yves Bissouma (86m).
The Seagulls made the ideal start as on 6 minutes Joel Veltman sent in a cross from the right and Danny Welbeck back-heeled the ball to the waiting Deniz Undav who tapped the ball home from close-in. It was Undav's first Premier League goal. 1-0.
Better was to follow on 13 minutes as a fine move involving Billy Gilmour and Julio Enciso ended with Pascal Gross sweeping a curled shot past Jose Sa in the Wolves goal, from the edge of the area. 2-0.
Albion keeper Jason Steele was then called into action, making a fine diving save to keep out a Matheus Nunes shot. With 26 minutes on the clock the Albion made it three as the busy Enciso crossed from the left to Gross who took the ball in his stride before unleashing an unstoppable volley past keeper Sa for a quite magnificent goal. The Albion supporters were in ectasy. 3-0.
On 39 minutes Albion increased their lead as Enciso found Pervis Estupinan on the left who crossed to the far post where Welbeck was on hand to direct a downward header past the helpless Sa into the Wolves net. 4-0. There was still time for Solly March to send a shot over the bar prior to the break.
The Seagulls left the field to a well-earned standing ovation whilst the Wolves fans were just shell-shocked.
Half-time 4-0.
Within three minutes of the re-start Albion went nap as half-time substitute for Wolves Nathan Collins gifted the ball to Welbeck who from the edge of the area sent a low left-foot shot past Sa. 5-0.
Steele then made a fine stop to keep out a curled effort from Pedro Neto.
Thereafter Albion rung the changes, including the unlucky Veltman, who left the field injured on 65 minutes, Moises Caicedo substituting. The Seagulls made it six on 66 minutes when substitute Kaoru Mitoma took the ball off defender Maximilian Kilman, fed Undav on the right who dinked a delightful chip over Sa and into the net for a beauty. 6-0.
Gilmour then went close with a shot which grazed a post whilst at the other end Steele produced a good save to deny substitute Daniel Podence. A quite magnificent performance by the Albion.
Final-score 6-0.
Stats:
Albion had 22 shots at goal, with 8 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 14.
Wolves had 10 shots at goal, with 3 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 11.
VERDICT - A superb performance by the Albion, a double over Wolves, their best-ever win in the Premier and the first time they have scored six goals in the Premier. It was good to see Deniz Undav score his first goals in the Premier and Pascal Gross and Danny Welbeck score two a-piece as well.
Albion cant wait to extract revenge over Manchester United on the 4th in front of the Sky Sports cameras.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; Joel Veltman (Moises Caicedo 65), Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Pervis Estupinan; Pascal Gross, Billy Gilmour; Solly March (Facundo Buonanotte 56), Deniz Undav (Yasin Ayari 80), Julio Enciso (Alexis Mac Allister 65); Danny Welbeck (Kaoru Mitoma 56).
Subs not used: Robert Sanchez (G/K), Levi Colwill, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Odeluga Offiah.
Wolverhampton Wanderers line-up (4-4-2):- Jose Sa; Nelson Semedo (Daniel Podence 45+1), Craig Dawson (Hee-Chan Hwang 46), Maximilian Kilman, Hugo Bueno; Joao Gomes (Toti 46), Ruben Neves (Capt), Mario Lemina, Matheus Nunes; Pedro Neto (Adam Traore 83), Diego Costa (Nathan Collins 46). Subs not used: Dan Bentley (G/K), Pablo Sarabia, Matheus Cunha, Joao Moutinho.
Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire).
Yellow Cards: Albion: 1 - Joel Veltman.
Wolves: 1 - Adama Traore.
Possession: Albion - 57%. Wolves - 43%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Danny Welbeck (Albion).
Attendance: 31584.