Brighton's 4-1 win at Molyneux seals
top spot in the Premier League
JACK KAYE'S A L B I O N R E P O R T - ( ii )
19 AUGUST 2023 -
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 1 ( Hwang Hee-Chan 1 - 61 minutes )
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 4 ( Solly March 2 - 51minutes, 55 minutes, Kaoru Mitoma 1 - 15 minutes, Pervis Estupinan 1 -46 minutes ) -
PREMIER LEAGUE - at MOLINEUX, WOLVERHAMPTON.
Following their opening-day win over Luton Town the Albion travelled to the Midlands to take on Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux in the Premier, the match being broadcast over the airwaves on Talksport and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Albion Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made three changes to his starting line-up from the team which beat Luton Town 4-1 at the Amex on the 12 August, with Adam Webster, Billy Gilmour and Julio Enciso coming in for Jan Paul Van Hecke, Mahmoud Dahoud and Jose Pedro, the latter three dropping down to the substitutes bench.
Just a few days prior to the start of the Premier League campaign Wolves parted company with Head Coach Julen Lopetegui and quickly appointed former AFC Bournemouth Head Coach Gary O'Neil in Lopetegui's place.
O'Neil's first game in charge was a trip to Manchester United on the 14 August where the Wolves were unlucky to lose 0-1, despite having 23 attempts at goal. For Albion's visit to Molineux Head Coach O'Neil made one change from the United game, with Fabio Silva replacing Pablo Sarabia up front.
Last season the Albion did the double over Wolves, winning 3-2 at Molineux on the 5 November 2022, with the goals coming from Adam Lallana (10m), Kaoru Mitoma (44m) and Pascal Gross (83m) and it was 6-0 to the Albion at the Amex on the 29 April 2023.
Albion's line-up at Molineux on the 5 November 2022 was (4-2-3-1):- Robert Sanchez;Pascal Gross, Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Pervis Estupinan (Billy Gilmour 82); Moises Caicedo, Alexis McAllister; Solly March, Adam Lallana (Danny Welbeck 65), Kaoru Mitoma (Joel Veltman 90); Leandro Trossard (Deniz Undav 82).
Subs not used: Jason Steele (G/K), Tariq Lamptey, Levi Colwill, Jeremy Sarmiento, Julio Enciso.
In bright sunny conditions the Albion took the lead on 15 minutes with a goal of sheer quality as Kaoru Mitoma took a pass from Pervis Estupinan in his stride just inside the Wolves half before embarking on a mazy run, leaving Wolves defenders Nelson Semedo, Joao Gomes and Max Kilman in his wake before sending a right-foot shot past Wolves keeper Jose Sa. (A candidate for goal of the month or the year or both - take your pick!) 1-0.
The home side had a couple of gilt-edged chances to equalise prior to the break, first Albion keeper Jason Steele made a fine save from striker Fabio Silva who had found himself clear of the Seagulls backline and then Rayan Alt-Nouri sent a shot over the bar when well-placed. Overall a good first-half for the Albion and they were deservedly ahead at the interval.
Half-time 1-0.
The Albion made the ideal start to the second-half when on 46 minutes Danny Welbeck's fierce shot was parried out by keeper Sa into the path of the alert Mitoma who in turn crossed the ball to the marauding Estupinan who coolly sent a left-foot shot into the Wolves net. 2-0.
On 51 minutes the Albion netted a third when Billy Gilmour found Julio Enciso on the left and the Paraguayan's superb pass found Solly March who was on hand to place a shot into the net. The 3000 Albion fans in Molineux were on cloud nine. 3-0.
Four minutes later the Seagulls scored a fourth as Enciso, this time on the right, picked out March again and the winger scored his second of the game to clinch all three points for the rampaging Seagulls. 4-0.
Wolves pulled a goal back on 61 minutes when substitute Hwang Hee-Chan headed home from a corner at the far post but the Wolves supporters knew the game was up. 4-1. More misery was heaped on Wolves in time added on when Matheus Nunes received a second yellow card and then a red for pushing Albion players Adam Webster and Pervis Estupinan. A bad day at the office for the Wolves but a great day for the Albion, who were top of the Premier League following the completion of the second round of games. Final-score 4-1.
Match stats:
Albion had 16 attempts at goal, with 8 on target and won 3 corners, free-kicks conceded - 11.
Wolves had 16 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 5 corners, free-kicks conceded - 14.
SUMMARY - An excellent team performance by the Albion, with stand-out contributions from Solly March, in front of watching England Manager Gareth Southgate, Kaoru Mitoma and Julio Enciso.
After the completion of the second round of games the Albion found themselves top of the Premier League, ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal on goal difference.
Exciting times at the Amex!
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Jason Steele; James Milner (Joel Veltman 57), Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Pervis Estupinan; Pascal Gross (Mahmoud Dahoud 81), Billy Gilmour; Solly March, Julio Enciso (Evan Ferguson 67), Kaoru Mitoma (Adam Lallana 81); Danny Welbeck (Joao Pedro 57).
Subs not used: Bart Verbruggen (G/K), Igor Julio, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Simon Adringa.
Wolverhampton Wanderers line-up (4-4-1-1):- Jose Sa; Nelson Semedo, Craig Dawson (Toti Gomes 71), Max Kilman, Rayan Ait-Nouri (Hugo Bueno 86); Pedro Neto, Joao Gomes (Pablo Sarabia 56), Mario Lemina, Matheus Nunes; Matheus Cunha; Fabio Silva (Hwang Hee-Chan 55). Subs not used: Dan Bentley (G/K), Matt Doherty, Sasa Kalajdzic, Boubacar Traore, Joe Hodge.
Red Card: Wolverhampton Wanderers: 1 - Matheus Nunes.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 5 - James Milner, Pervis Estupinan, Pascal Gross, Julio Enciso, Joao Pedro.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: 4 - Craig Dawson, Max Kilman, Hwang Hee-
Chan, Matheus Nunes.
Possession: Albion - 54%. Wolverhampton Wanderers - 46%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Kaoru Mitoma (Albion).
Attendance: 31317.
NEXT GAME:
26 AUGUST 2023 - WEST HAM UNITED - home - Premier League - kick-off 17.30. "Live" on Sky Sports.
Jack Kaye.
24 August 2023.