22 JANUARY 2024
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 0 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0
PREMIER LEAGUE at the AMERICAN EXPRESS COMMUNITY STADIUM, FALMER.
For their first home game of 2024, the Albion welcomed Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Amex for a Premier League fixture, "live" in front of the TNT Sports cameras, the match also being broadcast over the airwaves on Talksport and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
In their previous outing the Seagulls had won 4-2 at Stoke City in the Emirates FA Cup on the 6 January and for Wolves visit Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi made three changes to his starting line-up from the Stoke game, with Jason Steele, James Milner and Danny Welbeck coming in for Bart Verbruggen, Jakub Moder and Evan Ferguson.
Last time out Wolves had beaten Brentford 3-2 at home on the 16 January in an Emirates FA Cup Replay and for their visit to the Amex Head Coach Gary O'Neil made three changes to his starting line-up from the Brentford game, with Craig Dawson, Mario Lemina and Pedro Neto replacing Santiago Bueno, Joe Hodge and Jean-Rincer Bellegarde
Earlier this season the Albion beat Wolves 4-1 in the Premier at Molineux on the 19 August 2023, with their goals coming from Solly March 2 (51m & 55m), Kaoru Mitoma (15m) and Pervis Estupinan (46m). Wolves goal was scored by Hwang Hee-Chan (61m).
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). It was a 6-0 win for the Albion at the Amex on the 29 April 2023, with the Albion's goals being scored by Deniz Undav 2 (6m & 66m), Pascal Gross 2 (13m & 26m) and Danny Welbeck 2 (39m & 48m).
The Seagulls were fast out of the blocks but early half-chances were not converted by Joao Pedro, Jan Paul Van Hecke and Lewis Dunk and on 12 minutes Facundo Buonanotte saw his cushioned header cleared off the goal-line by Wolves Tommy Doyle. A mazy run by Pedro Neto ended with a shot which missed the target by a whisker and then Wolves keeper Jose Sa was twice called into action, first deflecting Van Hecke's header over the bar and saving a low shot from Pedro. A quiet half with both defences having the upper hand.
Half-time 0-0.
The second-half opened with Wolves creating a gilt-edged opportunity as the lively Neto fed Matheus Cunha whose shot drew a fine save from Albion keeper Jason Steele before Cunha drove the rebound over the bar. The game was becoming stretched as Danny Welbeck put Pedro in the clear but Nelson Semedo made a superb defensive block as the Brazilian was about to pull the trigger and minutes later Maximilian Kilman deflected Jack Hinshelwood's cross on to a post. At the other end keeper Steele made a fine save to deny Neto. Albion made a double substitution on 65 minutes, with Tariq Lamptey replacing Buonanotte and Evan Ferguson replacing Welbeck. Two further substitutions followed on 72 minutes, with Adam Lallana replacing Pervis Estupinan and Adam Webster replacing James Milner. The changes failed to ignite the proceedings and only two chances were thereafter created, Neto going close for Wolves and Pedro failed to convert Lallana's set-up. In the end the teams had to settle for a point a-piece.
Final-score 0-0.
Match stats:
Albion had 11 attempts at goal, with 4 on target and won 8 corners, free-kicks conceded - 10.
Wolves had 8 attempts at goal, with 3 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 13.
TO SUM UP - It was Albion's second in a row Premier 0-0 result. Try as they might the Albion just couldn't get their finishing on target and they badly missed unavailable wide players Kaoru Mitoma, Simon Adringa, Solly March and Julio Enciso. However, a second successive Premier clean sheet was encouraging from a defensive point of view..
Albioin line-up (4-3-3):- Jason Steele; Jack Hinshelwood (Benicio Baker-Boaltey 90+2), Jan Paul Van Hecke, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Pervis Estupinan (Adam Lallana 72); Pascal Gross, Billy Gilmour, James Milner (Adam Webster 72); Facundo Buonanotte (Tariq Lamptey 65), Danny Welbeck (Evan Ferguson 65), Joao Pedro.
Subs not used: Bart Verbruggen (G/K), Jakub Moder, Carlos Baleba, Cameron Peupion.
Wolverhampton Wanderers line-up (3-4-2-1):- Jose Sa; Maximilian Kilman (Capt), Craig Dawson, Toti Gomes; Nelson Semedo, Tommy Doyle, Mario Lemina, Matt Doherty; Pablo Sarabia (Jean-Ricner Bellegarde 70). Matheus Cunha; Pedro Neto (Tawanda Chirewa 88). Subs not used: Daniel Bentley (G/K), Santiago Bueno, Yerson Mosquera, Hugo Bueno, Joe Hodge, Harvey Griffiths, Nathan Fraser.
Referee: Craig Pawson (Sheffield).
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 1 - Adam Webster.
Wolves: 4 - Maximilian Kilman, Craig Dawson, Toti Gomes, Matheus Cunha.
Possession: Albion - 72%. Wolves - 28%.
TNT Sports Player of the Match: Pedro Neto (Wolves).
Attendance: 31505.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES:
27 JANUARY 2024 - SHEFFIELD UNITED - away - Emirates FA Cup,
Fourth Round - kick-off 15.00.
30 JANUARY 2024 - LUTON TOWN - away - Premier League - kick-off 19.45.
RECENT ALBION TRANSFER ACTIVITY & CONTRACT NEWS:
15 DECEMBER 2023 - JAN PAUL VAN HECKE - (23) - DEFENDER - signed new three-and-a-half year contract with the club - effective until June 2027.
23 DECEMBER 2023 - KJELL SCHERPEN - (23) - GOALKEEPER - signed new three-and-a-half year contract with the club - effective until June 2027.
3 JANUARY 2024 - JEREMY SARMIENTO - (21) - FORWARD joined IPSWICH TOWN - on loan to end of season.
5 JANUARY 2024 - YASIN AYARI - (20) - MIDFIELDER - joined BLACKBURN ROVERS - on loan to end of season.
20 JANUARY 2024 - VALENTIN BARCO - (19) - DEFENDER/MIDFIELDER - signs for Albion from BOCA JUNIORS (ARGENTINA) - on a four-and-a-half year contract - effective until June 2028 - on undisclosed terms
Jack Kaye.