A L B I O N C H R O N I C L E - ( 9 )
26 OCTOBER 2024
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 2
PREMIER LEAGUE - at theAMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM, FALMER.
Sixth-placed Albion (15 points from 8 games) welcomed bottom of the table Wolverhampton Wanderers (1 point from 8 games) to the Amex for a Premier League fixture, the match being broadcast over the airwaves on BBC Radio Sussex Sport. It was Wolves second visit to the Amex this season, having been beaten 3-2 by the Albion in the Third Round of the Carabao Cup on the 18 September 2024.
In their previous outing in the Premier, the Albion had attained an excellent 1-0 win at Newcastle on the 19 October and for the visit of Wolves the Albion made three changes to their starting line-up from the Newcastle game, with Jan Paul Van Hecke, Pervis Estupinan and Kaoru Mitoma replacing Lewis Dunk (injured), Jack Hinshelwood (injured) and Evan Ferguson.
Last time out, Wanderers were unfortunate to lose 1-2 at home to Manchester City in the Premier on the 20 October and for their visit to the Amex Wolves made one change to their starting line-up from that game, with Tommy Doyle coming in for Andre in midfield.
Wolves had made a dreadful start to the season, securing only one point from their eight games played.
Last season in the Premier, Albion were unbeaten against the Wolves, winning 4-1 at Molineux on the 19 August 2023, . The return game at the Amex on the 22 January 2024 ended 0-0.
A big blow to the Albion occurred shortly before kick-off when Captain Lewis Dunk withdrew from the starting line-up, due to a calf strain. It would have been Dunk's 250th appearance for the Albion. It was the visitors who created the first chance, when Matheus Cunha left Joel Veltman in his wake before crossing the ball to Tommy Doyle some twelve yards out but the midfielder contrived to smash a right-foot shot over the bar, when he should have done better.
The Seagulls conjured up a couple of chances, with Danny Welbeck's header landing on the roof of the net and Carlos Baleba's fierce left-foot shot from 25 yards out being turned around the post by Wolves keeper Jose Sa. The stalemate was broken in the final minute of the half when Sa's pass-out from the back went straight to Ferdi Kadioglu who quickly transmitted the ball to Georginio Rutter who in turn found Welbeck who ran on and sent a low shot past keeper Sa to put the Seagulls ahead. It was Welbeck's sixth goal of the season. 1-0.
A closely fought first-half.
Half-time 1-0.
Wolves opened the second-half brightly and Cunha's snap-shot forced Albion keeper Bart Verbruggen to make a routine save. Next it was striker Jorgen Strand Larsen whose header from Cunha's centre was straight at Verbruggen. Thereafter headers from Santiago Bueno and then Craig Dawson went close to enabling the visitors to draw level. To be fair, Wolves had been in control for most of the second-half but on 85 minutes the Albion increased their lead when substitute Tariq Lamptey's surging run into the box ended with a pass to fellow substitute Evan Ferguson who from 12 yards out sent a precision shot into the far corner of the net. It was the young Irishman's first goal of the season and first for 11 months.
That was it we thought, a win for the Seagulls and three more valuable points. 2-0.
Wolves had other ideas and on 88 minutes, a goalmouth melee ended with Rayan Ait-Nouri prodding the ball home. 2-1. Into time added on and an Albion counter saw them four on one on the edge of the Wolves penalty area but Albion substitute Mats Wieffer inadvertently passed the ball to the one Wolves player, Doyle who sent a long pass to Cunha and the Brazilian's speculative shot from distance took a wicked deflection off Jan Paul Van Hecke and the ball ended up in the back of the Albion net. 2-2.
The Seagulls had literally thrown away two points.
Final-score 2-2.
Match stats:
Albion had 19 attempts at goal, with 6 on target and won 9 corners, free-kicks conceded - 9.
Wolves had 14 attempts at goal, with 7 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 6.
VERDICT - Another two points thrown away by the Albion, after going 2-0 up on 85 minutes. What was Mats Wieffer thinking about when giving the ball away on that four on one break. The Albion gave away those two late goals when the game had been won with 85 minutes on the clock. This was a right "Bananenschale". The Seagulls now have to pick themselves up for the next three games against Liverpool (twice) and then Manchester City. They dont come any tougher.
Albion line-up (4-4-2):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Joel VELTMAN, Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Igor JULIO, Pervis ESTUPINAN; Ferdi KADIOGLU (Brajan GRUDA 72), Carlos BALEBA (Mats WIEFFER 80), Yasin AYARI, Kaoru MITOMA (Julio ENCISO 89); Georginio RUTTER (Tariq LAMPTEY 80), Danny WELBECK (Capt) (Evan FERGUSON 73).
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Killian CAHILL (G/K), Jakub MODER, Simon ADINGRA.
Wolves line-up (3-4-2-1):- Jose SA; Santiago BUENO, Craig DAWSON, Toti GOMES (Carlos FORBS 46) (Rodrigo GOMES 95); Nelson SEMEDO, Tommy DOYLE, Mario LEMINA (Capt) (Pablo SARABIA 46), Rayan AIT-NOURI; Joao GOMES (Goncalo GUEDES 91), Matheus CUNHA; Jorgen STRAND LARSEN (ANDRE 94).
Subs not used: Dan BENTLEY (G/K), Matt DOHERTY, Pedro LIMA, Jean- Ricner BELLEGARDE.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland).
Fourth Official: Gavin Ward. VAR Official: Graham Scott.
Yellow Cards: Albion: 3 - Igor Julio, Pervis Estupinan, Georginio Rutter.
Wolves: 3 - Toti Gomes, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Possession: Albion - 52%. Wolves - 48%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Danny Welbeck (Albion).
Attendance: 31480.
FORTHCOMING GAMES:
30 OCTOBER 2024 - LIVERPOOL - Home - Carabao Cup, Fourth Round - kick-off 19.30.
"Live" on Sky Sports.
2 NOVEMBER 2024 - LIVERPOOL - Away - Premier League - kick-off 15.00.
9 NOVEMBER 2024 - MANCHESTER CITY - Home - Premier League - kick-off 17.30.
"Live" on Sky Sporta.
Jack Kaye.
30 October 2024.