Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion Live Commentary & Result, 4/30/22, Premier League

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	MCI Manchester City	38	29	6	3	99	26	+73	93	W D W W W
2	LIV Liverpool	38	28	8	2	94	26	+68	92	W W W D W
3	CHE Chelsea	38	21	11	6	76	33	+43	74	W D W D L
4	TOT Tottenham Hotspur	38	22	5	11	69	40	+29	71	W W W D W
5	ARS Arsenal	38	22	3	13	61	48	+13	69	W L L W W
6	MUN Manchester United	38	16	10	12	57	57	0	58	L L W D L
7	WHU West Ham United	38	16	8	14	60	51	+9	56	L D W L L
8	LEI Leicester City	38	14	10	14	62	59	+3	52	W D W W L
9	BHA Brighton & Hove Albion	38	12	15	11	42	44	-2	51	W D W W D
10	WOL Wolverhampton Wanderers	38	15	6	17	38	43	-5	51	L D L D L
11	NEW Newcastle United	38	13	10	15	44	62	-18	49	W W L L W
12	CRY Crystal Palace	38	11	15	12	50	46	+4	48	W L D W W
13	BRE Brentford	38	13	7	18	48	56	-8	46	L W W L D
14	AVL Aston Villa	38	13	6	19	52	54	-2	45	L D D L W
15	SOU Southampton	38	9	13	16	43	67	-24	40	L L L L D
16	EVE Everton	38	11	6	21	43	66	-23	39	L W L D W
17	LEE Leeds United	38	9	11	18	42	79	-37	38	W D L L L
18	BRN Burnley	38	7	14	17	34	53	-19	35	L D L L W
19	WAT Watford	38	6	5	27	34	77	-43	23	L L D L L
20	NOR Norwich City	38	5	7	26	23	84	-61	22	L D L L L

That's all from Molineux today, so thank you for joining us and goodbye!

Brighton will hope to belatedly convert their prowess on the road into better fortunes at home when they take on Manchester United next week, while Wolves must play Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool in three of their final four fixtures - starting with the former at Stamford Bridge next Saturday.

In the end, a lacklustre showing developed into a humbling home defeat for Wolves, who were outplayed and out-thought by Brighton for most of the match, in which the hosts barely threatened their visitors' goal. The Seagulls could even afford to miss a first-half penalty as they cruised to another away win - a fourth from their last five attempts. That merited three points sees them close within five of their beaten opponents and into the Premier League's top half.

90' + 4' FULL-TIME: WOLVES 0-3 BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

90' + 3' OFF THE POST! Almost, but not quite! Wolves strike the bottom of the post through Neto's low drive from the left side of the area. Sanchez was stranded, but the ball bounces away to safety, and Wolves' drought goes on.

90' + 1' Half-empty due to an exodus of home fans, Molineux is set for three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this game.

P. Groß

L. Trossard

89' Having scored the crucial second goal, Trossard makes way for Gross.

T. Lamptey

S. March

87' March's match is over; Lamptey replaces him out wide.

Y. Bissouma

Goal

86' BRIGHTON HAVE A THIRD! After a surging run down the left ends in a Cucurella cross, the ball is only headed partly clear; falling to Bissouma 20 yards from goal. The midfielder steps into some space and unleashes a well-placed strike into the bottom corner past a despairing Sa! It's 3-0 to Brighton!

85' Finally, Wolves manage a shot on target, as Boly diverts a weak header straight into Sa's hands following a deflected Neto effort.

83' Unless they can make an unlikely comeback in the final minutes, Wolves are heading for a third successive defeat without scoring.

81' Involved in the build-up, Cucurella has the final touch on a quick Brighton move; dragging his low shot wide of the right post. He has stood out today for his endeavour and enthusiasm, but his shooting did not match there.

80' Mac Allister limps back into the action, with Saiss certainly lucky to avoid censure for his foul on the Argentinian.

79' A reckless challenge by Saiss sees Mac Allister go down injured, and the game comes to a halt.

78' Boly has to head clear deep inside his six-yard box after a mix-up in the Wolves defence, as Brighton threaten a third.

76' Ait-Nouri earns a corner on the left flank, with several gold Wolves shirts amassed in the box - perhaps he should have delivered the ball earlier. From the set-piece, Sanchez is ultimately able to claim the ball unopposed.

74' Following his second-half strike today, Trossard has contributed to goals in each of his last three away games in the English Premier League, and also becomes Brighton's second-top scorer on seven for the season.

Hwang Hee-Chan

Yellow Card

72' For a studs-up challenge on Cucurella, Hwang is shown a yellow card.

D. Welbeck

Assist

70' Assist Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah Welbeck

L. Trossard

Goal

70' BRIGHTON STRIKE AGAIN! On the counter, the visitors slice open their hosts with a well-timed pass from Welbeck, which finds Trossard in the area. The Belgian forward takes a couple of touches to open up the angle and then coolly slots the ball past Sa at the far post. It's 2-0 to Brighton! Game over?

67' An inventive lofted ball towards Neto from Saiss is just cut out in time, and Wolves have a corner. However, when the ball eventually comes in from the left, Boly can't direct his header goalward under pressure inside the box.

65' Though they have yet to force a shot on target, Wolves still lack urgency in the final third, and Brighton appear confident of holding firm to take three points. The hosts need to find some inspiration from somwhere.

A. Webster

E. Mwepu

63' Having picked up an injury, Mwepu makes way for Webster.

62' Making the international signal for substitution towards the Brighton bench, Mwepu lies prone on the pitch, and it looks like his match will soon be over due to injury.

61' Moutinho drives his free-kick straight into the defensive wall, but Wolves at least a corner as a result.

Marc Cucurella

Yellow Card

60' After Jimenez goes down under a dual challenge from Cucurella and Dunk, the former is rather harshly shown a yellow card.

59' Since Jimenez has come on, Wolves have started to play balls into the box from out wide, but Cucurella is again well placed to cut out any danger from the latest attempt.

57' Caicedo wins the ball in midfield and feeds Welbeck, but the Brighton striker turns and shoots straight at Sa with team-mates perhaps better placed.

55' Wolves are on the longest run of any team in the Premier League without a draw, after winning eight and losing seven of their 15 matches in 2022, but would most likely take a point today given the way events have unfolded so far.

Jonny

Nélson Semedo

53' An apparent hamstring injury ends Semedo's game - and possibly season - prematurely. Jonny comes on to occupy the right flank.

52' Clearly in agony, Semedo is helped from the pitch by two of Wolves' medical staff, and will be replaced.

50' Semedo looks in some trouble with a probable muscular injury, as he lies flat on the pitch following after pulling up in midfield. The game comes to a halt while he receives treatment.

48' Under pressure from Saiss, Mwepu fires an effort well over the crossbar from inside the area.

46' Sa drops down to his right to keep out a speculative shot from outside the box by Caicedo. It was a regulation save, but Brighton have started brightly again.

Pedro Neto

Rúben Neves

46' Only just back from injury, Neves is substituted following 45 minutes; Neto comes on to replace him.

R. Jiménez

Fábio Silva

46' After an ineffective first half, Silva makes way for Jimenez up front.

46' We are back under way at Molineux, and the hosts have made a couple of changes.

Not only have Wolves had a lower share of the ball on home soil, they are yet to manufacture a shot on target in today's game, so surely Jimenez and Neto will come into Lage's plans for the second half.

Demonstrating why they are such an effective outfit away from home, Brighton have largely bossed the first half; looking much sharper in the final third than their disjointed hosts. As such, the reward of Mac Allister's goal from the penalty spot is fair, though he needed two attempts to give the Seagulls the lead. Wolves have lacked confidence in the opposition half, with only the returning Neves standing out for his willingness to take responsibility and drive them forward. They may need to rethink their strategy at the interval, if they are to avoid defeat.

45' + 3' HALF-TIME: WOLVES 0-1 BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION

45' + 1' Cucurella again covers well to shut out Silva just outside the six-yard box, with the young striker about to pull the trigger on a shot at goal.

44' Encouraged by their goal, Brighton are now pressing on for another in the closing stages of an impressive first half for the Seagulls.

A. Mac Allister

Penalty Goal

42' BRIGHTON LEAD! Showing great courage, Mac Allister steps up again, and this time his spot-kick just makes it into the back of the net via the grasping glove of Sa! The Wolves keeper dived the right way, but was unable to prevent Brighton taking a 1-0 lead just before the break.

42' The VAR has checked whether Welbeck was onside before being brought down for the penalty, and concludes that he was. The penalty stands!

41' PENALTY TO BRIGHTON! The visitors will have another chance to take the lead, after Boly trips Welbeck on the brink of the box!

39' Poised to try his luck from the left side of the box once again, under pressure from Semedo, Trossard is halted in his tracks by a flag raised for offside. Despite the penalty miss, Brighton are back in the ascendancy.

37' Wolves withstand another counter-attack, after Mwepu overhits his cross from the right touchline and Cucurella can't get enough contact on the ball when it arrives on the left.

34' SAVE! Sa is quick to react with his feet; keeping out a low shot across his goal by Trossard from the corner of the six-yard box. It was a tight angle, but Brighton will again be frustrated not to score!

Penalty Miss

33' MISS! Wolves are spared, as Mac Allister pulls his firmly struck penalty against the bottom of the left-hand post and the ball rebounds away to relative safety. A great opportunity spurned!

32' PENALTY FOR BRIGHTON! After the referee consults the pitchside monitor, he is persuaded to award a spot-kick to the visitors. Brighton now have a golden chance to open the scoring!

31' PENALTY? Leaning across to block a cross from the right, Saiss appears to turn the ball behind with his arm. The on-field officials didn't spot it, but the VAR certainly did. It will be reviewed!

30' Boly almost picks out Semedo with a threaded ball down the right side of the area, but Cucurella makes a lunging interception to shut the move down. Wolves are certainly growing into this game now.

28' Hwang goes down to the turf after being clattered by March out on the right wing, as the latter mistimed his challenge. He soon returns to his feet, though.

26' From the corner, a side-footed effort by Neves deflects wide of the far post and out of play for another Wolves set-piece.

25' CLOSE! Veltman makes a vital block, as Moutinho's bouncing volley careers towards the Brighton goal with Sanchez left stranded. Again, the increasingly influential Neves was to the fore in the build-up.

23' Neves makes a sharp interception in midfield, and picks out Ait-Nouri on the left touchline with a swift pass. However, the wing-back's cross is badly mishit and drifts well over the crossbar; summing up Wolves' attacking efforts so far.

C. Coady

Yellow Card

21' With Welbeck set to chase through into the Wolves half on the break, Coady opts to haul him back by the shirt, and subsequently receives the game's first yellow card.

19' Hwang picks up a loose ball in midfield, feeding Dendoncker to charge through on the right side of the area, but the latter's low cross towards the centre of the box does not find Silva, who was drifting to the back post.

17' Having come out worse in a challenge with Welbeck, Neves receives some medical treatment. After a break in play, he is ultimately able to continue, but is not yet moving freely.

16' With an ambitious attempt from 25 yards, Welbeck stings Sa's palms, but play is then paused for an injury to Neves in central midfield.

14' Brighton continue to threaten an opener, and after Cucurella's curling ball in from the left side of the box is flicked on, Mwepu tests Sa once again. This time, though, his shot lacks power and is easily fielded by the Wolves goalkeeper.

12' Having started well at Molineux today, Brighton have fared better away from home so far this season: accumulating 25 points from 17 Premier League games on the road, compared with only 16 points picked up at the Amex.

10' Following a Brighton corner, Mac Allister turns a shot from the centre of the box wide of the left-hand post. This is an open game in the early stages - both sides with the pressure off.

8' SAVE! Flinging himself low to his left, Sa palms away a Mwepu drive towards the bottom-right corner of the goal, after the Brighton midfielder is allowed to stride forward from just inside the Wolves half.

6' After Sanchez plays a loose volleyed clearance into midfield, Neves springs onto the ball, but despite being urged to shoot from 30 yards by the Wolves fans he opts to play the ball out to the left flank, but then overhits his pass.

5' A rapid Brighton counter-attack ends empty-handed when Trossard fails to pick out Welbeck from the left side of the area, and Sa comfortably gathers the ball.

3' Brighton have started positively, seeking to move the ball quickly and get numbers inside the Wolves half.

2' Before today's game, Brighton have won on only one of their last 11 league visits to Molineux - a 2-0 victory in April 2017, when both sides were in the Championship,

1' We are under way in Wolverhampton!

The players are out on the pitch at Molineux, with kick-off now just moments away!

Brighton also have an integral cog in their midfield machine back in action today, as Bissouma returns to the starting XI after serving a two-game suspension. Maupay - who has failed to score in each of his last nine league appearances - is dropped, with Webster also being demoted to the bench; March joins Bissouma in the side.

Wolves' midfield is bolstered by the return of Neves, who returns from a knee injury which has kept him sidelined for over a month. The Portuguese international is one of two changes to the side beaten by Burnley last weekend, with Jonny making way for Ait-Nouri on the hosts' left flank - Jimenez also drops to the bench. Meanwhile, Daniel Podence and Max Kilman remain unavailable due to injury.

SUBS: Jason Steele, Tariq Lamptey, Adam Webster, Neal Maupay, Pascal Gross, Adam Lallana, Steven Alzate, Shane Duffy, Evan Ferguson.

BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION (3-5-1-1): Robert Sanchez; Marc Cucurella, Lewis Dunk, Joel Veltman; Leandro Trossard, Yves Bissouma, Moises Caicedo, Enock Mwepu, Solly March; Alexis Mac Allister; Danny Welbeck.

SUBS: John Ruddy, Marcal, Pedro Neto, Raul Jimenez, Francisco Trincao, Jonny Castro Otto, Chiquinho, Toti Gomes, Luke Cundle.

WOLVES (3-5-2): Jose Sa; Romain Saiss, Conor Coady, Willy Boly; Nelson Semedo, Joao Moutinho, Leander Dendoncker, Ruben Neves, Rayan Ait-Nouri; Hwang Hee-Chan, Fabio Silva.

Apparently more at ease on opposition territory than at home, Brighton are seeking to secure their third away win in four matches today, having already beaten Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur on the road this month. Indeed, all of the Seagulls' Premier League victories in 2022 have come away from home, after they let a two-goal lead slip against Southampton to draw at the Amex last weekend. The visitors arrive at Molineux in 11th place; eight points behind Wolves, who won the reverse fixture 1-0 earlier this season.

After a disappointing defeat to Burnley last time out, Wolves start today's game in search of successive home victories for the first time since November, having beaten local rivals Aston Villa in Wolverhampton earlier this month. Bruno Lage's side have now lost three of their last four Premier League games, each coming against teams below them in the table. They sit eighth as a result - three points adrift of West Ham United in seventh and five behind sixth-placed Manchester United, with at least one game in hand on both.

Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Premier League encounter between Wolves and Brighton and Hove Albion at Molineux!

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion Live Commentary, 4/30/22

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