Ten man Wolves salvage draw
Wolves 0 v Brighton & HA 0
As games of football go this one may struggle to clamber into the Hall of Fame for most exciting. Only once during the 48 minutes they were at full strength did Wolves threaten, albeit that Adam Le Frondre’s snap shot on the half hour - which was kicked off the line - arrived from a set piece. Once down to ten men it was backs to the wall but effectively so since, despite their numerical superiority, Brighton failed to really trouble Wolves goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. His reputation had already been sealed when in the 22nd minute he first saved Tomer Hemed’s weak penalty kick before denying the same player again with a better save from the follow up.
Brighton arrived at the Molineux atop the Championship a circumstance somewhat different to last season when they narrowly escaped relegation. Though his tenure at Norwich ended with a reputation dented, Manager Chris Hughton is starting to fashion another successful side (he has previously done well at Newcastle and Birmingham City). Brighton play neat football prompted by the skilful pairing of Beram Keyal and Dale Stephens the latter a ball playing midfielder in the Michael Carrick mould. It was his deft pass to Jamie Murphy that lead to the penalty when the latter was brought down by Scott Golbourne.
Whilst numerical parity prevailed the game remained tight but when Conor Coady was red carded for a rash challenge in minute 48, one felt that the visitors would make numerical advantage pay. But it was not to be as Wolves worked hard to prevent opportunities being created, the back four once again worthy of acknowledgement.
There is no doubt that hard work and dogged determination count for much but that circumstance masked the bigger question concerning Wolves as a unit and how they compare to last season. Mercurial though he may have been Bakary Sako could change the course of a game with his ability to beat players and score goals and in no sense has he been adequately replaced. And in midfield there is insufficient imagination to break down a defence. It is still too early to pass judgement but from what I have witnessed thus far repeating last season’s achievement is going to present an uphill challenge.
Wolves: Martinez 8, Iorfa 7, Ebanks-Landell 7, Hause 7, Golbourne 6, Henry 6 Sub Doherty, Edwards 6 Coady 6, Ojo 6 Sub Byrne, Le Fondre 6 Sub McDonald 6, Afobe 5
Brighton & HA: Stockdale 6, Bruno 6, Greer 7, Dunk 6, Bong 6, Rosenior 6, Stephens 8, Keyal 7, Hemed 5 Sub Manu, Murphy 6, Lua Lua 6 Sub Zamora
Attendance: 20,382
Referee: Jeremy Simpson 6
©Mark Brennand