Brighton’s red-hot start blows away Wolves to revive European ambitions

Brighton put their European push back on track by beating relegated Wolves at the Amex Stadium in a match that had the exasperated Wolves manager, Rob Edwards, pledging a summer clearout.

Jack Hinshelwood headed home inside 35 seconds to register Brighton’s fastest Premier League goal before the captain, Lewis Dunk, escaped the marking of João Gomes only four minutes later to nod a second. Yankuba Minteh completed the scoring late on as the Brighton head coach, Fabian Hürzeler, celebrated his new contract in style.

Rock-bottom Wolves remain without a league victory on the road this term after enduring a 13th defeat from 18 away games – and 24th in total.

“It’s incredibly frustrating, it looked like we were still in our nice hotel for the first five minutes,” said Edwards. “The start of the game was atrocious. There was a lack of focus there from the beginning, people not valuing doing their job.”

Asked about the midfielder Gomes marking the towering centre-back Dunk for the second goal, Edwards said: “It wasn’t planned. It was a decision that they just decided to make at that moment. I can’t account for it but we’ve had a lot of it and that’s why we are where we are – crazy decision.”

Wolves host Fulham next weekend before attempting to avoid going all season without a top-flight away win when they face fellow relegated side Burnley on the final day.

Edwards, who replaced Vitor Pereira in November, confirmed he had lost patience with some of the squad. “Yeah, definitely. Some of them have got to go, we’re bottom of the league. It’s been embarrassing. They’ve got to go.

“We’ve got two more games, so suck it up, keep our head down, take whatever we’re gonna have to take for the next couple of weeks and then we can really get to work. We know there’s going to be a lot of change.”

Wolves, without a top-flight away win since a 1-0 success at Manchester United in April last year, were thrashed 6-0 on this ground in 2023 and for long periods looked in danger of succumbing to a similar scoreline.

However, Yerson Mosquera did go close for the visitors when he directed a Mateus Mané delivery on to the top of the bar. Then the South Korea forward Hwang Hee-chan struck the base of the right post two minutes later and, while the offside flag was raised, replays suggested that the decision may have been overturned on review. In truth, though, it was a very comfortable afternoon for the hosts.

Hürzeler, who extended his deal to June 2029 on Thursday, was delighted by the way his side bounced back from last weekend’s 3-1 loss at Newcastle.

“We had the whole week to get our minds in the right spot and therefore in the game we had a great start and it definitely helped to control the game, to dominate the game. I’m really happy working with this group of players. I’m looking forward to the future because it can be very exciting and very bright.”

Brighton’s afternoon was soured slightly by the Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma limping off with a hamstring issue, only a month before the start of the World Cup.

“We have to wait for the scan,” said Hürzeler. “It didn’t look great but I’m a positive person and I stay positive regarding this.”

[Source: The Guardian]