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Late Header Denies Winless Wolves in Dramatic Wolves-Brighton Stalemate Wolverhampton Wanderers' wait for their first Premier League victory of the season was agonizingly extended on Sunday after Jan Paul van Hecke’s late header secured a 1-1 draw for Brighton & Hove Albion at Molineux. The result marks the second successive match in which Wolves have conceded a late equaliser, leaving the club rooted to the bottom of the table with only two points from seven matches heading into the international break. The dramatic fixture saw the hosts take the lead via a Bart Verbruggen own goal shortly after Wolves head coach Vítor Pereira was sent off for dissent in a turbulent first half. Molineux Frustration Boils Over The game’s intensity, reflective of Wolves' desperate search for points, boiled over midway through the first half. After a contentious foul decision went against his side, Wolves boss Vítor Pereira was dismissed from the technical area by referee Jarred Gillett for kicking a spare ball in frustration towards the officials' dugout. Instead of derailing the home team, the incident appeared to galvanise the Wolves players and the Molineux crowd. Less than a minute later, the hosts took the lead when a long free-kick was cleared only as far as Marshall Munetsi on the edge of the area. The midfielder’s fierce volley struck the crossbar and rebounded into the net off the back of Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. The own goal gave Wolves a much-needed lead and marked a turning point in a difficult run of fixtures. "It showed great character from the players to react immediately to the chaos surrounding the red card," commented former England striker and current analyst, Chris Sutton, speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live.
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"They fed off the emotional energy, but the inability to maintain that composure for the full 90 minutes remains the overriding issue. " Brighton’s Resilient Second Half Brighton, who arrived at Molineux following an inconsistent run of form, including a recent win over Chelsea, struggled to impose their usual possession-based dominance in the opening period. However, manager Fabian Hürzeler’s tactical adjustment at half-time, which included the introduction of substitute Georginio Rutter, injected urgency into the visitors’ attack. Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, who has seen a demanding start to his season, was instrumental in maintaining the home side’s fragile advantage. Johnstone produced a superb diving save just before the hour mark to deny Rutter’s powerful strike, an intervention that briefly seemed to deflate the Seagulls’ resurgence. Despite Johnstone’s heroics, Brighton continued to push, reflecting the resilience that has become a hallmark of Hürzeler’s tenure. The draw earned at Molineux means Brighton have now gained 30 points from losing positions since the start of the previous season, a statistic that underscores their mental fortitude. After the match, Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler praised the character of his squad, particularly the goalscorer. “It was a good performance, but not a great performance, and we know we can be better in the first half,” Hürzeler said. “But the most important thing is to show resilience and character, and Jan Paul [Van Hecke] is a great role model for that.
We pushed until the end because we believed in the result. ” A Cruel Ending for Wolves Wolves had clear opportunities to seal the victory in the second half, most notably when striker Jorgen Strand Larsen, recently back from an injury concern, broke into the box and saw his low effort agonisingly hit the woodwork in the 75th minute. Jhon Arias also missed a golden opportunity from close range earlier in the half. Those missed chances proved costly four minutes from time. Following a phase of sustained pressure, Brighton were awarded a corner. Wolves defenders contested the decision, believing the ball had already gone out for a goal-kick. The quick corner routine found Maxim De Cuyper, whose cross was flicked on by substitute Stefanos Tzimas, allowing centre-back Jan Paul van Hecke to rise unmarked and power a header past Johnstone. The visible frustration among the Wolves camp was palpable, culminating in Strand Larsen's reaction at being substituted late in the game, where he appeared to wave away handshakes from the coaching staff. This public display of disappointment highlights the mounting pressure and frayed nerves within the squad. The match data confirms the shift in momentum, with Brighton recording an expected goals (xG) figure of 1.
15 compared to Wolves' modest 0. 56, suggesting the draw was a fair reflection of the balance of play, despite Wolves leading for the majority of the contest. Outlook for the International Break For Wolves, the international break arrives at a critical juncture. The failure to convert improved performances—such as the spirited display against Tottenham and periods of strong defensive organisation against Brighton—into wins places significant scrutiny on the team’s development under Pereira. With just two points and rooted to the bottom of the table, the manager has two weeks to find a tactical solution, especially given the side’s difficulties in converting chances. The late equaliser compounds a concerning trend, with the club having now dropped four points from winning positions in the last two fixtures alone. Brighton, meanwhile, will view the point as an important recovery, ensuring they did not suffer a major setback before facing a challenging run of fixtures, including meetings with Newcastle United and Manchester United. While Hürzeler can take confidence from his team’s second-half response, the need for greater consistency from the opening whistle remains a focus. For Wolves, the relief of the international pause is overshadowed by the stark reality that the hunt for their first three points will resume in an increasingly high-stakes environment.
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