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Brighton battled two goals against to snatch a point in a thrilling 3-3 Premier League draw with the Wolves at Amex Stadium.
Captain Lewis Dunk nodded in the equalizer in Albion’s 70th minute after Neal Maupay’s penalty early in the second half sparked a seemingly unlikely comeback.
The Wolves were in full control of the game at halftime thanks to Romain Saiss’s header, Dan Burn’s own goal and Ruben Neves’ penalty shot after Aaron Connolly’s opener.
The visitors to Nuno Espirito Santo collapsed after the restart and can be thankful they didn’t leave the south coast empty-handed, as the Gaviotas also hit the crossbar through Adam Webster during a greatly improved second-half performance.
The harassed hosts of Graham Potter remain without a home win in the top flight this season, but they showed much of the fighting spirit they will need to avoid relegation.
The Seagulls are three points away from the bottom three, despite playing two more games than 18th-place Fulham while the Wolves remain in 12th place.
Full match details
Albion entered the new year after a dismal 2020 that brought only five Premier League victories, including a solo success at home.
Head coach Potter brought back the attacking trio Leandro Trossard, Maupay and Republic of Ireland forward Connolly as part of five changes seeking just a second success in 15 league games.
The alterations paid almost immediate dividends to give the hosts a 13-minute lead.
Trossard spun and spun Rayan Ait-Nouri on the right flank before sending a swinging cross for Connolly to get past Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio and hit the goal.
The big goal was Connolly’s first goal at home in 15 months, but things went downhill quickly.
Moroccan international Saiss tied just six minutes later, deflecting a looped header past Robert Sanchez after a Nelson Semedo cross to the right to score for the second time in three games.
Wolves coach Nuno was charged this week with misconduct by the Football Association for comments he made about referee Lee Mason after last month’s loss at Burnley.
His dominant team deservedly took the lead, albeit fortuitously, 11 minutes before the break.
Pedro Neto’s stinging effort from the right deflected from Solly March and was repelled by Sánchez, only for the ball to bounce off the ill-fated Burn and trickle down the line.
Burn’s miserable night continued when he conceded a penalty a minute before halftime.
After being defeated by Adama Traore to the right of the Wolves, he dropped his opponent with an untimely thrust.
Midfielder Neves made the most of the situation, coldly sending Sanchez down the wrong path from 12 yards to claim his first goal of the season and increase the difficulty of Potter’s halftime team talk.
Based on the first 45 minutes, a fight seemed fanciful. However, the Gaviotas received immediate cause for optimism, as they halved the deficit one minute after the restart.
Maupay, who missed from the spot in a 1-1 draw with Liverpool last month, was fouled from Joao Moutinho inside the box before diving to launch the ball through the center of the goal.
Albion almost tied in the 68th minute, but Webster’s header in a March corner bounced off the wood.
The wolves did not learn from that foul and were again susceptible on set pieces when Dunk tied.
The center-back found space in the distant past to powerfully connect with Trossard’s right corner and nod past Patricio.
Albion had the best of the last 20 minutes without creating much and it was the Wolves who were closest to a winner.
Unmarked substitute Owen Otasowie had a golden opportunity in overtime, but somehow headed for the end of a throbbing match.
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