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Brighton and Wolves celebrated the New Year with a thrilling clash that ended 3-3 when Graham Potter’s team tied for the eighth time this season.
With just one win at Amex in 2020, Potter’s men appeared to have turned a corner when Aaron Connolly gave them an early lead (13), but the Lobos responded with three goals before the break.
Romain Saiss headed in a level header (19) before Dan Burn scored an unfortunate own goal (34). He then compounded a miserable night by fouling Adama Traore inside the area and Ruben Neves scored the penalty (44).
However, the wolves shot themselves in the foot, launching a penalty 15 seconds into the second half when Joao Moutinho tripped Neal Maupay, who dusted himself off to make it 3-2 from the penalty spot (46).
Brighton hit the bar through Adam Webster, but finally broke through when his defensive partner Lewis Dunk landed a header. The Wolves could have stolen the points with the last touch, but substitute Owen Otasowie headed from six yards.
The result means that Brighton has won only one of its last 16 matches in all competitions and remains only one place above the drop zone.
How the drawing specialists Brighton got carried out again …
Without a home win under his belt this season, Brighton required a quick start, and Potter got it on his side.
Leandro Trossard twisted and turned Rayan Ait-Nouri on the right flank before launching an inward cross for Connolly to get past Wolves goalkeeper Rui Patricio and hit the goal.
That should have allowed Brighton to control the proceedings, but the Wolves responded.
Saiss tied just six minutes later, deflecting a looping header past Robert Sanchez after a Nelson Semedo cross to the right to score for the second time in three games.
The chances were slim and wide then, as both goalkeepers remained relatively calm, but the Wolves went ahead 11 minutes before the break.
Pedro Neto’s sharp effort from the right deflected Solly March and was repelled by Sánchez, only for the ball to bounce off the unfortunate Burn, who was unable to clear his feet in time, and dribbled over the line.
Burn’s miserable night continued when he conceded a penalty a minute before halftime.
After being hit by Traore to the right of the Wolves, he knocked his opponent down with an untimely thrust.
In the absence of Raúl Jiménez, Neves took over the penalty shootout duties and scored his first goal of the season.
The Gaviotas halved the deficit one minute after the restart.
Maupay was fouled by a mediocre Moutinho inside the area before getting up to shoot the ball through the center of the goal.
Brighton almost tied in the 68th minute, but Webster’s header from a corner in March bounced off the wood and Andi Zeqiri shot the rebound from close over the crossbar.
A set piece finally managed to level Brighton as Dunk found room in the distant past to powerfully connect with Trossard’s right corner and nod past Patrick.
With the game apparently at a standstill, Otasowie was presented with a golden opportunity in overtime, but somehow headed for another good move from Traore.
Man of the match: Lewis Dunk
Lewis Dunk celebrates the tying goal for Brighton
He was barely wrong and it would have been unfortunate to be on the losing end if Otasowie had headed home with the last touch of the game. Not only was the Brighton captain a major threat from the set pieces when he grabbed a goal, but he also laid the platform for Brighton’s attack in the second half with some clever passes from deep. That is an area of his game that has improved tremendously under this coach’s supervision.
Opt for statistics
- Brighton conceded as many goals in the first half as in their previous 10 top flight matches against Wolves, yet the Seagulls remain undefeated in their 11 top flight matches with Wolves (G7 D4).
- This was the fourth time that Brighton managed to salvage a point in a Premier League match in which they were more than 2 goals behind, this being their 45th match in the competition in which they are losing by 2+ goals (W0 D4 L41).
- Brighton’s Dan Burn is the first player to score an own goal and take a penalty in the same Premier League game since Eliaquim Mangala for Man City against Hull in September 2014.
- Neal Maupay’s goal for Brighton (45:50) was the first goal scored from the penalty spot in the second half of a Premier League game since Opta has accurate scoring times (from 2006-07).
Whats Next?
Brighton has an eight day break before facing Newcastle in the FA Cup third round on January 10, while the Wolves face Crystal Palace as they begin their FA Cup campaign on January 8.
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