The Media Review: van Hecke's late leveller ensure unbeaten run continues

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Albion levelled late on at Molineux.

Nick Szczepanik

2025-10-06T09:30+01:00

Georginio runs at the Wolves defence. 📷 by James Boardman.

The Midlands press pack contains more than its fair share of Wolves fans and for once they were able to report on something other than an Albion victory at Molineux. Most agreed that Fabian Hurzeler’s men merited their draw, though, after focusing on the happenings around Wolves’ opener.

Peter Lansley of The Guardian wrote that “Fabian Hurzeler’s side deserved a point for their second-half dominance but Wolves, after conceding in stoppage time to draw at Tottenham Hotspur, had looked as if they were going to hang on for their first top-flight victory of the season.

“The game had exploded into life in the middle of the first half. [Wolves manager] Vitor Periera was furious at Jarred Gillett’s decision not to award a free-kick when Joao Gomes was jostled by Carlos Baleba and the red card was shown to the Wolves manager for his booting a spare ball off a cone at the officials’ dugout.

“The fire had been lit. When from a long free-kick Danny Welbeck only managed to head the ball out as far as Munetsi, to the right of the penalty spot, he dispatched a veritable hammer of a shot goalwards. Although Verbruggen managed to tip the ball against the crossbar, it rebounded down and over the line off the goalkeeper’s glove.

“Brighton, with their deeply impressive record at Molineux - they had won their four previous games here - took charge in the second half although Arias sidefooted over the bar from six yards after a superb counter-attack led by Jorgen Strand Larsen prompted the overlapping Hugo Bueno to cross low. Sam Johnstone saved superbly from Georginio Rutter but Wolves so nearly put the game to bed when Strand Larsen shot against a post.

“Wolves felt the ball had already gone behind for a goalkick when Jackson Tchatatchoua nudged it on. From Yankuba’s Minteh’s short corner, Maxim De Cuyper crossed and, after Tzimas got a slight flick-on, Van Hecke headed powerfully home.”

Long-time Midlands football man Neil Moxley wrote in The Sun that Pereira “may not even have seen the opening goal - which is a shame because he would have enjoyed it after a miserable half-dozen winless games which has seen Wolves serve up their worst start in their history.

“It came via a thunderous Marshall Munetsi volley that was palmed onto the crossbar by Seagulls’ keeper Bart Verbruggen before hitting the Dutchman on the back and rolling over the goalline.

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Fabian Hurzeler's Albion earned a deserved point at Molineux after Jan Paul van Hecke's 86th-minute equaliser. Club photographer James Boardman was in the Black Country to capture the action.

“That goal acted as a lifeline for the hosts who weren’t seriously threatened until Sam Johnstone pulled off a remarkable one-handed stop just before the hour.

“Yankuba Minteh looked Brighton’s most potent weapon all afternoon and it was from his left-wing cross that Wolves keeper earned his corn.

“It was met on the half-volley by half-time substitute Georginio Rutter but the England international threw up his arm and diverted the effort over the bar.

“Wolves still posed a threat with Jorgen Strand Larsen slamming a shot into the foot of the post following a breakaway.

“But they were made to pay when they switched off at a corner. Minteh took it short and the subsequent cross was met by van Hecke as he thundered a header past Johnstone.”

The Daily Telegraph’s website reported that “Wolves were denied all three points in the last minute against Tottenham last week and Vitor Pereira’s bottom-placed side were again unable to cling on to victory as the clock ticked down.

“Pereira was given a red card in the first half after showing his fury on the touchline but his side hit the front shortly after when Marshall Munetsi’s bullet header bounced off the bar onto goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and in.

“Sam Johnstone denied the Seagulls five times throughout the encounter as it looked like Wolves would win for the first time in 11 Premier League matches.

JP heading home our late leveller! 🇳🇱🎯 Highlights in partnership with @MPBcom. 🤝
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) October 5, 2025

“However, van Hecke notched four minutes from time to earn Brighton’s seventh point this season from a losing position as both sides’ wait for a first clean sheet of the campaign went on.

“And Wolves' hearts were broken late in the piece for a second straight week.”

In the i Paper, Press Association man Sunny Badwal delved into some stats. “Vitor Pereira became the second Premier League manager to be shown a red card this weekend – after Enzo Maresca,” he wrote.

“Bottom club Wolves took the lead for a third straight game when Marshall Munetsi’s volley bounced off the goalframe onto Bart Verbruggen and into the goal.

Bart Verbruggen pulled off an incredible save to deny Marshall Munetsi, but the ball bounced down off the crossbar and in off the keeper. 📷 by James Boardman.

“However, they surrendered the three points for a second straight week when van Hecke headed home from a corner four minutes from time, prolonging the hosts’ winless start to the campaign and ensuring they remain in 20th place.

“Pereira’s side picked up their first point in front of their own fans at the fourth attempt while Brighton extended their unbeaten run to four matches across all competitions.”

Nick Mashiter’s analysis on the BBC website was largely on the money. “Brighton's impressive run at Molineux continues, but the Seagulls were far from their best,” he wrote.

“It is now just one defeat in their last 12 league outings at Wolves, although they needed a late equaliser to back up last week's 3-1 win at Chelsea.

Incredible away support yet again. 💜👏 pic.twitter.com/APTtaMHV51
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) October 5, 2025

“Boss Fabian Hurzeler spoke before the game about hoping to see the right mindset from his players and wanting them to take responsibility for performances.

“It was not a classic display – given the Seagulls had scored 12 goals in their previous four league games at this ground – but Hurzeler would have been satisfied with the mental strength his side showed having gone a goal down.

“Brighton's current playing style is perhaps not as defined as their high-tempo philosophy under predecessor Roberto de Zerbi, who built a side able to play out from the back.

“Hurzeler wants control and intensity - both in and out of possession - and did not quite get that at Molineux, but the Seagulls still managed to leave with a point.”