- Albion hit back to pick up point against Wolves
- Benny Ashley-Seal gives home side early lead
- Peter Gwargis scores stunning second-half equaliser
- Albion host Arsenal on Friday night in their next league game
In freezing conditions at Wolves’ Compton training ground, the Seagulls were caught cold when Benny Ashley-Seal gave the hosts a third-minute lead.
But after Bojan Radulovic had struck the bar before half-time, Peter Gwargis equalised nine minutes after the break with a left-footed strike into the top corner.
Both sides had chances to win it, but it was a point apiece and Simon Rusk’s side will now prepare for Friday’s home game against Arsenal.
Albion were looking to complete a Premier League 2 double over Wolves, but found themselves a goal behind after just three minutes.
The hosts broke down the right through Raphael Nya and Tsun-Dai whose cross was tucked in by Ashley-Seal from close range.
It was an early setback for the Seagulls and it took them a while to get a foothold in the game. Wolves kept a good shape and had men behind the ball when danger threatened, while John Kitolano was a threat with his pace and his 24th-minute cross found Tsun-Dai at the far post, but he was unable to get his shot on target.
Albion finally began to exert themselves and should have been level by the interval after creating three good chances in a ten-minute spell before the break.
Danny Cashman headed wide after good work by Alex Cochrane, while Taylor Richards created two good chances for the in-form Bojan Radulovic. The striker, who had scored three goals in his previous two League games, hit a left-foot strike from Richards’ cross over before Taylor burst into the box in stoppage time and found Radulovic, whose shot clipped the top of the crossbar.
Albion began the second half with momentum and they got a deserved equaliser in the 54th minute. Cashman’s persistence forced Danny Csoka into a mistake and he laid the ball back to Gwargis, who found the top left-hand corner with a powerful left-foot strike.
Wolves nearly regained the lead in the 62nd minute after Haydon Roberts pulled up with a hamstring injury in pursuit of Ashley-Seal, and the striker was in on goal, but Tom McGill stood tall and deflected his shot wide with a strong left hand.
Lewis Freestone replaced Roberts with 21 minutes to go, and Albion defender Romaric Yapi made a couple of crucial interventions in the six-yard box as the hosts threatened from wide areas through Jordan Graham, while McGill got down well to save Tsun-Dai’s hit from distance.
McGill’s handling in the closing stages, when Wolves won a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions, was impressive as the visitors got a deserved reward for their efforts.
Albion line-up: McGill, Yapi, O’Hora, Roberts (Freestone 69), Cochrane, Davies, Spong, Gwargis, Cashman, Richards, Radulovic (Tolaj 70).
Subs not used: Keto (GK), Tsoungui, Jenks.