The Media Review: Wolves

When even a national daily paper headlines a match report “Wolves' forgettable win”, you know that the game in question was not one that many people outside the Amex away end enjoyed.

That headline appeared in the Daily Telegraph above Jim White’s report, which at least had some bright spots as it detailed a weakened Albion’s attempts to overcome injuries, suspensions, COVID-19 and the time-wasting tactics of both the visitors and, it seemed at one point, the officials. 

“Ruben Neves’ pass which set up the Wolves goal had provided the match’s only moment of genuine quality,” he wrote. “Apart from that, it was the kind of evening on the south coast in which the failure of the referee Tony Harrington’s communication equipment provided a rare spark of entertainment. 

“Harrington marked his Premier League debut by holding up play for an age getting his communications equipment sorted. Eleven minutes were added at the end, making this the fourth-longest game in Premier League history. 

 “The lack of distinction was evident in the team sheets. Graham Potter was obliged to play a makeshift team as Covid and suspension deprived him of half-a-dozen first choices. He had tried to get the game suspended, but the Premier League refused. 

“Potter, his touchline mod chic making him increasingly look like a character from Quadrophenia, brought on Alexis Mac Allister for Aaron Connolly in a bid to bring some craft to the effort. March and Cucurella tried to respond to their manager’s urgent promptings by working the ball down the left wing, but Bissouma became a little too energised, drop-kicking Marcal in the groin. 

“Whatever Brighton tried, it was not enough to trouble a resolute Wolves defence, who cheerfully saw out added time. Now without a win in their last 11 Premier League games, Brighton are in pressing need of some seasonal gifts.”

In the Daily Mail, friend of this column Adam Shergold admitted that “Romain Saiss scored comprehensively against the run of play.

“But Brighton, now without a win in 11 Premier League games and slipping down the standings, lacked the quality to fight their way back into it.

“Graham Potter’s side haven’t won a league game since September 19 and a season that promised to be unlike their others in this division after they won four of their opening five matches is quickly reverting to type.”

However, he reported that Albion had the upper hand at first. “Perhaps it was the fact those who were available had the fresher legs after the postponement of Sunday’s game with Tottenham or perhaps Brighton were just superior but they bossed the opening 45.

“Wolves were pinned into their own penalty area for lengthy spells, Brighton forcing a succession of corners and crossing positions only to let themselves down with poor execution.

“Striker Neal Maupay and midfielder Pascal Gross were among omissions from the matchday squad with fans left doing the detective work when the teamsheets were revealed.

“It may have been a bad week on the lateral flows for Brighton but the flow of first-half play was all towards the Wolves goal.”

Unfortunately, as Jacob Steinberg wrote in The Guardian, “Brighton could have gone until midnight without scoring. Ultimately they could not call upon anyone as clever as Rúben Neves, who defined a tight game when he felt the creative juices flow on the stroke of half-time and produced a superb pass for Romain Saïss to give Wolves a lead they never looked like relinquishing.

“How Brighton could have done with a creator of Neves’s class. It was a gorgeous assist from the Wolves midfielder, who was also prepared to do the dirty stuff in the second half, and it felt fitting that it decided the contest. 

“Brighton, down to 13th after 11 games without a win, had none of the Portuguese’s composure. Graham Potter’s side were bereft of ideas in attack and although they fought until the end, they did not force José Sá to make a save in the second half. 

“As ever, there was a lot to like about Brighton’s football when the game was goalless. They controlled much of the first half, the passing crisp, the full-backs pushing high, and for a while Wolves struggled to get out of their half. Yves Bissouma and Jakub Moder were pulling the strings in midfield for Brighton and the home fans enjoyed themselves at first, roaring whenever Tariq Lamptey zipped forward from right-back, optimism rising as Marc Cucurella made early inroads down the left.

“Wolves had to dig deep during the early stages. Pacing around his technical area, Lage struggled to hide his irritation at his team’s shoddy approach play. 

“At that stage it was hard to see how Wolves hoped to end a run of four games without a goal. Brighton looked comfortable despite missing Adam Webster, Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy in central defence. 

“Yet Brighton, who were without at least three players because of a Covid-19 outbreak, lacked any cutting edge. Aaron Connolly battled without reward in the absence of Neal Maupay, too many corners hit the first man and there was a sense of resignation when Solly March blazed over in the 20th minute.

“Brighton’s frustration intensified when Sá made a sharp save from Leandro Trossard’s fizzing drive and Enock Mwepu contrived to turn the rebound over just before the interval. It should have been 1-1.”

But that, as Ian Winrow pointed out in The Times, would have gone against the pre-match indications. 

“The scoring records of these two sides suggested victory might be achieved by the narrowest of margins, and so it proved,” he wrote. “Romain Saiss’s volley in first-half added time — Wolverhampton Wanderers’s first goal in five games — was enough to secure the points for Bruno Lage’s side and add to the growing concerns of Graham Potter, the Brighton & Hove Albion manager, whose team are now without a win in eleven league games.

“Potter … was forced to confront the fact that his team once again lacked sufficient cutting edge to deliver a much needed win in the first home game since the manager reacted angrily to the boos that followed the scoreless draw with Leeds United.

“At a time like this, the last thing Albion manager needed was for Enock Mwepu to miss the target from just three yards out when presented with the chance to equalise.

“Mwepu managed to somehow scoop the ball up over the bar from just three yards out after a scramble following José Sá’s failure to hold on to Leandro Trossard’s shot.

“Unfortunately for Mwepu, that would not be the only clear opportunity he would pass up with the midfielder spurning a similar chance on the hour.

“By that time, Wolves should have been out of sight. Lage’s side created a succession of openings during the opening 15 minutes of the second period that would have seen them establish a commanding lead but for a combination of Sanchez and the woodwork.”

In The Sun, Jordan Davies wrote that “Wolves finally proved they know where the back of the net is to prolong Brighton’s misery.

“Romain Saiss’ 45th minute volley was enough to earn his side all three points at the Amex Stadium

“The shot-shy Midlands outfit had gone four games without a goal before the Moroccan defender’s silky strike – their first for almost a month.

“In truth, Wolves' victory should have been far greater but for some wasteful finishing to see off a Brighton team desperate for any sort of lift-off.

“Graham Potter’s men are now winless in their last 11 Premier League games – the longest run in the division – after yet another flat display.

“For all their plaudits, Brighton are dropping closer and closer towards the dreaded drop as each week goes by in what is a worrying time on the south coast.” 

Hang on – weren’t Wolves the team who hadn’t scored for four games? But there was one revealing stat. 

“In the 10 league games [Lewis] Dunk has missed for the club, they have won just once.”