The Media Review: Wolves

Moises Caicedo may be gone, but he was not forgotten by the inhabitants of the Molineux press box after Albion’s 4-1 win at Wolves. Every writer without exception noted that Roberto De Zerbi’s men did not miss the Ecuador midfielder as they cruised to the top of the early Premier League table.

In The Observer, Pete Lansley wrote that “Brighton just keep getting better and better. Finishing sixth in the Premier League while selling their best players, usually to Chelsea, does not seem to put any limit on their upward trajectory. Their fans were left singing “We are top of the league” as three goals inside the first 10 minutes of the second half enabled this free-flowing side to embellish their standing.

‘Successive 4-1 victories have reassured them that selling Moisés Caicedo, Robert Sánchez, Alex Mac Allister and Leandro Trossard need not impede their progress. After all, they recovered from the sales of Ben White and Marc Cucurella, their previous players of the year, to maintain their rise.

“Brighton’s slick play has been well-honed and their one-touch football helped keep them one step ahead of Wolves; the other key difference was their ball-carrier-in-chief. Kaoru Mitoma finished his finest run with a brilliant solo goal, cruising past three defenders before opening his body to score.”

Paul Rowan of The Sunday Times wrote that “it looks like Brighton can safely bank the £135 million they squeezed out of Chelsea for Caicedo and Robert Sanchez and still challenge for a Champions League place as they swept Wolverhampton Wanderers aside with a brilliant individual goal from Kaoru Mitoma, another from Pervis Estupinan and a brace from Solly March.

“Brighton won their opening game by the same score against Luton Town but this was far more impressive and ruthless. The first half was lit up by Mitoma’s superb individual goal from a standing start on the touchline.”

Matt Penn of The Sun on Sunday also enjoyed Albion’s opener, although describing the Japan winger as ‘the latest Brighton nugget’ makes you wonder how much Premier League football he has been watching over the past year. But he did full justice to what he praised as “a pure peach of a goal. Estupinan might just have the cheek to claim an assist and claim: 'I put him through,' with the simple 10-yard pass which fed Mitoma just inside the Wolves half.

“But what followed was simply jaw-dropping as the Japanese sensation weaved his way in and out of Wolves defenders. Nelson Semedo - a £37million former Barcelona star - attempted to tug his man back and was still frantically trying to cling to him as Mitoma took off with the experienced defender in tow.

“He skipped through Joao Gomes and Craig Dawson, then dipped a shoulder and evaded Max Kilman - who also tried and failed to grab his shirt.

“Then, with half of Wolves' defence spreadeagled, Mitoma had the composure to clinically slip the ball past the advancing Sa for an early contender for goal of the season, let alone goal of the month.

“Wolves carved out a string of chances Brighton would have scored but their players continue to have the yips in front of goal as Ait-Nouri showed when he missed a sitter. Brighton were the opposite - everything they do just now turns to gold.”

In The Mail on Sunday, Tim Nash noted that “Before this game, De Zerbi’s side had been involved in more Premier League goals than any other since he took charge in October 2022 - 114, with 65 goals for. And it’s not a record that they’re in danger of losing at this rate.

“Brighton’s slick passing and movement saw Wolves chasing shadows at times. The visitors ended any hopes of a Wolves comeback within 10 minutes of the restart with a three-goal blast.

“March cut inside and sent Welbeck through for a shot parried away by goalkeeper Jose Sa, but the rebound fell to Mitoma, whose cutback was turned home by Estupiñán.

“March tapped home to find the roof of the net from close range to make it 3-0 in the 52nd minute with a fine breakaway goal.

“The move was started by a delightful pass from deep inside his own half by Billy Gilmour, who sent Enciso racing down the left to cross.

“Three minutes later it was 4-0 when March stabbed in off the post after Welbeck spread play to Enciso on the right to cross.”

John Aizlewood praised the contribution of two other players in The Sunday Telegraph after noting that Albion are on course to score 152 goals this season at their present scoring rate.

“Julio Enciso and Billy Gilmour made just seven Premier League starts apiece last season,” he wrote. “But here they had the verve and craft of new signings.

“Gilmour started alongside Pascal Gross in front of the back four and he was the Gilmour of Scotland rather than the Gilmour of Norwich City, whether setting up Pervis Estupinan for a rampage forwards, grappling with Matheus Nunes or beginning the move which led to Kaoru Mitoma’s opener.

“Meanwhile Enciso, in the centre of the attacking midfield trio, was a revelation. The Paraguayan set up two second-half goals for Solly March; he dominated midfield and cranked up the irritant factor, further rattling an already frustrated Wolves.

“The two not-so-new new boys blended with those who shone last year. March and Mitoma wreaked havoc down each flank, while sole striker Danny Welbeck’s masterful hold-up play created time and space for those behind him.

“Mitoma’s opener was a thing of beauty. Gilmour found Estupinan on the left touchline close to the halfway line. Nelson Semedo’s challenge was feeble, Joao Gomes’s and Maximilian Kilman’s were non-existent and, as if Fred Astaire had a ball at his feet, Mitoma danced through them all before slotting in past Jose Sa. Well over an hour remained but Wolves could already predict the future.”