Premier League
BrightonBrighton & Hove Albion2WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers2

Brighton 2-2 Wolves: Diogo Jota scores twice as Wolves keep unbeaten run going

By Gary RoseBBC Sport
Diogo Jota scored two goals for Wolves
Jota has now scored 11 goals in the Premier League

Diogo Jota scored twice as Wolves stretched their unbeaten run in the Premier League to 11 games with a 2-2 draw at Brighton.

All four goals were scored in an entertaining first half, with Jota putting the visitors ahead following a quick counter-attack, playing a one-two with Raul Jimenez before slotting in.

Then came a crazy couple of minutes as Brighton turned the game on its head.

First, Neal Maupay equalised after latching on to a long ball from Dale Stephens before thumping a strike beyond Rui Patricio's reach.

Then, just 96 seconds later, the Seagulls took the lead when Davy Propper headed in Leandro Trossard's cross.

Brighton went close to adding a third when Aaron Mooy swept an effort just wide of the far post, before Jota equalised a minute before half-time. Jonny pounced on a defensive mistake before finding Jota inside the area and the Portuguese forward turned and tucked a shot in at the far post.

The second half failed to match the high tempo of the first, with Brighton's Maupay going closest to finding a winner when he fired a fierce shot that was held by Patricio.

The point moves Wolves up to sixth in the table, while Brighton remain 12th.

Fearless Seagulls keep up attacking intent

The late afternoon Sunday game may not have featured one of the Premier League's traditional big guns but it nevertheless offered the prospect of an entertaining game, with both these teams having shown plenty of willingness to attack this season.

They certainly delivered in a fast-paced first half in which both sides scored twice - only the third time that has happened this season after Norwich's 3-2 defeat by Chelsea and Liverpool's 5-2 victory over Everton.

Fresh from beating Arsenal 2-1 last-time out, Brighton showed no fear against a Wolves side that had not lost in their previous 10 games and could easily have been out of sight in the first half, with Maupay's energy and Mooy's creativity proving a constant menace for the visitors' backline.

But Wolves' attacking flair is a lot for many Premier League teams to handle and in the end a draw was perhaps a fair result.

However, if Brighton continue to play with this level of positivity they are unlikely to be looking too nervously over their shoulders in the second half of the season.

Wolves' unbeaten run continues

It is already hard to believe that relegation looked a serious threat for Wolves this season but that was certainly the case after they failed to win any of their first six Premier League games and appeared to struggle with juggling domestic and Europa League commitments.

But Nuno Espirito Santo's side have roared back impressively since recording their first Premier League win of the season on 28 September, when they beat Watford.

They had won three of their four league games prior to the trip to the Amex and another win would have taken them back above both Tottenham and Manchester United into fifth in the table.

Like Brighton, they lacked that bit of extra energy in the second half as a third game in seven days perhaps took its toll.

But an 11th game without defeat means they are now on their longest unbeaten run in the top flight since 1962 and are looking well placed to challenge for a top-six finish.

Man of the match - Diogo Jota (Wolves)

Diogo Jota
After going 11 games without scoring this was a welcome return to form in front of goal for Diogo Jota, who looked sharp throughout and linked up superbly with Raul Jimenez

What next?

Brighton are not in action again until Monday, 16 December when they travel to Crystal Palace in the Premier League (19:45 GMT) while Wolves host Besiktas in their final Europa League group game on Tuesday, 12 December (20:00 GMT).

Line-ups

Brighton

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Ryan
  • 46Alzate
  • 15Webster
  • 5DunkBooked at 75mins
  • 33BurnBooked at 82mins
  • 24Pröpper
  • 6StephensBooked at 90mins
  • 18Mooy
  • 13GroßSubstituted forJahanbakhshat 68'minutes
  • 7Maupay
  • 11TrossardSubstituted forMurrayat 68'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Duffy
  • 8Bissouma
  • 16Jahanbakhsh
  • 17Murray
  • 22Montoya
  • 27Button
  • 30Bernardo

Wolves

Formation 3-4-3

  • 11Rui Patrício
  • 32Dendoncker
  • 16Coady
  • 27Saïss
  • 2Doherty
  • 8Neves
  • 28João Moutinho
  • 19Castro Otto
  • 37TraoréSubstituted forVinagreat 90+3'minutes
  • 9JiménezSubstituted forCutroneat 85'minutes
  • 18JotaSubstituted forNetoat 77'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Vallejo
  • 5Bennett
  • 7Neto
  • 10Cutrone
  • 21Ruddy
  • 29Vinagre
  • 49Kilman
Referee:
Jonathan Moss
Attendance:
30,189

Match Stats

Home TeamBrightonAway TeamWolves
Possession
Home62%
Away38%
Shots
Home13
Away13
Shots on Target
Home5
Away6
Corners
Home3
Away4
Fouls
Home10
Away7

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Wolverhampton Wanderers 2.

  3. Substitution

    Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Rúben Vinagre replaces Adama Traoré.

  4. Booking

    Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Dale Stephens (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  6. Post update

    Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  7. Post update

    Attempt saved. Patrick Cutrone (Wolverhampton Wanderers) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Rúben Neves.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Neal Maupay (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  9. Post update

    Conor Coady (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Neal Maupay (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  11. Post update

    Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  12. Substitution

    Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Patrick Cutrone replaces Raúl Jiménez.

  13. Post update

    Glenn Murray (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Leander Dendoncker (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

  15. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Rúben Neves.

  16. Booking

    Dan Burn (Brighton and Hove Albion) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Dan Burn (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  18. Post update

    Adama Traoré (Wolverhampton Wanderers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  19. Post update

    Attempt missed. Dan Burn (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.

  20. Substitution

    Substitution, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Pedro Neto replaces Diogo Jota.

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