Wolves concede in 35 seconds on way to Brighton defeat

Wolves conceded within 35 seconds on their way to a dismal 3-0 defeat at Brighton.

The rock-bottom visitors gave the ball away immediately before Jack Hinshelwood got on the end of a cross to head home.

A corner just four minutes later concluded with the same result as Lewis Dunk rose highest to finish with ease and heap pressure on Wolves head coach Rob Edwards.

Wolves hung on to limit the damage before half-time, and had chances to get back into the game in the second 45, but ultimately failed to take them.

Yankuba Minteh scored a late third to add insult to injury.

Analysis

Wolves made the worst possible start to the game by conceding in just 35 seconds.

Andre initially lost the ball in midfield and it was worked to Kaoru Mitoma, who found Maxim De Cuyper on the left, and his cross was headed home by Hinshelwood, who beat Toti Gomes in the air.

The visitors’ terrible start was made worse in the fifth minute as Lewis Dunk - strangely being marked by Joao Gomes - won the mismatch at the back post to make it 2-0 with a header from a corner.

That prompted the away end to chant against club owners Fosun.

The Seagulls had chances to extend their lead further, with Mitoma and Danny Welbeck both taking aim, as Wolves tried to settle following their disastrous start.

Loud boos from the away end greeted the half-time whistle, as Wolves somehow managed to avoid conceding a third.

As the second half began, Wolves finally created a chance when Hwang Hee-chan spurned a header, before Mateus Mane put the ball back in and Yerson Mosquera nodded onto the crossbar.

Moments later, Hwang was through with just goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen to beat, but he hit the post before the flag was raised. However, replays showed he was actually onside and a goal would have counted.

Mane then forced Verbruggen into a save and it fell for Adam Armstrong in the box, who should have shot quickly, but he twisted and turned to find an opening before losing the ball.

Wolves eventually conceded a third when Mosquera, who had already won the ball and done the hard work, gave it away in the box and Minteh was played through for an easy finish, as Wolves were beaten.

Key Moments

GOAL 1 Hinshelwood heads the hosts in front within less than a minute

GOAL 5 Dunks heads home from a corner to make it 2-0

GOAL 86 Minteh with a late third

Teams

Wolves: Bentley, Lima (R.Gomes, 66), Mosquera, S.Bueno, Toti, H.Bueno (Wolfe, 45), Andre, J.Gomes (A.Gomes, 88), Mane (Bellegarde, 66), Hwang (Arokodare, 88), Armstrong.

Subs not used: Gracey, Krejci, Doherty, Tchatchoua.

Brighton: Verbruggen, Kadioglu, van Hecke, Dunk, De Cuyper (Kostoulas, 87), Baleba (Ayari, 75), Gross, Hinshelwood (March, 87), Minteh, Mitoma (Veltman, 57), Welbeck (Rutter, 75).

Subs not used: Steele, Boscagli, O’Riley, Milner.