Wolves Fans' Verdict v Brighton: Second half changes lead to more frustration

Matt Gallimore

Was a draw a fair result? Probably, yes! But the manner of which we relinquished the lead means it is another two points lost.

I like Vitor Pereira, but let's not beat around the bush. The game management for that last 30 minutes was horrific.

I can understand after 80 minutes throwing caution to the wind, but not with a third of the game remaining, when you're at home and in the driving seat.

Maybe it was an indication that the manager doesn't have faith in us killing off games with our attacking prowess, but yesterday that reeked of something a Sam Allardyce, Tony Pullis or Steve Bruce would have done, and that doesn't sit well with me.

That kind of mentality in modern day football only sends your club one way, never mind doing it in the Premier League.

In previous seasons I have always remained certain we would have more than enough to get us out the mess we were in, but I'm still convinced we won't score enough goals this season for us to maintain our top league status.

The fact that the first half display was very good adds to the frustration of what was to come, with some very good individual performances. Sam Johnstone commanding and with much better distribution, Hugo Bueno growing all the time, Santi Bueno showing composure, Munetsi with non-stop effort, Arias with another performance of growth, Andre and Joao Gomes once again running midfield, and Krejci proving himself yet again to be the buy of the summer.

Facts though are that we are still waiting for that elusive first win. More of that first half showing and it won't be much longer before we achieve that, but in 2025 more of the mentality that we resorted to in the last 30 minutes won't be tolerated. Its archaic and playing that style won't get you anywhere as a club.

Harry Lee

It is no coincidence that for two games running we have conceded late on.  When moving to a back four in the cup vs Everton it had looked like Vitor had landed on a new formation and a new starting XI which had promise, this had played out in the form of taking the lead away at Spurs and at home in this game against Brighton, whilst looking solid enough defensively.  

This is why it is even more frustrating that we reverted to a back five, ultimately inviting the pressure on whilst making some extremely questionable substitutions.

Considering Brighton are something of a bogey side, the first half Wolves had good spells of domination, Munetsi was causing problems with the usual endless amounts of running he gets through in a position which suits him, Krejci impressive throughout and Tchatchoua dealing with their dangerman Minteh excellently. 

Despite the second half showing, Wolves still fashioned the best chances with Arias blazing over and Strand Larsen unlucky to hit the post, but this is the difference, Wolves have to be clinical as we cannot be trusted to keep a clean sheet.  

The negativity with the subs was summed up when a visibly frustrated Strand Larsen came off for the diminutive Bellegarde - which meant the 5ft7 Arias was playing furthest up field against the 6ft2+ centre back pairing for Brighton, you'd think to attempt to relieve pressure and hold up the ball that Tolu was the obvious choice, but he did not appear until after the 90th minute to attempt to salvage to the three points.  

It suggests to me that Pereira does not at all trust these players to see out a game hence the changes, but his in game management of these situations has proven to be poor.

There is one thing for sure, if Wolves do not take at least four points from Sunderland away and Burnley at home up next then they may as well start preparing for the Championship.

Cameron Smith

It’s hard to view Sunday’s match as anything other than two points dropped. The first-half display against a well-drilled Brighton side was genuinely enjoyable, characterised by energy, sharpness, and intent. Wolves took the game to a reliable Premier League opponent and looked the better side before the break.

The frustration is how quickly that momentum faded. After half-time, the team sank deeper and deeper, inviting pressure. To their credit, Wolves largely dealt well with Brighton’s endless stream of crosses, limiting clear chances. But as so often in the top-flight, one lapse proved costly, and Jan Paul van Hecke punished it with the equaliser.

What stands out is the lack of genuine difference-makers in the side. Once Wolves were pinned into their defensive shape, they lacked the spark to relieve pressure or turn the tide. The absences of Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri were glaring - players who can carry the ball, change the rhythm, and give the team an outlet. Without that, Wolves struggled to counter with any pace, leaving Jorgen Strand Larsen to feed off scraps in the final third.

It’s a disappointing result, especially after such a promising opening half. There have been clear positives in recent weeks, but there’s no escaping the sense that Wolves have let four points slip away across their last two fixtures heading into the international break.

Clive Smith

There was so many positives from that game - such a contrast to our last home match against Leeds.

Johnstone had made an incredible save from a powerful header that looked a definite goal. In defence Krejci was reading the game brilliantly and Santi is playing like the real deal this season. Hugo was defending well and providing attacking width. Tchatchoua made several defensive tackles and gave his best performance in a Wolves shirt.

In midfield we saw an incredibly impressive competitive display from Andre, Gomes and Munetsi. Constantly knocking Brighton off their stride. 

Those eight players deserved to earn us the win. Any of them could have been MOTM.

We in the stands might not have our coaching badges and believe we are master tactician's but what was VP thinking with our substitutions? Surely his view from above the dugout should have helped him see the same game we all saw?

After an hour, and after Arias should really have made it 2-0, game over, three points. It was reasonable to take Hwang off, he'd contributed little in the second half, but to bring Agbadou on, and not Tolu seemed flawed. The logic may have been to revert to a back five but the way the 'back 8' were playing was that really necessary? Keeping their defence honest, with extra attacking legs, was surely a better way to win the game.

Bellegarde for Larsen was the next change. Fresh legs in midfield and pushing Munetsi further forward would have made some sense, but not unless Tolu was also there to lead the line as Larsen's replacement.

Wolfe started our first couple of games, understandably looked off the pace for the PL, and he still does. Hugo was doing fine, why change?

Meanwhile, bringing Mosquera and Tolu on, at 1-1, in added time, just felt like 'horse bolted!'.

The second half was bound to see Brighton have more possession, but they had done in the first half too. Arias and Larsen's shot, that hit the post, were typical opportunities we had to kill the game off, but once we'd made our three initial substitutions we had no counter attacking threat.

In the end we had a mixed up defence, a mixed up midfield, and non-existent attack. That surely helped Brighton more than us.

We've been so close to getting six points from our last two games. Small margins. That tally would have been enough to get us out of the bottom three. Wins must surely be not far away.

John Lalley

Our first substitution of this match delivered the clearest of messages; Wolves had opted to man the barricades at a ridiculously early juncture. 

Immediately, the initiative was surrendered and every tackle, challenge and second ball became the preserve of Brighton. Wolves backed off, retreated and lost any relieving outlet and a bunker-mentality became their sole purpose. 

That said, their commitment to the cause was admirable. Bodies on the line, superb block-tackles and endless last- ditch interventions. Krejci, Tchatchoua, despite his fatal late error and the two Buenos all outstanding with barely a moment to catch their breath before the next onslaught. 

With Sam Johnstone excelling again in goal, we might just have got away with it. Indeed, on the rare excursions into Brighton territory, Arias spurned a sublime opportunity to give us a meaningful cushion and the competitive Strand Larsen was desperately unfortunate to hit the post after totally outwitting the goalkeeper. 

Not surprisingly, he couldn’t hide his exasperation when he was almost immediately hauled off. A baffling decision compounded by Arokodare not being the replacement. Already disjointed, this simply added to the confusion. 

For all of their possession, this was a Brighton outfit short of their usual proficiency, but there was an inevitability that these haphazard tactics wouldn’t see us over the line. 

Drop your guard for a fraction, lose your concentration and at this level, the consequences are often dire. 

Ultimately, we didn’t have the courage of our convictions; what we have we hold taken to excess. Only a whole lot more self-belief will pull us out of the mess we are in.

Adam Virgo

A really frustrating way to draw and we were the masters of our own downfall by sitting deep and trying to defend a 1-0 lead throughout the second half. 

A fantastic strike from Munetsi, albeit it was an own goal, and he has looked so much better in a midfield three these past two games. He shouldn’t be starting in a front three role but what he can offer box to box can be useful for us in midfield. 

Hwang seemed to be the only player willing to try and beat his man for pace and it just shows the lack of speed we have in our attack which is extremely concerning and it’s just baffling why we set up how we did in the second half. Brighton were nowhere near as good as I expected them to be and they were definitely vulnerable in defence. 

We had also got three or four of their players booked which makes it even more ridiculous that we didn’t go for a second goal. 

The two shots we did have in the second half were actually pretty good chances as well, Arias should have done a lot better with his though. The decision to take Strand Larsen off for Bellegarde and play with no striker and only one real attacker for around 15 minutes until Tolu came on really is stupidity from a tactical point of view. 

Sunderland and Burnley are absolutely huge games, we need to be winning them both ideally but I just don’t see us doing that. Krejci and Bueno have created a fantastic partnership at centre back, I just wish we’d stick with it in games and not keep going to a back five, I have no idea why Agbadou has to play every single game. 

Another great performance from Johnstone again, his save from Rutter was ridiculous. The positive is that we’re unbeaten in three in all competitions, it’s just frustrating because we could and probably should have been able to win at least one of them, maybe even both.