Brighton 3 (Hinshelwood 1, Dunk 5, Minteh 86) Wolves 0
Wolves never recovered from a disastrous start on the south coast, as Brighton & Hove Albion won 3-0 to extend the Old Gold’s tough run of form at the end of a difficult campaign.
Jack Hinshelwood’s header within the first minute signalled a difficult afternoon at the Amex, and Lewis Dunk had doubled the hosts’ lead moments later, and Rob Edwards’ side had a mountain to climb.
Wolves couldn’t take advantage of an improved second half, and Yankuba Minteh added a third late on, as the long wait for a Premier League away victory continues for the already relegated Old Gold.
Unfortunately, after just 35 seconds at the Amex, it looked like being a tough afternoon for the Old Gold. Maxim De Cuyper was given space down the left and his cross found the untracked run of Hinshelwood, who guided a header into the top corner and subjected the visitors to a nightmare start.
It was to get worse, however. Brighton made it two with a goal of simplicity, as De Cuyper’s delivery was met by Dunk, who’d outmuscled Joao Gomes before thumping a header past Dan Bentley at close range.
Brighton were done for first half goals, but did threaten, as Karou Mitoma shot wide of the near post and Dunk forcing Bentley to tip over the bar from close range, having lost Yerson Mosquera in the area. Wolves went in for the break with a mountain to climb.
Half-time | Brighton 2-0 Wolves
While they couldn’t turn the tide of the game, Wolves did at least threaten the Brighton goal more after the break. After Danny Welbeck headed straight at Bentley, Hee Chan Hwang passed up an opportunity to hit the target, before Mateus Mane’s cross was headed on to the top of the crossbar by Mosquera.
Hwang then struck a post, and although the flag was raised, it may well have stood. Mane also tested Bart Verbruggen with a low drive and, despite his best efforts, Adam Armstrong couldn’t force home the loose ball.
The Seagulls got their third seven minutes from time. Mosquera initially did well to deny substitute Georgino Rutter, but having then failed to clear his lines, Minteh was able to nip in and beat Bentley at his near post.
Half chances continued as the game came to a conclusion, with Armstrong miscuing from a Mosquera knockdown and Tolu Arokodare heading a good Jean-Ricner Bellegarde cross wide as Wolves wear beaten on the south coast.
Full-time | Brighton 3-0 Wolves
Brighton | Verbruggen, Dunk, van Hecke, Minteh, Hinshelwood (Kostoulas 88), Baleba (Ayari 76), Welbeck (Rutter 76), Mitoma (Veltman 58), Kadioglu, De Cuyper (March 88), Gross.
Unused subs | Steele, Milner, Boscagli, O’Riley.
Wolves | Bentley, Lima (R Gomes 67), Mosquera, S Bueno, Toti, H Bueno (Wolfe 45), J Gomes (Arokodare 89), Andre, Mane (Bellegarde 67), Armstrong, Hwang (A Gomes 89).
Unused subs | Gracey, Doherty, Krejci, Tchatchoua.
