Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-1 Brighton & Hove Albion

  • Published
Danny BatthImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Batth's equaliser was his third league goal of the season

Danny Batth's late equaliser salvaged a point for Wolves at home to 10-man Brighton & Hove Albion.

On-loan striker Darren Bent put the visitors ahead on 10 minutes, stooping to head Inigo Calderon's first-time cross past goalkeeper Carl Ikeme.

Wolves were denied a penalty after the break when Nouha Dicko was booked for simulation and Brighton's Bruno was then sent off for a two-footed lunge.

Batth poked in Bakary Sako's corner from close range with two minutes left.

Brighton have won just one of their last 18 league games and they are four points below Millwall, in 21st, while Wolves are now seven points off the play-off places.

Media caption,

Hyypia on Wolves v Brighton

After Bent's goal, the first half was one of few clear-cut opportunities and Wolves showed little invention until five minutes before the break, when Sako had three chances in as many minutes equalise.

The Mali international saw his volley from James Henry's deep cross punched away by David Stockdale, and he then clipped the post after beating three players before forcing the Brighton keeper to make a low save.

Wolves boss Kenny Jackett made a double substitution at half-time and Dicko, one of the replacements, was in the thick of the action just five minutes after the restart.

Latching on to a loose backpass, he went down in the box following a challenge from Stockdale and referee Darren Bond pointed to the spot.

However, after consulting his assistant, Bond reversed his decision and booked Dicko for simulation, to the audible frustration of the home supporters.

Brighton were reduced to 10 men on 58 minutes when Spanish midfielder Bruno was dismissed for a rash challenge on Kevin McDonald.

Wolves began to dominate possession and Rajiv van La Parra, David Edwards and Dicko all had chances to level the scores before Batth's late strike.

Wolves manager Kenny Jackett:

"I have spoken to the referee and viewed it again. He originally gave a penalty and then he changed his mind which he is entitled to do.

"I felt that the ball was past the goalkeeper and he has caught the centre forward. To book Dicko for diving was harsh in the situation that he was in.

"It was nice to finish strongly in the last quarter of the game. I think we have gone up a place in the table and we are in a good position.

"We are competitive with the top of the league and the play-off positions. Are we good enough now to make that gap up right now? No, we need to improve."

Brighton manager Sami Hyypia:

"I think with 11 versus 11 we played some good football. I am very frustrated that we couldn't hold on.

"It was great to see how the players responded to us regrouping and talking about things a lot. I would have liked that to have happened a bit sooner.

"But it is great to see that everyone did their task 100% and really worked hard and worked together on the field."

Sorry, we can't display this part of the article any more.

Around the BBC

Related internet links

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.