Brighton 1-0 Wolves: Murray scores 100th Brighton goal in victory

Brighton's Glenn Murray celebratesImage source, Getty Images
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Murray is the second player to score 100 goals for Brighton

Glenn Murray said he was "immensely proud" to score his 100th Brighton goal against Wolves, which secured the Seagulls' third consecutive Premier League win.

Murray, who was a doubt for the game after suffering concussion last weekend, turned Bruno's scuffed shot in from close range shortly after half-time.

The Englishman is now Brighton's second all-time leading scorer and is only the second player to score 100 goals for the club.

"I've had some special moments here at the Amex. I've been here a long time and I'm immensely proud of scoring 100 goals for the club," he told the club's website.

"It was a special moment as far as getting the three points was concerned.

"Now that I've got 100 goals, I want to move on to 101 goals and get as many as I can this season."

The win sees Brighton earn three consecutive top-flight victories for the first time since 1981 - in a game that was dominated by their opponents.

Wolves, with greater possession and more on-target shots, were unfortunate not to come away with at least a point.

They came close through Matt Doherty, who shot just wide of the post from 10 yards early on, and could have had a first-half penalty when another effort from Doherty hit the raised arm of Jose Izquierdo.

Shane Duffy headed off the outside of the post at the end of the first half for Brighton but Murray's goal was the hosts' only shot on target in the game.

Wolves pressed hard for an equaliser in a remarkable finish with Brighton's goalkeeper Mat Ryan saving brilliantly from Ryan Bennett in stoppage time.

Ryan also dived low to stop Ruben Neves' strike from distance while Doherty had another chance blocked wide.

Brighton climb to 11th with the win while Wolves stay ninth.

Murray shows worth to Brighton

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A record crowd was in attendance at the Amex Stadium to see Murray complete a century of Brighton goals

In total, Wolves had 25 shots to Brighton's seven but the three points were decided by Murray's clinical finish, plus a bit of fortune.

Brighton were lucky Bruno's mis-hit shot fell to their top scorer but he instinctively directed the ball inside the post from seven yards.

It was the striker's only shot of the game - a game he might well not have played.

Even on Friday, manager Chris Hughton had said he was yet to decide whether Murray would play after his concussion at Newcastle last Saturday but the Englishman once again proved how crucial he is to his side.

After the match Hughton praised Murray's desire to play in the game, adding that he did not see any reluctance from the striker to play.

"Glenn always was adamant he was fine, he wanted to play," said Hughton.

"Because we followed the protocol, we knew that medically he was fine to play so then really it's about the player.

"He's somebody who wants to play and wants to play as many games as possible.

"My thoughts were always to play him, if we were able to. He's somebody that's desperate to score goals."

The goal was Murray's sixth in 10 games this season - one less than the league's top scorer Eden Hazard - and it saw him become just the second player to score 100 goals for Brighton, after Tommy Cook did so in the 1920s.

Murray has scored 40% of Brighton's goals since their return to the Premier League and he has scored in three of their four wins this season.

Wolves unfortunate to lose again

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Wolves performance didn't match result - Santo

This defeat is Wolves' second in a row in the league.

Last week their manager Nuno Espirito Santo criticised their performance but he had no similar complaints this weekend, though he was upset that his side conceded from Brighton's only chance.

Nuno made a change to his starting line-up for the first time this season - replacing Diogo Jota with Adama Traore to end their record-breaking nine-game run without a change - and, but for a 15-minute spell either side of half-time, Wolves dominated the game.

Doherty impressed again in the right wing-back role but could have scored twice with better finishing.

When introduced off the bench, Jota added impetus in the closing stages and also had a shot saved by Ryan.

Wolves' best chance, and Ryan's best save, came in the 93rd minute to deny Bennett.

The Wolves centre-back met a cross seven yards out in the centre of the goal but his well-hit strike was palmed away by Ryan diving to his right.

It is credit to Wolves' excellent start back in the Premier League that they remain in the top half despite losing their last two games. The overall performance suggested they should have little fear of the losing run continuing for too long.

"The only moment I am disappointed with is when we conceded," Nuno said.

"We did enough to deserve a different result, we bounced back from the last game. We must be optimistic.

"All the game we were trying to win, we had many chances and we conceded the only chance they had - that disappoints me.

"It is a moment that requires focus. From a throw-in you cannot concede a goal. The result was not for us but the performance was good.

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After losing just one of their first eight games of the season, Wolves have now lost two games in a row.

Brighton's impressive defensive run

All three of Brighton's consecutive wins have been by a 1-0 margin and they have now equalled their club record of three consecutive top-flight clean sheets.

That comes after they conceded in all of their first eight matches.

As well as the excellent Ryan, Duffy and centre-back partner Lewis Dunk again impressed by heading the ball away consistently.

They each completed nine clearances - five more than any other player on the field.

"Dunk and Duffy, they are massive for us," goal scorer Murray said. "We struggled for clean sheets at the start of the season but we have got our ship together and it's huge for confidence."

Hughton said: "I am delighted, we had to really earn it against a very good side. They threatened a lot and we had to defend really well. It was hard-earned.

"We are not playing at our best, nowhere near. We have players who are not at their level, we are not good on the ball but we are defending really well."

Man of the match - Mat Ryan (Brighton)

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Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan made a number of key saves and took pressure off his defence by claiming crosses

Wolves beaten by bogey team - the best stats

  • Brighton have won three consecutive games in the top-flight for the first time since May 1981 (when they had a run of four wins).

  • Wolves have lost back-to-back league games for the first time under Nuno Espirito Santo, with the club previously doing so back in April 2017.

  • Brighton have won each of their seven top-flight games against Wolves - the best 100% record for a team against a single opponent in English top-flight history.

  • After losing just one of their first eight games of the Premier League season (W4 D3), Wolves have now lost two games in a row.

  • Brighton striker Glenn Murray has scored six goals in his last eight starts in the Premier League, with five of those coming at the Amex.

  • At the age of 38 years and 26 days, Brighton defender Bruno (Bruno Saltor Grau - known as Bruno) is the oldest player to assist a Premier League goal since Jussi Jaaskelainen (38y 257d) on New Year's Day 2014 for West Ham against Fulham.

  • Brighton scored with their only shot on target of the game, with Glenn Murray doing so in the 48th minute.

What's next?

Wolves host Tottenham in their next game at 19:45 GMT next Saturday. Brighton play Everton at Goodison Park the same day at 15:00.

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