Wolves 0-3 Brighton: Alexis Mac Allister scores penalty with Trossard and Bissouma on target

Wolves 0-3 Brighton: Alexis Mac Allister scores penalty after missing earlier spot-kick while Leandro Trossard and Yves Bissouma are also on target as Wolves’ European hopes suffer a blow

  • Alexis Mac Allister was on the scoresheet as Brighton beat Wolves 3-0
  • Mac Allister earlier missed a penalty but subsequently scored from the spot
  • Leandro Trossard and Yves Bissouma scored in the second half for Brighton 

All the pre-match talk surrounded the return of Wolves’ main man Ruben Neves – but it was another midfielder, Brighton and Hove Albion’s Alexis Mac Allister helped settle this game in the battle for the ‘best of the rest’.

Mac Allister kept his nerve to open the scoring from the spot in the 42nd minute after his first penalty nine minutes earlier had struck the post.

Leandro Trossard and Yves Bissouma gave Graham Potter’s far superior side the extra goals they deserved after Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sá had made several saves to keep his team in contention. 

Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after his penalty put Brighton in front against Wolves

Mac Allister found the net from the penalty spot with just three minutes left of the first half

Mac Allister found the net from the penalty spot with just three minutes left of the first half

Earlier in the game Mac Allister missed a penalty but he made up for his error

 Earlier in the game Mac Allister missed a penalty but he made up for his error

MATCH FACTS, PLAYER RATINGS AND PREMIER LEAGUE TABLE

Wolves (3-5-2): Sá 7; Boly 4, Coady © 4, Saïss 4; Semedo 5 (Jonny Castro Otto 53 minutes, 6), Dendoncker 5, Neves 5 (Neto 46 minutes, 5), Moutinho 6, Aït-Nouri 5; Silva 5 (Jiménez 46 minutes, 5), Hwang Hee-Chan 5.

Substitutes: Marçal, Trincão, Chiquinho, Ruddy, Gomes, Cundle.

Booked: Coady.

Brighton (3-4-3): Sánchez 7; Veltman 7, Dunk © 7, Cucurella 7; March 7 (Lamptey 87 ,minutes, 6), Bissouma 7, Caicedo 7, Trossard 8 (Groß 88 minutes, 6); Mwepu 7 (Webster 63 minutes, 6), Welbeck 7, Mac Allister 7.

Substitutes: Maupay, Lallana, Alzate, Steele, Duffy, Ferguson.

Booked: Cucurella.

Referee: Simon Hooper 7

Attendance: 31,243.

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It was no more than the Seagulls deserved after outplaying Bruno Lage’s side.

Wolves failed to produce an effort on target until the 85th minute and have now lost four of their last five matches as their challenge for Europe has withered.

Brighton created the first chance when Enock Mwepu unleashed a fierce drive from 25 yards that swerved away from Sá, who made a diving save to his left.

Mwepu seemed determined to make a name for himself and he produced a snapshot that was easier for Sá to gather after Marc Cucurella’s deep cross found him lurking at the far post.

Leandro Trossard celebrates after his goal made it 2-0 to Brighton away to Wolves

Leandro Trossard celebrates after his goal made it 2-0 to Brighton away to Wolves

Sá was called on again, this time to hold Danny Welbeck’s curling, rising effort before the Brighton forward won a foul and booking for Wolves captain Conor Coady.

Wolves livened up briefly when Joao Moutinho and Neves had low shots deflected wide in quick succession.

But they were soon second best again, initially after Brighton won their first penalty.

The 33rd minute spot kick was awarded after referee Simon Hooper was invited to view the pitchside monitor by VAR when Solly March’s cross from the right caught the left forearm of Romain Saiss, who appeared to move towards the ball.

Wolves were handed a reprieve when Alexis Mac Allister’s kick struck Sa’s right-hand post and bounced harmlessly away.

Sá had to be alert after Leandro Trossard popped up unmarked deep in the box for a low, angled shot that the goalkeeper tipped away to his left.

Trossard, who has produced some impressive displays this season, scored in the 70th minute

Trossard, who has produced some impressive displays this season, scored in the 70th minute

Nine minutes after winning their first penalty, Brighton won a second spot kick when Willy Boly tripped and fell and caught Welbeck, who also landed in a heap.

This time Hooper had no hesitation in pointing straight to the spot, and Mac Allister despatched his kick to the same side, but much higher, giving Sá little chance.

Not surprisingly, Wolves were booed off at half-time and it was no surprise as Brighton completely deserved their lead.

Wolves made a double substitution at half-time with Raul Jimenez and Pedro Neto on for Silva and Neves.

But it made little difference, certainly initially, as Brighton continued to threaten more goals.

Moises Caicedo forced Sá to save low down to his right with a close range effort, then Mwepu’s rising effort was deflected over by the sliding Saiss before Mac Allister’s deflected drive from distance looped up and was held by the goalkeeper.

In the meantime, there was worse news for the home side as Nelson Semedo limped off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury as he chased a ball down the right.

He was replaced by Jonny Castro Otto to complete Wolves’ permitted three substitutes.

Yves Bissouma's goal in the 86th minute added further gloss to the scoreline for Brighton

Yves Bissouma’s goal in the 86th minute added further gloss to the scoreline for Brighton

Trossard made it 2-0 when Jimenez lost the ball upfield and Brighton broke, the forward cutting inside after turning Conor Coady before firing home into the opposite corner for his third goal in four games.

Willy Boly had Wolves’ only effort on target with a weak header straight at Robert Sánchez after Neto’s shot had been blocked.

Bissouma rubbed salt into Wolves’ wounds in the 86th minute with a low drive from 22 yards that evaded Sá after Coady dived to head away Cucurella’s cross.

Jimenez hit the post with the last kick but even a consolation was beyond sorry Wolves.