Brighton Strike Early to Secure Victory Over Wolves
The clock had barely started when Brighton tore into Wolves and, in truth, the contest never really recovered.
Thirty-five seconds. That was all it took for Jack Hinshelwood to dart into the box, meet Maxim de Cuyper’s cross and nod Brighton into the lead at the Amex. One sweeping move down the right, one precise delivery, one emphatic header. History, too: the earliest Premier League goal Brighton have ever scored.
For a side chasing Europe, it was the perfect opening. For a side already condemned to relegation, it felt like another punch in a season full of them.
Brighton smell Europe
Roberto De Zerbi’s team, now up to seventh on 53 points, are finishing with a snarl. Two games remain, and the table is suddenly within touching distance: Bournemouth in sixth are just two points ahead, Aston Villa five clear in fifth. The door to Europe is open. Brighton are sprinting towards it.
Their start against Wolves crackled with intent. Hinshelwood, scoring for the third league match in a row after strikes against Chelsea and Newcastle, played like a man who has no interest in easing into anything. His timing, his aggression in the box, his confidence – all of it spoke of a young midfielder riding a remarkable wave.
Wolves barely had time to reset before they were two down.
Dunk returns, and dominates
Four minutes after the opener, Lewis Dunk rose, as he has so often for this club, to deepen the damage. Back in the starting XI for the first time since 21 March, the captain attacked De Cuyper’s corner and powered home another header. Simple, brutal, effective.
Already-relegated Wolves looked stunned. Marking evaporated, shoulders slumped. Brighton sensed it and pressed harder.
Danny Welbeck, chasing what would be a record-breaking 14th league goal for the Seagulls, almost added a third before the break. He forced Dan Bentley into a sharp save and buzzed across the front line, dragging defenders out of position. Brighton’s only frustration at half-time was that the scoreline did not fully reflect their superiority.
Wolves’ unwanted history
For Wolves, the numbers are turning into a grim collection of milestones. This was their 24th league defeat of the campaign. They have now lost to every single one of the 19 opponents they have faced this season – a feat only matched in the Premier League era by Sheffield United in 2023-24.
Away from home, the story is even bleaker. Winless in 20 Premier League away matches (five draws, 15 defeats), Rob Edwards’ side have slumped into their worst run on the road since a 23-game stretch between April 2003 and August 2004. The slow drift towards the Championship has become a crawl through quicksand.
At the Amex, the pattern was familiar. Overwhelmed early, chasing shadows for much of the first half, they struggled to cope with Brighton’s intensity and movement.
A flicker from Wolves
The second half, at least, brought a hint of resistance. Yerson Mosquera climbed highest to meet a cross and clipped the top of the crossbar with a header. Moments later, Mateus Mane forced Bart Verbruggen into action with a firm effort, the Brighton goalkeeper standing tall during Wolves’ brief purple patch.
Hwang Hee-chan then struck the post, only to see the flag go up for offside. It summed up their afternoon: when they did find a way through, something – woodwork, officiating, or their own timing – cut them back down.
The pressure finally told again at the other end.
Mitoma worry, Minteh finishes it
One cloud hung over Brighton’s otherwise commanding display. Kaoru Mitoma pulled up holding his hamstring, a worrying sight not only for De Zerbi but for Japan ahead of this summer’s World Cup. His exit tempered the mood, a reminder that the run-in carries its own risks.
Yet Brighton still had enough to close the door on any notion of a comeback. With four minutes left, Yankuba Minteh struck. Georginio Rutter’s driving run was halted, but the loose ball broke kindly and Minteh stayed composed, finishing cleanly to seal the points and underline the gulf between the sides.
By then, Wolves looked what they are: a relegated team counting down the days. The fight in the second half showed pride, but not enough quality, not enough belief.
Brighton, by contrast, played like a club with something tangible to chase. Seventh place, momentum on their side, and two matches to turn this into another European season.
For Wolves, there is only one consolation now. With two games left, the end of a miserable campaign is finally coming into view.
