NO prizes for guessing what will be on Wolves boss Bruno Lage’s shopping list this summer – someone who actually knows where the goal is.
Wolves can forget about squeezing into Europe after this Molineux collapse.
And their fans let them know what they thought of a truly dismal display.
Most of them had left the stadium by the final whistle – but enough remained to boo them off.
Brighton were in total control despite missing a first half penalty through Alexis Mac Allister – who made amends nine minutes later as Graham Potter’s side were awarded a SECOND spot-kick.
A third defeat in a row – and no goals in those games – highlighted the fact that Wolves have a big problem in finding the net.
Those frustrations spread to the fans who groaned and jeered as Brighton dominated.
Raul Jimenez had been dropped for the contest and came on at the break.
But the Mexico star has struggled for goals in his first season back after suffering a fractured skull 18 months ago – and he had no joy here.
He was not the only one. Wolves managed just one shot on target although Pedro Neto hit the post with the last kick of the game.
But Mac Allister’s motto must be: ‘If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.’
The Argentinian missed the chance to put Brighton ahead from the penalty spot just after the half hour mark when he struck the post.
But when they won a second spot kick Mac Allister stepped up again.
He had to wrestle the ball from Leandro Trossard who clearly wanted to take it after the earlier miss.
But this was the return of the Mac.
And he made no mistake a with his second attempt, even though he put it in the same corner.
Mac Allister had nerves of steel to take another one – it would not have looked good if he had two misses to his name.
But while Trossard was denied the chance to score from the spot – he more than made up for it with 20 minutes left as he wrapped up the points with a superb angled shot into the far corner.
And the returning Yves Bissouma completed the rout when he found the net from the edge of the area for his first Premier League goal of the season.
Lage sprung a surprise before the game by naming Ruben Neves in his starting line up – despite insisting on Thursday that the Portugal midfielder had still not recovered from a knee injury.
Brighton were without Neal Maupay – and boss Potter might have wished he had not left him on the bench after 33 minutes.
A VAR check handed Brighton a penalty after Solly March’s cross was handled by Romain Saiss in the area.
Maupay would normally take it – but Mac Alilister stepped up and drove his low shot against the base of the post.
Four minutes before half time though, Brighton were awarded another penalty.
Danny Welbeck broke clear on the left and he chased Lewis Dunk’s free-kick.
But Wolves defender Willy Boly got his legs in a tangle with Welbeck who went down under the clumsy challenge.
Then there was the sight of Brighton’s players arguing over who should take it this time.
But it was Mac Allister who won out. He gambled on putting the ball to Jose Sa’s right again – and the Wolves keeper guessed correctly once more.
But the ball crept inside the post this time.
And the Seagulls settled it with 20 minutes left as Trossard turned Mountiho on he right side of the box and curled a superb shot into the far corner – before Bissouma made it three.
Wolves have now failed to score in 15 of their 34 league games this season.
And this was their heaviest defeat of the season.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
