Premier League | Gameweek 9

Oct 26, 2024 at 3pm UK

The American Express Community Stadium

Brighton vs Wolves

Match preview

In an avian battle between the magpies and the seagulls last weekend, Eddie Howe's team were on fire and barely allowed Brighton to venture out of their own half for large portions of the match. However, they couldn't find the back of the net at the crucial moment.

Brighton needed just one chance to score against Nick Pope, and Danny Welbeck made the most of it, scoring the only goal of the game at St James' Park. However, Welbeck's injury did put a damper on the visitors' success.

But there haven't been any October surprises in terms of results for Fabian Hurzeler's team. They did brilliantly to come back from two goals down against Tottenham Hotspur at the start of the month and they're doing really well in fifth place in the Premier League table with 15 points.

As Arsenal don't play again until Sunday, if Brighton win again this weekend, they'll be in the Champions League positions for a while. Hurzeler hasn't lost at the Amex yet, with four wins and two draws in all competitions at the Seagulls' base.

Including the five-goal thriller with Wolves in the EFL Cup just a matter of weeks ago, Brighton's last three home matches have produced a whopping 14 goals – eight for the Seagulls and six against. However, they only have a 27% Premier League win record against teams beginning the weekend in the relegation zone.

Wolves boss O'Neil will be disappointed that his side are below the dotted line, though. The Old Gold were on track for a big win against champions Man City when Jorgen Strand Larsen scored just seven minutes in.

Josko Gvardiol's outrageous equaliser quickly put paid to that idea, but the Molineux outfit were just seconds away from putting a serious dent into City's five-in-a-row aspirations, until John Stones became the Sky Blues' injury-time hero once more.

As is often the case with Wolves, there was a VAR controversy. While Bernardo Silva was briefly in the way of Jose Sa from an offside position, the officials decided that the small Portuguese player didn't affect his compatriot's ability to save Stones's header.

O'Neil could now find himself in trouble with the FA after questioning whether there is an unconscious bias towards title-challenging teams. The table still makes for grim reading for the 20th-placed visitors, who have now lost six on the trot in all competitions.

Wolves' poor run is not down to their attackers. The visitors have scored in each of their last nine games in all tournaments, but they could become the first team since Man City in 1960 to lose six top-flight games in a row while netting in each of them.

Two more goals from O'Neil's team were also unsuccessful during September's 3-2 EFL Cup defeat to Brighton. Brighton are also unbeaten in their last five Premier League games against the West Midlands side, taking 13 points from a possible 15 in that hot streak.

Recent Performance

Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League form:DDDLWW

Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions):DWDLWW

Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form:DLLLLL

Wolverhampton Wanderers form (all competitions):LLLLLL

Injuries and suspensions

Brighton

33 Matt O'Riley

7 Solly March

Wolves

14 Yerson Mosquera

33 Bastien Meupiyou

6 Boubacar Traoré

30 Enso González

11 Hee-chan Hwang

18 Sasa Kalajdzic

Team News

There was a lot of concern for Welbeck when he was given oxygen and stretchered off against Newcastle with a back injury, but the striker has now confirmed that his problem is not as bad as first thought. He is already training again ahead of Saturday's game.

However, Hurzeler will surely have to find an alternative solution up front this weekend, where Evan Ferguson could now act as the focal point as Kaoru Mitoma replaces the stricken Welbeck. Simon Adingra and Yankuba Minteh are both doubts.

It looks like Welbeck is one of six Seagulls who might miss the visit of Wolves. The list also includes Solly March (knee), Adam Webster (thigh), Joao Pedro (ankle), James Milner (thigh) and Matt O'Riley (ankle).

Wolves are still dealing with a few injuries. Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez, Yerson Mosquera and Boubacar Traore are still recovering from knee injuries, while Hwang Hee-chan has been ruled out for a few weeks with an ankle problem.

O'Neil also lost goalkeeper Sam Johnstone to an adductor problem before the loss to Man City, but Sa did a great job in his place and might even keep his position if the Englishman is fit again for the trip to the Amex.

The manager of the visiting team also confirmed that Andre's withdrawal at half-time against Man City was a tactical move. However, he still did his part defensively in the first half and should keep his place in the starting lineup on Saturday.

Possible starting lineups

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:

Verbruggen; Veltman, Dunk, Igor, Kadioglu; Baleba, Hinshelwood; Mitoma, Rutter, Ayari; Ferguson

Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Sa; Toti, Bueno, Dawson; Semedo, Gomes, Andre, Lemina, Ait-Nouri; Larsen, Cunha