Wolves are looking to break their losing streak this weekend as they face Brighton in the Premier League. Gary O’Neil’s side nearly secured a point last weekend against Manchester City, but a late goal from John Stones denied them, leaving Wolves disappointed despite a well-executed game plan. Given the solid performance, O’Neil is expected to stick with the same formation for the Brighton match.
Facing Brighton poses another challenge for Wolves, as the Seagulls have been dominant in recent encounters. Brighton has won five of the last seven meetings across all competitions and recently eliminated Wolves from the Carabao Cup. Despite this, Wolves fans remain hopeful following their resilient showing against City. However, pundit Paul Merson is less optimistic about their chances against Brighton.
Merson has predicted a 3-1 win for Brighton, telling *Sportskeeda*: “Wolves fought hard against Manchester City last weekend but were unfortunate to lose 2-1. This game against Brighton is tough for them. Against City, they had the luxury of sitting back and trying for a result, but that won’t be the case here. They’ll need to be more aggressive from the start, which could work in Brighton’s favor.”
He further noted that while Wolves currently sit 20th in the league, their performances haven’t been as poor as their position suggests: “Even though Wolves are at the bottom, they’re better than their current standing.”
Given Brighton’s playing style—known for their fluid passing and possession-based approach, similar to Manchester City—there’s an argument for Wolves to adopt the same defensive strategy they used in their previous match. While it will be a tough test, Wolves have upcoming fixtures against Crystal Palace and Southampton, where they’ll be looking to secure crucial points.
| Brighton and Wolves Head-to-Head |
| Games played – 44 |
| Wolves wins – 9 |
| Draws – 15 |
| Brighton wins – 20 |
Wolves should aim to absorb pressure and counter-attack, just as they effectively did against Manchester City. While Brighton doesn’t possess the same attacking threat as City, it will be intriguing to see whether Gary O’Neil opts for a three-man midfield to maintain solidity or shifts to a more attacking setup with two midfielders and an additional forward.
Brighton has caused Wolves plenty of trouble in past meetings, but after their strong performance against City, Wolves should head into this match with confidence. A key decision for O’Neil will be who starts in goal. Lee Naylor and Andy Thompson both back José Sá for the starting spot against Brighton, especially after his standout display against City.
Though Sá had a tough outing against Brighton in the Carabao Cup, many fans believe his recent form warrants another chance at the Amex. Meanwhile, with Sam Johnstone returning to training this week, O’Neil’s choice in goal will be a closely watched decision that could shape Wolves’ approach to the game.
GET MORE CONTENT HERE
Leave a Reply