This was a performance to savor for Gary O'Neil, even if Wolves failed to make it the perfect night for their manager and traveling supporters as they recorded a fourth successive top-flight victory for the first time in over 50 years. .
When these two teams last met in August at Molineux, Brighton's dominance was such that Roberto De Zerbi's team they found themselves 4-0 up after only 55 minutes. But five months on, Wolves have shown the rapid progress they have made under the former Bournemouth manager – only leaders Liverpool have taken more points since early December – and perhaps should have snatched victory had their forwards been more clinical in the last minutes.
“We looked like a team and we stuck together on ground that is very difficult to get to,” said O'Neil, whose side face West Brom in a Black Country derby in the FA Cup this weekend. “If anyone is not yet aware of the importance of that game, we will make sure they are before Sunday.”
However, on a night in which James Milner overtook Ryan Giggs for second place on the list of most first division In their appearances, Brighton also had no advantage in front of goal, as they were limited to their second consecutive draw in the Premier League. They may have set a top-flight record of nine unbeaten matches here, but it still seemed like a huge missed opportunity.
“I'm disappointed. We didn't play the best game, but we created the conditions to win,” reflected De Zerbi, who admitted that his team is struggling due to a long list of injuries. “We should be very proud to be in seventh place after the problems we have had this season.”
Milner's inclusion from the start meant that only Gareth Barry has made more Premier League appearances – the 38-year-old has amassed 633 since his debut for Leeds on November 10, 2002, when he was just 16 years old. before he gets Barry, you wouldn't bet against him getting it. “I hope I have a few more in me,” Milner said. “I have been lucky, I have worked hard and you have to enjoy it to make an effort every day. “I have been lucky to play for great clubs.”
The absence of Kaoru Mitoma and Simon Adingra from international duty meant that De Zerbi deployed the former England international on the left flank, but even Milner would acknowledge that his days as a rampaging winger were behind him. Brighton worked in attack against a well-organised Wolves team who took advantage of Pedro Neto's considerable pace at half-time in his first start since late October in an unfamiliar centre-forward role.
O'Neil had acknowledged beforehand that this game would be a test to see if his team can move “to the next level” after a season that has so far exceeded expectations. After weathering an early storm when Milner almost got on the end of a cross to the far post and Facundo Buonanotte somehow failed to direct his header on goal from a similar position after Danny Welbeck's flick found him unmarked , Neto was inches away from giving Wolves the lead with a curling shot from outside the area.
There was a heated moment when Craig Dawson clashed with Billy Gilmour just before half-time, with De Zerbi briefly clashing with O'Neil before tempers quickly cooled. However, Matheus Cunha didn't help matters after being booked for kicking Gilmour when he continued to protest him as the players moved down the tunnel.
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The Brazilian striker almost started the second half with the perfect response after a labyrinthine dribble from Neto stopped him, but Jason Steele blocked the first shot and was relieved to see him fire in from close range. It took a desperate tackle from Nélson Semedo to deny João Pedro a chance to shoot before Max Kilman deflected Jack Hinshelwood's cross against his own post, even if the Brighton defender appeared to have been offside.
De Zerbi's team has accumulated more passes than any other Premier League team this season, but still lacks incisiveness, something Neto cannot be accused of. He was a constant threat on the counter-attack and Steele had to be fully alert to turn his cross from a tight angle to safety.
Milner's evening came to an end with the introduction of Adam Lallana with 20 minutes remaining, although it was Wolves who had the chance to snatch victory late on as Brighton pushed forward in search of a winner.
Neto shot wide of goal after finding space on the right flank for the umpteenth time before Mario Lemina latched on to Matheus Cunha's pass but could not find a way past Steele to emulate Bill McGarry's 1972 team.
