Wolves are looking to break out of their slump this weekend as they take on Brighton in the Premier League.
Gary O’Neil’s side came agonizingly close to earning just their second point of the season last weekend against Manchester City, only for a late John Stones goal to snatch victory away. O’Neil’s tactical approach was spot on, and it’s likely he will stick with the same formation when Wolves travel to face Brighton.
It’s another challenging fixture for Wolves, as Brighton have been dominant in recent encounters, comfortably beating Wolves on several occasions. The Seagulls have won five of the last seven meetings across all competitions and have already eliminated Wolves from the Carabao Cup this season.
Despite these tough odds, Wolves fans are optimistic after their impressive performance against City. However, one person who remains unconvinced is pundit Paul Merson.
While Wolves showed promise against the reigning Premier League champions, with the players looking much more comfortable in a back-three formation with wing-backs, Merson doesn’t see them getting a result against Brighton.
Predicting a 3-1 win for Brighton, Merson told Sportskeeda: “Wolves hung in there against Manchester City but were unlucky to lose 2-1 in the end. This game against Brighton, however, is a nightmare for Wolves. Against City, they could sit back and try to get a result, but that won’t work here. Wolves will need to chase the win from the start, which could play right into Brighton’s hands. Wolves need to focus on taking six points from Crystal Palace and Southampton after this, because I don’t see them getting anything here.”
That said, Merson does believe Wolves’ current position of 20th in the table doesn’t accurately reflect their true quality. “Wolves aren’t as bad as their league position suggests,” he added.
Wolves Should Stick with the Same Approach Against Brighton There’s a strong case for Wolves to use the same tactical blueprint against Brighton that they employed against Manchester City. Brighton, like City, are known for their confident, possession-based football, and Wolves could look to absorb pressure and hit on the counter-attack once again.
While Brighton aren’t as lethal in front of goal as City, it will be interesting to see if O’Neil opts for a three-man midfield or adds another forward to push for a more attacking approach.
Brighton have caused Wolves significant trouble in past encounters, but after their performance against City, Wolves should approach the game with confidence.
One key decision for O’Neil will be who starts in goal. Many fans, including former players Lee Naylor and Andy Thompson, believe José Sá should retain his place after his strong showing against Manchester City, despite his struggles against Brighton in the Carabao Cup. However, Sam Johnstone has returned to training this week, making O’Neil’s choice for goalkeeper one of the most intriguing aspects of the upcoming match.
Add Comment