Struggling Brighton upset the odds as they turned in a four-star performance
to claim their first win of 2003.
Having gone into the game on the back of a wretched run of form that has sent
them to the foot of the First Division, the Seagulls started as second
favourites against Dave Jones' promotion-chasing side.
But led by the pacey Bobby Zamora they stormed to all three points and in the
process extended their run against Wolves to just one defeat in their last 16
league meetings.
In a lively opening period, the visitors started brightly and wasted little
time in signalling their intentions.
With just two minutes gone the ball broke for Paul Ince on the edge of the box
and with the Brighton defence scrambling to close him down, he unleashed a
dipping right-footed volley that flew inches wide.
Then three minutes later they threatened again as a vicious low drive from
Adam Proudlock forced Ben Roberts to gather near his post.
Wolves were winning everything in midfield and soon after Mark Kennedy should
have done better when, after cutting in from the left, he fired straight at the
goalkeeper's body.
But on the half-hour mark it was Brighton who took the lead against the run of
play as the prolific Zamora poked the ball home from close range.
After a quick-thinking free-kick set the Seagulls away, Gary Hart raced down
the left leaving the defence in his wake and when he looped the ball to the back
post, Zamora arrived first ahead of Lee Naylor to score.
With the shot lacking power goalkeeper Matt Murray did manage to scramble
across and push clear, but his efforts were in vain as the assistant referee
signalled the ball had already crossed the line.
Stung into life by that setback, Wolves stepped up the pace and five minutes
before the break Kenny Miller was unlucky to see his powerful low effort flash
wide.
But it was the Brighton fans who were celebrating again as on the stroke of
the interval Dean Blackwell arrived completely unmarked to thunder home Richard
Carpenter's cross.
The half-time break could not come soon enough for shell-shocked Wolves and as
they trudged off the field, boss Jones no doubt greeted them with a few choice
words in the dressing room.
But whatever he said seemed to have little effect and within two minutes of
the restart Brighton had extended their lead in spectacular fashion.
Beginning deep inside their own half, the hosts broke clear when a sweeping
move saw Hart and Zamora exchange passes in midfield.
And after the latter had raced away down the left to clip a ball back into the
box, Paul Brooker burst past his marker to finish emphatically.
Suddenly it was all Brighton and soon after Zamora was unlucky not to add to
his tally with a glancing header that forced Murray to save.
Wolves hit back to earn themselves a lifeline as Kennedy crossed for Miller to
stoop low and head home.
Having finally been breached, that goal threatened to test Brighton's resolve
as Wolves seemed ready to launch an all-out assault.
But just two minutes later the host's nerves were eased as Hart capped off an
industrious display and wrapped up the points with the Seagulls' fourth.
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