Wolves boss Glenn Hoddle was still looking for his first win in charge of the
Midlands club after a 1-1 draw against Brighton at Molineux, the fourth in a row
since the former England boss took over.
Despite dominating for long periods, the home side had Kenny Miller to thank
for drawing them level in the first-half after defender Gary Hart had given the
visitors an early lead.
Brighton came into the game buoyed by a 2-1 Boxing Day win over Gillingham and
got off to a great start after only four minutes.
Wolves could not deal with Richard Carpenter's corner from the right, allowing
Guy Butters to tee up Hart and the midfielder headed the visitors into an early
lead.
The home side stepped up the tempo immediately in search of an equaliser and
wingers Mark Kennedy and Ki-Hyeon Seol bombarded the Brighton defence with a
series of crosses. The latter found Carl Cort with one delivery but the former
Newcastle striker sent his header wide.
Shaun Newton was next to go close after 20 minutes but his shot was well
parried by Seagulls keeper Michel Kuipers before Cort headed Colin Cameron's
cross over the bar four minutes later.
Kuipers then came to Brighton's rescue again when he blocked another Cort
effort before Miller hit a left-footed shot over the top.
However, it was only a matter of time before an equaliser came and it was
Miller who grabbed it on 33 minutes.
Seol, who had seen plenty of the ball in the first half, played the ball
forward and Keith Andrews produced a clever flick which put Miller in. The
Scotland international striker took one touch before thumping the ball past
Kuipers for his second goal in two games to restore parity before the break.
Hoddle brought on Kevin Cooper for Lee Naylor at the start of the second
period in a bid to build on Wolves' momentum before the break but the home side
found it hard to carve out chances despite enjoying the majority of the
possession.
Brighton boss Mark McGhee countered by introducing the dangerous Leon Knight
for goalscorer Hart on the hour mark to try and create something for the
visitors but it was Wolves who were looking likeliest to score as the game wore
on.
Paul Reid managed to block an Andrews shot before Seol saw his strike from
distance fly over Kuipers' goal.
Cameron forced Kuipers into another save when the midfielder got on the end of
Kennedy's cross before Cort sent another header over the top.
Andrews then fully extended the Dutchman with 10 minutes to go but the keeper
proved equal to the task as he tipped the midfielder's 25-yard drive around the
post to ensure Mark McGhee's men returned to the South Coast with a share of the
points.
Teams:
Wolverhampton Oakes, Newton, Craddock, Lescott,
Naylor (Cooper 45), Seol, Cameron (Clarke 89), Andrews,
Kennedy, Miller, Cort.
Subs Not Used: Murray, Clyde, Olofinjana.
Goals: Miller 33.
Brighton Kuipers, Reid, Virgo, Butters, Mayo, Hinshelwood,
Oatway, Carpenter, Harding (Hammond 77), McCammon (Jones 83),
Hart (Knight 61).
Subs Not Used: May, Watson.
Booked: Oatway, Kuipers.
Goals: Hart 4.
Att: 28,516
Ref: M Jones (Cheshire).
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