Wolves 1-1 Brighton: Jan Paul van Hecke header denies Wolves first win as Vitor Pereira is sent off at Molineux
Report and free match highlights as Wolves and Brighton drew 1-1 at Molineux. Bart Verbruggen’s own goal was cancelled out late on by Jan Paul van Hecke’s header; Wolves, who had head coach Vitor Periera sent off in the first half, remain bottom
Sunday 5 October 2025 17:18, UK
Wolves are still without a Premier League win as Jan Paul van Hecke’s late equaliser earned Brighton a 1-1 draw at Molineux.
Marshall Munetsi's stunning strike had led to the opening goal for Wolves, the unfortunate goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen doing well to make a spectacular fingertip save onto the frame of the goal only for the ball to ricochet back off him and into the net.
Wolves boss Vitor Pereira had been sent off just moments before the opening goal and his side led for over an hour, Jhon Arias wasting a glorious chance to double the advantage and Jorgen Strand Larsen striking a post but Brighton's late pressure paid off.
A quickly taken corner was headed in powerfully by Van Hecke as Fabian Hurzeler's side salvaged a point. It was not enough to take them into the top half but Wolves have bigger problems. They missed the chance to move off the bottom of the table.
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Assistant apologises on Pereira's behalf
Wolves assistant coach Luis Miguel speaking in the press conference:
"First of all, I want to apologise for what happened [with Pereira]. I didn't see. They told me that he kicked the ball, was frustrated with something that happened with our team, not with the ref or with the opponent team, with our team, and the ball went near him and he just kicked the ball. And I want to apologise for Vitor.
"Vitor is not like that, it is not correct to do things like that. It was one second of frustration and he just kicked the ball. And what can I say? I'm sorry."
Analysis: Strand Larsen frustrated
Pereira had said in Friday's press conference that Strand Larsen was not "fully fit" but that did not stop the Wolves striker turning to the bench in frustration when his number was held up late on in the game against Brighton at Molineux on Sunday.
Strand Larsen had just struck the foot of the post following a powerful run that would have put Wolves two up and surely sealed their first Premier League win of the season. Instead, with Strand Larsen off the pitch, Van Hecke headed Brighton level.
The Norwegian's frustration at the decision - one he could not discuss immediately in person with Pereira because the head coach had been sent off - was most likely exacerbated by the fact that he was not withdrawn for his understudy Tolu Arokodare.
It was midfielder Jean-Ricner Bellegarde introduced, with the diminutive Arias sent up front. Though Arokodare eventually came on, it was nevertheless a cautious move that saw Wolves drop two points late on for the second consecutive weekend.
Putting the Strand Larsen question to Wolves assistant Luis Miguel afterwards, he said: "Well, when you don't get the three points, you speak about the subs. But you know, and everybody knows, that he is not in his best level. He is struggling with an injury."
The instinct to hold on is understandable given the club's predicament - rooted to the foot of the Premier League table after those five straight defeats to start the season. But it did not work. The supporters were frustrated - and so it seems was their star striker.
Hurzeler: Performance good not great
Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler speaking in the press conference:
"Overall, I think it was, from the whole team, an OK or good performance, but not a great performance. So, we know that we can play better football, but that's it, they are not a machine.
"So, we have to accept it in some moments, but then the most important thing is to show the right character, to show personality, and that's what all the players did, they never gave up, they always had the belief."
