BACK OF THE NETO IS SAFE
Pedro the star, but Wolves can’t find a way through
PEDRO NETO was the star on the south coast – and any Brighton celebrations were muted despite reaching another milestone.
It was certainly a red-letter day for James Milner, as the Seagulls veteran chalked up a 633rd Premier League appearance to edge ahead of Ryan Giggs into second place on the all-time list.
That still leaves him 20 behind Gareth Barry. but there was little else for Roberto De Zerbi’s side to get excited about.
And Portuguese ace Neto, 23, on a first start since October, almost inspired Wolves to an away victory and a fourth topflight win on the spin for the first time since 1972.
Brighton did achieve a club record of nine top-flight matches unbeaten at home – but with just four of those yielding three points, opportunities have been squandered.
Facundo Buonanotte should have put the home side ahead after 12 minutes, but struggled with the bounce as Danny Welbeck flicked on Pervis Estupinan’s delivery.
And with the goal gaping, a half-hearted header was cleared off the line by Tommy Doyle.
Neto and Matheus Cunha, however, always looked dangerous on the break.
And in the 22nd minute, Neto set off from the halfway line, cut in past Lewis Dunk and let fly with a curling 25-yard effort that went only just wide.
De Zerbi’s team have badly missed wide men Kaoru Mitoma and Simon Adingra, injured and then away with Japan and Ivory Coast at the Asian Cup and Africa Cup of
Nations respectively. And they were taking time to carve out many clear-cut chances in a first Premier League game for 20 days after a two-week training trip to Dubai.
On the half-hour Neto escaped again, but his pass inside was scuffed wide by Pablo Sarabia.
Further back Cunha went down clutching his face after clashing with Billy Gilmour, but referee Craig Pawson took no action (below left, Sarabia and Neto arguing with Pawson).
And sparks flew approaching half-time, after Craig Dawson appeared to catch Gilmour accidentally as he ran off from a challenge. That triggered a fiery clash between De Zerbi and
O’neil (below) along with other members of Wolves’ coaching team in front of the dugouts.
An animated Cunha was controversially booked for kicking Gilmour and the Brazilian looked in need of a calming word at the break.
In the first action after the interval, though, Cunha should have given Wolves the lead. Neto again broke clear, before feeding his team-mate.
And Cunha saw his first-time effort pushed back to him by Jason Steele, before toe-poking the rebound over the bar.
A superb last-ditch tackle from Nelson Semedo denied Joao Pedro just as the Brazilian was about to pull the trigger. As Brighton cranked up the pressure, Max Kilman turned a Jack Hinshelwood cross against his own post, before Neto forced a fine save from Steele.
Neto’s cross-shot rolled across the sixyard box and Mario Lemina forced Steele into a smart stop, but it ended goalless.