KNOCK-KNOCK, WE’RE THERE
BRIGHTON put one foot in the Premier League as Anthony Knockaert’s deadly double left them on the brink of promotion.
Knockaert netted a goal in each half to take his season’s tally to 15 and leave the Seagulls within one win of the top flight after 34 years away.
Victory at home to Wigan on Monday will get the promotion party started.
Mathematically Chris Hughton’s men would still need Huddersfield to drop points at Derby.
But Brighton’s huge goal difference advantage means a win over the Latics would effectively seal promotion before the Terriers’ later kick-off.
“As manager and as a group of players, you shouldn’t think of it that way,” said Hughton.
Rattled
“But I think we all know that a win on Monday would all but mathematically see us up.
“I think it would be irresponsible of me, and a group of players who have conducted themselves well all season, to think that.
“There are four games to go and we have to get as many points as we can. We know that mathematically four points would do it for us and we have to focus on getting them as quickly as possible.”
After a bright start by the hosts, the Seagulls should have led on 14 minutes when Dale Stephens intercepted a horrible pass by Wolves midfielder Romain Saiss.
Stephens found Knockaert, whose clever pass fed Tomer Hemed, but the Brighton striker’s shot rattled the angle of post and crossbar.
Brighton took control and went close when Hemed met Knockaert’s free-kick with a header that keeper Andy Lonergan turned over. They took the lead on the stroke of half-time as Wolves defender Kortney Hause failed to deal with a high ball and Knockaert raced in.
He beat Hause again and his shot crept past Lonergan at the near post when the keeper should have saved.
Knockaert tried again before the break but his long-range effort flew over.
Wolves could have equalised just after the hour but Brighton keeper David Stockdale made a smart save from Coady’s header.
But Knockaert put the win beyond doubt with eight minutes to go when the Seagulls broke on Wolves and the midfielder slotted home past a helpless Lonergan.