By Tim Hodges from the Amex
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1
Albion drew with play-off contenders Wolves in a dour encounter at the Amex.
Bruno Saltor gave Albion hope with a 70th minute strike after great work from Joe Bennett and Inigo Calderon whose initial shot was saved.
But just five minutes later, a harmless looking cross from Ravij Van La Parra was palmed into his own net by Stockdale.
Albion’s enigmatic keeper saved well with his legs when one on one with Bakary Sako midway through the first half with Gordon Greer clearing the rebound off the line.
The first half was evenly fought. Craig Mackail-Smith and Joao Teixeira went close for Albion, with Teixeira carrying the ball through challenges but putting his shot wide. Mackail-Smith fired a clear chance wide of former Seagulls keeper Tomasz Kuszczak’s left-hand post.
Beram Kayal was again having an influential game for Albion and he crossed for Mackail-Smith whose header was saved by Kuszczak.
Stockdale saved a tipping a shot from Benik Afobe around the post.
Towards the end of the half Wolves midfielder Kevin McDonald fizzed a shot inches wide of Stockdale’s post with the keeper beaten.
Teixeira and Bruno were combining well as the second half began take shape. And with Dale Stephens appearing to be taking on the Rohan Ince role, suddenly the Seagulls were taking the game to Wolves.
Teixeira, after taking a pass from Bruno, saw a well-placed shot saved by Kuszczak, the rebound falling to Mackail-Smith in the six-yard box. The record signing smashed the ball home with delight and was just about to celebrate with Albion’s fans behind the north goal when he spotted the assistant referee’s flag up for offside. CMS looked truly crestfallen.
Soon after as Albion began to edge possession Teixeira blazed over with only Kuszczak to beat. And Mackail-Smith was seeing a lot of the ball but was was being well marshalled and forced wide by a combination of Danny Baath and Matt Doherty.
Albion’s breakthrough came on 70 minutes. Inigo Calderon was played in from the flank by Joe Bennett. Calde’s shot, parried by Kuszczak, fell to Bruno who lashed home a low angled drive to put Albion ahead.
However, as so many times this season the lead lasted less than five minutes. Van la Parra stormed down the touchline and past both Bennett and Lewis Dunk. His cross was dangerous enough. However, it appeared to rebound off Stockdale’s wrists and into the net.
Albion immediately replaced Mackail-Smith with Chris O’Grady. Danny Holla then also made way for Kazenga LuaLua. But Albion failed to test Kuszczak again.
It was Wolves who came closest to taking all three points. Stockdale made some amends for his error with a smart save from Sako and Greer diverted a goal-bound shot from Afobe.
Albion next take on Millwall at the New Den on Tuesday 17 March.
