Dave Edwards: A bad result – but Wolves are creating real chances

There is a little bit of a lack of confidence that is part of the reason why they aren’t scoring more goals, and I really do think that will change.

Gary O’Neil and the fans who were at Molineux should take a lot of heart and confidence from the fact Wolves are getting into those positions.

When I break the game down I feel it was a very equal opening 45 minutes against a top Brighton team. Wolves played a Manchester United side that hasn’t started the season well, but will still be near the top of the table, and a Brighton team that will also be up there – and Wolves went toe-to-toe with them.

The only difference in the first half on Saturday was a wondergoal from Kaoru Mitoma, which was sensational.

Away from that, Wolves had the better chances and they played at a better intensity. Although Brighton had large spells on the ball and looked dangerous, they didn’t really cut Wolves open, whereas Wolves with the Fabio Silva and the Rayan Ait-Nouri chances, could have easily gone into the half-time break 2-1 up. The Wolves fans, players and staff should take confidence from the first half performance. The reason they lost was down to the opening 10 minutes of the second half where they got a little bit ragged and were too risky with their press. A little bit too gung-ho.

Wolves looked most dangerous from counter-attacks when they won the ball a bit deeper, and I felt they were far too aggressive with their press in that opening 10 minutes. I saw a Wolves team who were really trying to get after Brighton and went man-for-man. In particular in midfield, where Joao Gomes and Mario Lemina were locking on to Billy Gilmour and Pascal Gross. That meant the back four had no protection.

Brighton enjoy teams that press them because they can play the long ball and have clever movement in their forward line, and it meant Wolves left four against four with Brighton’s two wingers, and Julio Enciso and Danny Welbeck.

Brighton’s movement and play was terrific, but if Wolves had more midfield protection it would have meant Craig Dawson and Max Kilman wouldn’t have had to go so tight with their marking.

After that devastating 10 minutes, I was impressed with how Wolves regained some momentum and in particular Hwang Hee-chan was excellent coming off the bench.

He is a player that should be fighting to start games. He’s the most likely goalscorer and is very direct in his play. Cunha also picked up some wonderful positions and drives forward with the ball, even if his end product let him down. He’s just missing a goal or assist to his game.

What was disappointing, however, was Matheus Nunes. He got two ridiculously silly yellow cards. To push two players when you’re already on a booking is naivety at it’s absolute worst. He’s really let his team-mates down because he’s such an important player, and he now misses such a big game against Everton.