Wolves vs Brighton LIVE commentary: O’Neil takes charge of first home game against Seagulls – kick-off time, team news and how to follow

Gary O’Neil will take charge of his first home game as Wolves manager as Brighton make the trip to Molineux this weekend. 

The new Wanderers boss was left fuming after his side were beaten 1-0 by Manchester United in their opening game of the season.

O’Neil couldn’t believe what he was seeing and was booked for his protestsGetty

The West Midlands outfit were controversially denied a penalty in stoppage time of a defeat in which they were largely the better team. 

O’Neil will be hoping his players can move on from the tough loss and build on their impressive performance on Monday. 

And Roberto De Zerbi’s Seagulls will be aware of their opponent’s threat but they will back themselves to win after a 4-1 thumping of newcomers Luton last weekend. 

Wolves vs Brighton: talkSPORT coverage 

This Premier League clash will be played on Saturday, August 19. 

Kick-off at Molineux is scheduled for 3pm. 

talkSPORT will have EXCLUSIVE live coverage of the game presented by Adrian Durham. 

Commentary will come from Ian Danter and former Arsenal winger Perry Groves. 

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

De Zerbi led Brighton to a convincing opening-day winGetty

Wolves vs Brighton: Team news 

Matheus Cunha starred for Wolves on Monday and is likely to start up front once again. 

He will likely be flanked by Matheus Nunes and Pedro Neto who also both impressed at Old Trafford during their defeat. 

The Wanderers have no extra injury concerns after seeing long-term absentee Sasa Kalajdzic return to action from the bench. 

As for Brighton, Joao Pedro scored on his Premier League debut against Luton and should start behind the striker this weekend. 

That striker will either be Danny Welbeck or Evan Ferguson who scored after coming on as a substitute last time out.

Young winger Simon Adingra also scored on his first top-flight appearance but will struggle to start over Solly March and Kaoru Mitoma. 

The Seagulls also have no new injury issues to contend with. 

Ferguson may have done enough to start this weekendGetty

Wolves vs Brighton: What has been said? 

Wolves defender Craig Dawson has assessed the challenge of facing Brighton this weekend.

He said: “They’re a brilliant side with lots of quality all over the pitch and a top manager as well, so it’s going to be a very difficult game for us.

“They play a different style to a lot of teams and we suffered a heavy defeat against them last season, so we need to be better than we were last season, and we will be, for sure.

“It’s about having a clear plan as a team. If you go as individuals trying to chase them then you’ll get picked off.

“So I’m sure the boss will have a good plan getting ready for them, because it’s going to be a tough game against a top side who will do well this year.”

Dawson is expecting a tough game this weekendAFP

Wolves vs Brighton: Match facts 

João Pedro and Simon Adingra both scored on their Premier League debuts for Brighton in their 4-1 win over Luton on MD1. No player has ever scored in both of their first two games for the Seagulls in the competition.Since the start of last season, Wolves have the lowest shot conversion rate of any Premier League side (excluding promoted clubs), netting just 31 goals from 435 attempts (7.1%). They had 23 shots in their 1-0 defeat at Manchester United on MD1.Brighton had the most shots (27) and the highest xG (4) of any Premier League side on MD1, while only Newcastle (13) had more shots on target (12). Indeed, only against Brentford in April last season have the Seagulls ever had a higher xG (4.6) and more shots on target (15) in a Premier League match.Since Roberto De Zerbi’s first game in charge in October 2022, Brighton’s Premier League games have seen more goals scored than any other side (114 – F65 A49). Only Man City (74) and Arsenal (73) have scored more goals than the Seagulls in this time.Wolves remained unbeaten in their last five Premier League home games of 2022-23, winning four, drawing once and conceding just one goal. They last had a longer run without defeat between January and August 2019 (10 games).Brighton have only failed to score in one of their last 29 Premier League games, finding the net in each of their last 17. Away from home they’ve scored in 14 in a row, only having a longer run twice in their league history (16 between August 2009-February 2010, and 15 between February-September 1956).Brighton have won their first away league game in each of the last four seasons. Only two teams have ever done so in 5+ consecutive Premier League campaigns – Chelsea (5) between 2001-02 and 2005-06, and Manchester City (7) between 2014-15 and 2020-21.Wolves haven’t won their first home league game in any of their five seasons since their return to the Premier League in 2018 (D3 L2).Brighton have scored 12 goals in their last three league games against Wolves, as many as they had in their previous 13 against them combined. They’ve netted three goals on each of their last two visits to Molineux in the Premier League.Wolves have lost their last three Premier League games against Brighton, having been unbeaten against the Seagulls in the previous six beforehand (W2 D4).