Brighton 3-2 Wolves: Albion through despite comedy and calamity

If you went along to the Amex for League Cup third round action wanting safe passage for the Albion but at the same time to be entertained by moments of comedy bordering on farce, then Brighton 3-2 Wolves delivered in spades.

Five goals. Two struck from outside the box by the Albion. Jason Steele gifting one to Wolves. Adam Webster almost providing a magnificent own goal. Igor Julio playing the second half like a man who had bombed an industrial amount of MDMA during the interval.

This was a night which had it all. Most importantly, it ended with Brighton into round four. A stage of the competition only visited twice since 1979.

How much further might Brighton go? Fabian Hurzeler fancies making history based on his comments before Brighton 3-2 Wolves and the starting XI he picked for the game.

The youngest permanent head coach in Premier League League Cup history named a strong side full of Premier League quality, highlighting the depth of the current Albion squad.

Hurzeler’s intentions were very clear. Even if the second half performance ended up making the result much more laboured than it should have been.

Wolves arrived at the Amex with a victory in the Premier League and facing a tricky run of matches, meaning Gary O’Neil has bigger fish to fry than the League Cup.

The Old Gold’s priority is not being embroiled in a relegation battle by the time Halloween arrives. O’Neil therefore promised heavy rotation and the prospect of at least one young and inexperienced centre back getting an opportunity.

He was good for his word. 10 changes from the weekend defeat to Newcastle United, including a full debut for defender Alfie Pond.

It did not take long for Brighton to leave Pond and his teammates all at sea. Just 14 minutes had elapsed when the outstanding Carlos Baleba struck a magnificent opener.

Baleba pressed Joao Gomes some 30 yards away from the Wolves goal. After winning possession, the Albion midfielder advanced to 25 yards out and crashed an effort past the helpless Jose Sa.

With a lot of Brighton supporters getting misty eyed over Kazenga LuaLua thanks to the BarclaysMen (or in the Albion’s case, NpowerMen) craze that has been sweeping the internet, Baleba paid his own tribute by celebrating with a display of acrobatic gymnastics.

Evan Ferguson was looking good on his first start since ankle surgery last spring. After turning Pond, Ferguson looked to have beaten Sa too. Yankubu Minteh tucked the ball over the line for good measure, only to be flagged offside.

Not that the Albion would be denied a second goal for long. Simon Adingra continued his fine start to the campaign with his third goal, cutting in from the left flank and beating Sa from 20 yards. Anyone know the last time Brighton scored twice from outside the box in the same game?

The Albion had been in total control right up until the final five minutes of the half. Rodridgo Gomes beat Steele from close range via a deflection off Webster in what was all round questionable defending.

A goal so close to the interval picked Wolves up whilst having an opposite, detrimental impact on Brighton. Either than or Hurzeler invited The Chuckle Brothers to come and give some half time tactical advice to Steele and the back four.

The Albion set the tone for the next 40 minutes or so by giving Wolves a chance to equalise straight from the second half restart.

Steele saved with his legs from Gomes and then had to smother the ball at the feet of Pablo Sarabia. Steele would go onto play a major role in Wolves’ second goal, for which he has been absolutely slaughtered by some Albion fans.

It is easy to forget though the good work a goalkeeper has earlier done if they make a pretty horrific cock up. Had Steele not made those two saves – nor tipped a first half Goncalo Guedes effort over the bar – Brighton 3-2 Wolves might have ended with a very different outcome.

With Igor becoming increasingly erratic as the second half wore, Webster decided to get in on the act by almost scoring what would have been a hilarious own goal just past the hour mark.

Webster seemed determined to scramble a cross from Nelson Semedo into the back of the Brighton net. Jack Hinshelwood bailed out Webster with a superb clearance off the line.

If only Jack’s dad Adam had a teammate who could have cleared for him when he scored an own goal from 30 yards at Withdean against Colchester United on Boxing Day 2008.

Hurzeler tried to break the chaotic tailspin Brighton were in by looking to his bench. On came Danny Welbeck and Mats Wieffer. Yasin Ayari followed. Then Tariq Lamptey and Ferdi Kadioglu.

The last of those introductions proved to be inspired. Excellent distribution from Steele (something else not many people are talking about) found Adingra, who produced an outrageous first touch and turn to take a couple of visiting players out the game and break.

Adingra slipped in Welbeck. When Dat Guy had a shot blocked by Sa, Kadioglu arrived in the right place at the right time to slam home the rebound with his first touch of the night.

A nice moment from the Turkish international with the marvellous fashion sense. The goal though was all about Adingra. The King of AFCON can do no more to force his way into Hurzeler’s Premier League starting XI.

If Adingra remains on the bench again for the weekend visit of Nottingham Forest, it deserves to be categorised as a war crime.

You might think Brighton nerves would settle moving 3-1 up with five minutes remaining; that the weird and wonderful decision making which had littered the second half would cease.

Of course it didn’t. Steele decided to make things interesting, passing straight to a Wolves player under no pressure. Jorgen Strand Larsen accepted the gift and teed up Tommy Doyle to make it Brighton 3-2 Wolves.

Still not a patch on when Steele’s performance against Wolves in the FA Cup last season. You remember the one. He assisted the Old Gold’s goal, made a two footed tackle Bobby Moore would be proud of and then missed the chance to equalise when unmarked from four yards out after going forward for a last minute corner.

Only a brave man would have dared predict what might happen next. The answer was nothing. The Albion managed to gather their heads and see out the remaining time, moving a step closer to Wembley in the process.

Brighton 3-2 Wolves was only the second time the in their past eight League Cup games against Premier League opponents that the Albion have come out victorious.

They will need to beat more fellow top flight outfits if they are to make history in the competition. As well as cutting out the comedy and calamity.

Hurzeler will know that though. The players will know that. Job done at the Amex. Better to come.