Mario Lemina’s second-minute winner saw Wolves beat Brighton 1-0 at Molineux to reach 2023-24 FA Cup Quarter-Finals.
Lemina poked in the winning goal from Jason Steele’s sloppy clearance of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s second minute cross.
Last season’s semi-finalists, Brighton dominated much of the match but lacked a clinical end product as Lewis Dunk and Danny Welbeck put second-half headers wide.
Wolves will now host Championship’s Coventry City at Molineux in the Quarter-Finals across the weekend of 16-17 March.
With just one point separating both clubs in the Premier League and having contested a goalless draw at the Amex Stadium last month, tension was palpable amongst both set of supporters ahead of kick-off but some nerves were quickly settled following kick-off.
An early attack saw Jean-Ricner Bellegarde escape his marker up the left flank to deliver a cross which Jason Steele sloppily punched down, with Lemina alert to poke in from close-range to put Wolves ahead barely 90 seconds into the game.
Home fans could of found themselves with more settled nerves in the fifth minute but Matt Doherty nodded Tommy Doyle’s cross wide, as Gary O’Neil’s Old Gold enjoyed a strong start to the tie.
Brighton struggled to carve out their own chances in the opening 23 minutes and were denied a 13th minute penalty, after Ansu Fati was fouled by Joao Gomes during a corner but referee – Andy Madley snubbed Brighton’s penalty appeals.
Simon Adingra curled over for Brighton in the 24th minute before he turned provider three minutes later, as he teed up Pervis Estupinan’s pass for Jakub Moder who fired wide of the top-left corner.
Estupinan then saw a 35th minute strike deflected wide by Max Kilman’s left arm but Madley again ignored penalty appeals, before he delivered a 38th minute cross which Facundo Buonanotte nodded wide of the near-top left corner.
Cameron Peupion went close for Roberto De Zerbi’s Seagulls in the 42nd minute as he pouncd upon Jan Paul van Hecke’s pass, but Jose Sa made a comfortable save as Wolves protected their slender lead until half-time.
Despite finishing the first half on top, Brighton made a half-time change as Danny Welbeck – who was a doubt with an ankle injury – came on for Peupion.
That change made little difference as Roberto De Zerbi’s Seagulls dominated much of the first 25 minutes within the second half in which Lewis Dunk nodded wide from a 51st minute corner.
Wolves meanwhile carved out rare counter-attacks but their best chance fell to substitute, Pedro Neto as he broke forward on a 59th minute counter-attack, but the Portuguese striker’s shot was blocked by Dunk before he saw a scrappy follow-up shot cleared.
Brighton continued to press for an equaliser in the closing stages and two substitutes combined in the 83rd minute as debutant – Valentin Barco teed up Welbeck with a cross but the ex Manchester United striker nodded wide.
Welbeck saw a further header denied in injury-time before Steele flicked wide from a last-gasp corner, as Wolves clung on to secure a Quarter-Final tie at home to Coventry.
What’s Next?
Wolves head to Newcastle at 3pm GMT on Saturday 2 March in a huge match in the race for that final Europea qualification spot.
Brighton meanwhile will also be in action at the same time on that date as they visit Fulham in a tricky encounter, with both teams also right in the mix for that final Europea qualification spot.
Teams
Wolves: Jose Sa, Max Kilman, Santiago Bueno, Toti, Matt Doherty, Joao Gomes, Mario Lemina (Sarabia 56′), Rayan Ait-Nouri (Dawson 90+4′), Tommy Doyle, Hwang Hee-Chan (Neto 56′), Jean-Ricner Bellegarde (Traore 76′)
Substitutes: David Bentley, Boubacar Traore, Pedro Neto, Craig Dawson, Hugo Bueno, Pablo Sarabia, Nelson Semedo, Tawanda Chirewa, Nathan Fraser
Brighton: Jason Steele, Jan Paul van Hecke, Lewis Dunk, Igor (Barco 80′), Jakub Moder (Baleba 61′), Cameron Peupion (Welbeck 45′), Pascal Gross, Pervis Estupinan, Facundo Buonanotte (Baker-Boaitey 70′), Simon Adingra, Ansu Fati (Enciso 70′)
Substitutes: Bart Verbruggen, Adam Webster, Julio Enciso, Adam Lallana, Danny Welbeck, Valentin Barco, Carlos Baleba, Odeluga Offiah, Benicio Baker-Boaitey
Referee – Andy Madley
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