Jan Paul van Hecke’s powerful late header salvaged a 1-1 draw for Brighton and Hove Albion, denying Wolves a first Premier League win of the season on a fraught afternoon that also saw Vítor Pereira sent off. Wolves had led for over an hour after Bart Verbruggen’s own goal. The Brighton goalkeeper was unfortunate when Marshall Munetsi’s thunderous effort hit the bar and ricocheted in off him, just moments after the Wolves head coach was dismissed.
Jhon Arias spurned a big chance to make it 2-0, and Jørgen Strand Larsen struck the post, but Brighton’s second-half pressure finally told from a well-worked short corner. The Seagulls extended their strong record at Molineux, while winless Wolves remain bottom, again punished by a late leveller a week after being pegged back at Tottenham.
A Flash of Red and a Ricocheted Opener
The contest’s mood changed in the space of a minute. Referee Jarred Gillett dismissed Pereira after the Wolves' boss booted a spare ball in frustration at not receiving a free-kick, prompting an immediate apology later relayed by assistant Luís Miguel. The incident ignited the stadium and, paradoxically, lit a fire under the home team.