Wolves vs. Brighton Prediction & Betting Tips

Wednesday night's FA Cup 5th-round clash between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brighton & Hove Albion is poised to be an intriguing showdown between two Premier League sides competing for a desired spot in the quarter-finals. Let's delve into the details of each team and what they bring to the table:

Date: 28/02/2024

Kick-off time: 19:45

Location: Molineux


Currently occupying the 8th position in the Premier League table, Wolves have defied expectations this season under the guidance of manager Gary O'Neil, who was increasingly inexplicably sacked by Bournemouth in the summer. Despite being tipped as relegation candidates following Julen Lopetegui's departure amidst financial constraints, Wolves have exceeded all prognostications, showcasing a level of resilience and tactical acumen that is the envy of many of their peers.

Defensively solid, Wolves boast one of the stingiest backlines in the league, conceding just 40 Premier League goals thus far. Their strength lies in swift transitions, spearheaded by the attacking trio of Matheus Cunha (though currently sidelined due to injury), Pedro Neto, and Pablo Sarabia, who have tormented opposing defences with their pace and unpredictability.

In the FA Cup, Wolves displayed their mettle by overcoming Brentford 3-2 in a thrilling replay after a 1-1 draw in the initial encounter. They followed this up with a composed 2-0 victory over bitter rivals West Bromwich Albion away from home, setting the stage for a potential quarter-final berth.

A victory against Brighton would mark only the third time since the turn of the century that Wolves have advanced to the FA Cup quarter-finals, with their most recent appearance ending in a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Watford in the 2018-19 semi-final.

Brighton & Hove Albion, currently sitting just above Wolves in 7th place in the Premier League, have also enjoyed a commendable season under the stewardship of Roberto De Zerbi. However, they have faced setbacks due to injuries, which have disrupted their momentum at times.

Despite these challenges, Brighton remain within striking distance of European qualification, trailing 6th-placed Manchester United by a mere five points. Known for their attractive, possession-based style of play, the Seagulls have remained an entertaining watch for the neutral with their fluid passing and intricate build-up play.

Key players such as forward Joao Pedro, albeit currently sidelined, along with midfield maestros Billy Gilmour and Pascal Groß, have been instrumental in Brighton's success this season. Their contributions will be crucial as Brighton aim to secure a fourth FA Cup quarter-final appearance in recent years.

Previously, Brighton had only reached the FA Cup quarter-finals twice in their history before gaining promotion to the Premier League in 2016-17. Since then, they have achieved this feat on three occasions, with their most recent attempt ending in a crushing penalty shootout loss to Manchester United last season.

Wolves Team News:

Gary O'Neil and Wolves have a notable absentee in forward Matheus Cunha who has been one of, if not the, standout performer in this side this season. He's now expected to miss the majority of the remainder of the campaign with a hamstring issue.

Despite a down performance against Sheffield United there aren't many changes to the starting XI expected here given how reliable they've been these past few weeks.

Brighton Team News:

Brighton will be without João Pedro for the next month at least which will no doubt be a big miss given how he's developed as a talisman for the side this season.

Kaoru Mitoma and James Milner will also both be missing through injury here while Billy Gilmour is unavailable through suspension.

However, Julio Enciso made his return from a long-term injury against Everton at the weekend and could feature more heavily here, while Ansu Fati will also hope to come into the starting lineup as Roberto De Zerbi looks for ways to carve open a resolute Wolves defence.

Wolves are entering this game amidst a good run of form having won three and lost two of their last five games. Most recently, Gary O’Neil’s side ran out 1-0 winners at Molineux as they faced Sheffield United, with a goal from Pablo Sarabria the difference between the two sides. It was by no means Wolves’ best performance but the ability to grind out a tight win amidst adversity showed another string to this team’s bow.

The win over Sheffield United was Wolves’ second on the bounce and third in four games, after O’Neil’s side beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 away from home after beating Chelsea 4-2 at Stamford Bridge.

On home soil Wolves have been slightly weaker than they have away from home as they come into this game having won three and lost two of their last five games at Molineux.

Brighton are currently amidst a mixed run of form with two wins, one draw and two losses in their last five games. Their latest outing saw them share the spoils in a 1-1 draw at home to Everton, an unsatisfactory result on the whole but given they salvaged a point in injury time, through a Lewis Dunk goal, after being reduced to ten men following Billy Gilmour’s red card they won’t be too displeased with the end result.

That result followed a thumping 5-0 win over Sheffield United away from, which also occurred two games after a resounding 4-1 win over rivals Crystal Palace. Away from home, Brighton have won three and lost two of their last five games. These two sides have met twice in the league this season, with Brighton winning the first encounter 4-1 before the two sides played out a 0-0 draw a month ago.

This is probably the toughest of this week's 5th round ties to call and it's one where we could very easily see a penalty shootout. Brighton's 4-1 over Wolves win came back in August and Gary O'Neil's side are a very different proposition now, so last month's 0-0 draw is likely much more reflective of the game we're going to see here. Ultimately, the ability Wolves have shown to claim big wins in recent weeks make us lean towards them, as we back the Black Country side to take this one in extra time. Wolves 2-1 Brighton (AET).

Don’t forget to check out the rest of our previews, tips and offers for this weekend’s action. Footy Accumulators is the #1 football betting site for the latest on betting in the UK - download the Betting Hub app for more!

This game will be available to U.K. viewers live on BBC Red Button and online on BBC iPlayer. Radio coverage will also be available on BBC Radio West Midlands and BBC Radio Sussex.

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