Wolves 1 Brighton 1 - Report and pictures

Batth pounced to fire home a corner two minutes from time to cancel out Darren Bent's early header for the Seagulls.

However, the big story was once again the officials, just like two weeks earlier when Mike Jones incurred Wolves' wrath by sending off Rajiv van La Parra in the 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth.

This time, ref Darren Bond awarded Wolves an early second-half penalty only to change his mind after a chat with his assistant and instead book half-time substitute Nouha Dicko for diving.

Bond at least angered both sets of supporters equally, sending off Brighton's Bruno Saltor a few minutes later and Wolves' pressure finally paid off with Batth's 88th minute equaliser.

Wolves were unchanged from the side that started at Sheffield Wednesday last weekend when Wanderers broke their five-match losing streak.

It meant Leon Clarke – last Saturday's match-winner after coming off the bench – plus Dicko and Ethan Ebanks-Landell, both now fit after injury, all had to settle for places among the substitutes.

The struggling Seagulls, meanwhile, made three changes from their 1-0 home loss to Millwall as they looked to end a rotten run of only one win in the last 17 league games that has seen them drop into the relegation zone.

In came Aston Villa loanee Joe Bennett and skipper Inigo Calderon in defence, while Dutchman Danny Holla was recalled to the Brighton midfield in place of another Villa loan man, Gary Gardner. Albion's third loan Villain, striker Bent, kept his place up front.

And it was former England man Bent who gave Brighton an early lead to bring the game to life after a dull opening ten minutes.

Bent stole in ahead of a static Wolves defence to stoop and head home Calderon's right-wing cross for his second goal in four games since joining Brighton on loan from Villa.

Wolves were listless and took 25 minutes to register their first opportunity as Kortney Hause's cross skidded wide off the head of Dave Edwards who could not quite grow the inches needed to meet it fully.

They should have been level four minutes before the break as James Henry's deep cross fell perfectly for Bakary Sako at the far post but his first-time strike from 10 yards was too close to Brighton keeper David Stockdale who fisted away acrobatically.

That missed chance seemed to light a fire under Sako and moments later he embarked on a scintillating run into the Brighton area, beating three defenders on his way, but the angle was against him and he fired against the outside of the post.

Amazingly, Sako had two more chances before half-time as Wolves, who had struggled to create anything for the first 40 minutes of the half, started to find room everywhere.

Another surging run gave Sako the chance to shoot from the edge of the area but Stockdale saved low down before the Mali international latched onto a nod-down from Danny Graham but his strike was blocked by a Brighton foot.

Wolves did not want the half-time whistle to come but boss Kenny Jackett was unmoved by the late first-half improvement as he rang the changes at the interval.

Jack Price came on for Henry while Graham, who had barely had a touch, made way for Dicko – and the forward took only four minutes to become embroiled in controversy.

Pouncing on Joe Bennett's under-hit backpass, Dicko went to ground as he tried to round keeper Stockdale and referee Darren Bond at first pointed to the spot for a penalty.

However, after consulting with his assistant, Bond not only reversed the decision to award a spot-kick, he also booked Dicko for diving, much to the Wolves man's dismay.

The controversy continued as, just after Carl Ikeme pushed away a 25-yard strike from Bennett, Brighton had reason to feel aggrieved at referee Bond for sending off Spaniard Saltor on the hour mark.

While there was no argument that Saltor flew in two-footed for a loose ball, there appeared to be no Wolves man in close proximity but Bond ruled the follow-through caught Kevin McDonald.

With the numerical advantage Wolves pushed for an equaliser but a McDonald cross was headed wide on the stretch by Edwards, while Dicko shanked well wide after Stockdale spilled an ambitious Sako effort.

Heading into the last ten minutes, Wolves had two clear chances to rescue a point at least but, first, Stockdale superbly stuck out a leg to foil Dicko after he had been played through by Price.

And from the resulting corner, the ball fell to right-back Kortney Hause 12 yards out but, perhaps dreaming of a memorable goal on his home league debut, he blazed well over the bar.

But Batth showed him how it was done a couple of minutes from time, showing determination to win a far-post scramble from a corner before firing home from six yards.

Wolves sought a winner in stoppage time but a grounded Batth hooked over while on the floor and Stockdale tipped over a cross-shot from Hause.