Express & Star

Brighton 1 Wolves 0 - player ratings

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers rates the players after the 1-0 defeat to Brighton at the Amex Community Stadium.

Published

Carl Ikeme

A mixed bag. Some good saves to keep Wolves in it but Sam Baldock's header, although powerful, wasn't near either corner and with Ikeme getting a hand to it he should have saved it. 6/10

Dominic Iorfa

The switch to right-back hasn't worked out well in the last two games for Iorfa. Rattled by Jack Grealish on Saturday, he was again well below bar here. Did nothing to stop Gaetan Bong's cross which led to the only goal of the game. He always seemed to see right-back as a stop gap (Iorfa grew up as a centre half) and this season he's beginning to prove that centre half should be his long-term position. 5/10

Danny Batth

Baldock peeled off him for the goal but otherwise he did okay, winning a number of important headers as Brighton came on strong looking for a second. Booked early on for taking out the outstanding Anthony Knockaert. Almost scored a shock equaliser with a 20-yard volley in stoppage time. 7/10

Kortney Hause

After a slow start he improved as the game went on but there were a couple of nervy moments when he tried to play out from the back which put Wolves in trouble. 6/10

Matt Doherty

Given the runaround by Knockaert at times, although the Frenchman often drifted inside. Try as they might there was no partnership at all with Oniangue down that left hand side. Struggling for his best form at the moment. 6/10

Conor Coady

Restricted to a defensive role with Brighton dominating play in the first half. Withdrawn at half time in a tactical reshuffle. 5/10

Romain Saiss

Probably the pick of Wolves' players. Intelligent and composed on the ball and broke up a number of Brighton attacks. And, for the second game in a row, he didn't get booked. 7/10

David Edwards

Like Coady he was mostly called on for defensive duties. And runs he made forward were generally either not spotted or wasted, with Wolves often poor in possession. 6/10

Helder Costa

Looked leggy but still managed to produce three moments of inspiration. Unleashed a piledriver in the first half which David Stockdale tipped over, sent a beautiful free kick into the corridor of uncertainty and just wide late on, then forced another good save from Stockdale in injury time. For a few games running now he's looked Wolves' best creative outlet by a distance. 7/10

Nouha Dicko

A tough night for the man making his first start since August 2015. Great to see him back but he was starved of service and didn't get a sniff of goal. Looked visibly frustrated as passes and crosses went astray with Wolves' final ball often so poor. Got some good minutes under his belt and he'll hope Bodvarsson starts alongside him next time. 5/10

Prince Oniangue

As at Villa he looked uncomfortable on the left wing. And as at Villa he was withdrawn early, although Walter Zenga said he had picked up a knock. 5/10

Substitutes

Jon Dadi Bodvarsson

An instant impact from the big Icelandic striker who almost scored with practically his first touch, but a challenge from Sidwell put him off and he blazed over. Added some much-needed physicality but we didn't see enough of him facing goal. 6/10

Ivan Cavaleiro

Yet to show why he's Wolves' record signing. Clearly needs a run of games to get properly up to speed, but on the other hand he needs to show more in his substitute appearances to justify a start. Offered little of note. 5/10

Joao Teixeira

A surprise not to see him start but he didn't have a big impact until the dying minutes when he put some decent balls into the box. 6/10

Subs not used: Lonergan, Stearman, Saville, Wallace.

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