Brighton 2 Wolves 2: What the stats reveal

Brighton dominated possession with a 62 per cent share. But when it came to chances the two sides could not be separated, according to statistics from whoscored.com.

Wolves created a high number of chances relative to their 38 per cent possession.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side clocked 13 attempts with Brighton also creating the same amount of chances up the other end.

Diogo Jota converted two of those chances for Wolves with Neal Maupay and Davy Propper’s efforts sandwiched in-between.

That saw both sides finish with a 15 per cent conversion rate with 12 of Wolves’ attempts coming from open play.

Only six of Wolves’ efforts were on target with Brighton racking up five.

And, given his two goals, it was no surprise that Jota was top of the charts for chances.

The left-sided attacker had six attempts.

Two flew in, another hit the target with two efforts blocked and an early chance flying wide.

All six of his attempts came from inside the 18-yard box as he dominated that left wing.

His heat map shows he stampeded that flank with a heavy footprint just inside Brighton’s half on the left.

But the heat map also reveals how Brighton stopped Wolves’ midfield duo Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho from making any progress in the centre of the pitch, especially in Brighton’s segment of the circle.

Wolves’ heat maps show a vacuum in that segment as they were forced out wide, though that would only play into their hands.

It also explains the possession ratio and Wolves inferior pass rate, with Brighton storming to 605 passes to Wolves’ 373.

But Wolves are kings of the counter-attack and Brighton’s desire to be on the ball would eventually play into Wolves’ hands.

The stats show that Jota’s brilliance was no fluke due to that dominance of the left flank.

But, though it was his day, it was also a day for individual errors.

Jonny Castro Otto and Romain Saiss made errors that went unpunished, but it was shot-stopper Rui Patricio who did not cover himself in glory for the Brighton leveller.

The keeper managed to get a hand to Maupay’s long range effort after he had beaten skipper Conor Coady to a long ball over the top.

The shot-stopper made three saves in the whole game, but when called upon in the 34th minute he could not tip away Maupay’s effort.

His opposite number Mathew Ryan made four saves as Wolves showed their strength in the final third.

It might have been Jota’s day, but Wolves’ right-sided forward Adama Traore and his wing partner Matt Doherty once again ensured they dominated the right flank.

No fewer than 42 per cent of Wolves’ attacks came from that wing with 36 per cent from the left.

But they were deadlier from that left flank with both of Jota’s strikes coming from play on that wing.

His first in the 27th minute was engineered by his own break from that wing.

He played a one-two with Raul Jimenez and gave Wolves the lead.

His second came from winger Jonny’s pressing play as he pounced on a loose ball.

Brighton sprayed the ball across the back line towards their right wing, but Jonny was alert to tee-up Jota.

It showed that Wolves were more ruthless on that left flank, but the statistics show that Brighton took aggressive measures to stop Traore on the right wing.

They picked up three yellow cards, all for fouls on the Wolves pace-man.

Dale Stephens, Dan Burn and Lewis Dunk all found themselves in the book, but you could have argued that more Brighton men should have picked up cautions for fouling the winger.

His dribble ratio explains why they were so keen to stop him sprinting.

The Wolves forward had 11 dribbles, with a 100 per cent completion rate.

Jota might have only made two dribbles, but he made the first one count as he combined with Jimenez to open the scoring.

Thus you can argue it is quantity not quality, though for all who were at the Amex or watching on TV, Brighton’s tactics to stop Traore’s flight were clear.

Overall though, the statistics give the impression that a draw was a fair result.