Fabian Hurzeler’s tactical decisions sparked a whirlwind of emotions as Brighton surrendered a comfortable two-goal lead to Wolves, ending in a 2-2 draw at the Amex Stadium last weekend.
The substitution of Evan Ferguson for Danny Welbeck on the 73rd minute paid off handsomely, with the Irish star scoring the second goal just five minutes before the final whistle when victory seemed within grasp for Albion. However, the swaps of Brajan Gruda for Ferdi Kadioglu and Carlos Baleba for Mats Wieffer, alongside Georginio Rutter for Tariq Lamptey, faced criticism from some supporters. Despite Rutter and Baleba’s stellar performances, fatigue set in towards the end, allowing Gary O’Neil’s side to gain dominance.
Although Hurzeler’s changes initially seemed positive, introducing Lamptey for his season debut set up Ferguson for the crucial second goal. The momentum was firmly in Brighton’s favor until tension grew as Wolves clawed one back through Raul Aït-Nouri. Brighton faltered in the final stages, leading to an unexpected draw instead of a likely victory that would have propelled them to fourth place in the table.
In a pivotal moment, with Albion having a four-on-one advantage, Wieffer’s costly decision to misdirect the pass to a Wolves player enabled the visitors to snatch a last-minute equalizer, erasing what should have been a 3-1 lead and leaving Wieffer crestfallen at the final whistle.
Reflecting on the match, Hurzeler defended his choices, emphasizing the need to uplift Wieffer despite the disappointing outcome. While criticism surrounded the substitution of Baleba, whose performance had waned, Hurzeler’s decision-making could have been hailed had Wieffer chosen differently. The unexpected turn of events highlighted a lesson in complacency as Brighton relaxed prematurely when Ferguson scored, allowing Wolves to capitalize on their passive play in the closing stages.
Hurzeler acknowledged the need to manage games better in such situations, suggesting that the absence of key players like Lewis Dunk and James Milner may have affected their ability to see out the match effectively.
I am also confident that Wieffer will succeed at Brighton. He faced challenges in his first start at Everton and then suffered an injury that kept him out of the first team.
Every new signing must have a standout performance to prove themselves to themselves, their teammates, and the fans. Rutter had his moment against Tottenham, and Wieffer is hoping his will come soon. His talent is undeniable.
Wieffer is likely to feature in the Carabao Cup match against Liverpool at the Amex Stadium this Wednesday. He will be facing his former Feyenoord manager, Arne Slot, and will be eager to move on from the setback against Wolves.
