Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Wolverhampton Wanderers - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - October 26, 2024 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Rayan Ait-Nouri scores their first goal REUTERS/Tony O Brien
BRIGHTON, England (Reuters) - When Wolverhampton Wanderers were a goal down against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, manager Gary O'Neil knew he had to re-jig his tactics at halftime, but he could hardly have imagined the dramatic ending that the switch would provoke as his side escaped with a 2-2 draw.
Starting the day bottom of the Premier League, Wolves were much-improved in the second half but they had to score two late goals to secure only their second point of the season to climb off the bottom of the table.
"I was pleased, I was very pleased, I thought we were the better side," O'Neil told Sky Sports after a stoppage-time goal from Matheus Cunha secured his side's second point of the season.
"A little bit disappointed with myself really, that I started with a (back) five - I know we did well in a five against (Manchester) City, and the lads deserved another go at it, but I didn't think a five would fit very well against Brighton today," O'Neil explained.
Despite his reservations, he still opted for five at the back, only to see his side overrun in a one-sided first half. But the switch to a back four at the break injected new life as well as a belief that his side could get something from the game.
"I thought we were by far the better side, created loads of chances, we were aggressive," O'Neil said before admitting that he was worried when Evan Ferguson put the home side 2-0 up late on.
"At 85 minutes, when they scored their second goal, I thought I was going to be in the studio answering some more tough questions about well, 'you played quite well again, but it's another defeat', so I'm delighted for the players and the fans," he said.
(Reporting by Philip O'Connor, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
