Matheus Cunha grabs late point back for Wolves in comeback at Brighton | Premier League

Gary O'Neil's Wolves have rarely been accused of a lack of effort. Playing well and still losing, despite countless bad luck stories, is not a positive sign. While a feeling of injustice towards officials and VAR regularly lights up in the piercing blue eyes of their manager, individual mistakes, star players sold in the summer and lapses in concentration are piling up. Here the hard work and outstanding quality have finally paid off. Wolves fought until the end when all seemed lost, staging a thrilling two-goal comeback capped by a last-second equalizer from Matheus Cunha.

Danny Welbeck's 45th-minute goal had canceled out Wolves' solid first-half performance, while in the second half the quality of the visitors' finishing let them down before Evan Ferguson's first goal of the season put Brighton two points ahead. Would O'Neil survive until next Saturday's meeting with fellow strugglers Crystal Palace? It seemed unlikely.

Fabian Hürzeler, Brighton's prodigy manager, is learning valuable lessons and should learn this from a game that is slipping away from his team. In Brighton he will be given time to learn from such mistakes. For O'Neil, whose team last beat Luton in the league in April, the time for experimentation has long since passed, although Tommy Doyle's early midfield passing options suggested a change of direction.

Welbeck, recovering from the back injury suffered at Newcastle, was fit to lead Brighton's attack and the home side began with possession dominance before Doyle's best early chance, made possible by Matheus Cunha's lead, took over but not tat clinked over Bart Verbruggen's goal. The header-dominant Welbeck was next to miss the target as the contest began. Rayan Aït-Nouri's interpretation of the left-back role as a free role saw him make his trademark runs all over the Amex pitch. With him, João Gomes and Cunha, Wolves don't lack individual flair, but a lack of solidity is what continues to trouble them.

In a hard-fought first half, O'Neil was understandably the more nervous manager on the technical side. José Sá, who was questioned last week for his subservient role in City's late winner, superbly saved a long-range shot from Carlos Baleba. Shaun Derry, taking over from recently sacked set-piece coach Jack Wilson, moved Wolves' defenders into the right positions as the corners piled up for Brighton.

It looked like Wolves might survive the first half, but Ferdi Kadioglu's pass put Georginio Rutter in position to set up Welbeck for an easy finish and his sixth goal of the season. The evergreen Mancunian is in the form of his life and O'Neil wondered how his defense could be breached so easily.

Halftime brought two O'Neil changes: Pablo Sarabia and Carlos Forbs for Toti and Mario Lemina. The attacking changes reflected Brighton's form and suggested O'Neil was going all out. This boldness did not immediately change the direction of traffic; Brighton continued to stay ahead, but gradually the Wolves gained more territory.

That left space for Brighton to counter, and Welbeck should have done better when Sarabia accidentally played him through. Yasin Ayari, a strong player in midfield, also missed as Wolves again lost the ball in a dangerous area.

Then came Wolves' best chance so far. Sarabia's laser-guided pass finds Cunha, whose finish is a little less precise. Next, Cunha forced Verbruggen into his first real save as Wolves searched for an equalizer and possible comeuppance for their manager, who was now in constant offside motion and unable to hide his fear. Santiago Bueno's header forced another save and Hürzeler subbed, Welbeck pulling back for Ferguson. Wolves continued to have chances, but Jørgen Strand Larsen could only head into the hands of Verbruggen. Mats Wieffer's oversize was then – fatefully – introduced by Hürzeler.

Ferguson's goal, assisted by fellow substitute Tariq Lamptey, might have put out the Wolves and O'Neils' fire, only for Aït-Nouri to push home and set up the hunt for an equaliser. After Wieffer denied the chance to keep the ball in the corner, Cunha launched into a solo run, with the ball bouncing inwards off Jan Paul van Hecke's ankle. O'Neil celebrated like everyone else who received such salvation.