Wolves came from behind to beat Brighton yesterday lunchtime, thanks to Morgan Gibbs-White’s first ever Premier League goal.
But in analysing the game for Match of the Day 2, BBC pundit Alan Shearer felt it was Adama Traore who changed the game.
Traore replaced Ruben Neves on 61 minutes and netted the equaliser 15 minutes later after some smart footwork around the edge of the box.
Shearer pointed out that Traore shone against Brighton back in January and was surprised he was on the bench from the start here.
“I was really surprised he didn’t start the game,” said Shearer. “Because at the Amex earlier in the season, he gave Brighton a terrible time, Dan Burn an awful time.
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“With half an hour to go, they brought him on and he completely changed the game. The pace of their play stepped up because he was prepared to go past players, get balls into the box.
“They were then committing men into the box. His goal, the touch, the quick feet, the one-two, and before anyone knows it, it’s in the back of the net.
“He added an energy, closing down, he put it on a plate for Gibbs-White and he should have scored. He changed the game.”
Traore against Burn does feel like a mismatch and a scenario that Nuno Espirito Santo could have exploited from the start of the game.
But the substitute had the required impact, and stretched Brighton really well once they went down to ten men.
We’re still waiting for Traore to put together a season of outstanding performances, where he turns his clear talent into end-product over 38 games.
But yesterday was a reminder of what he is capable of as he stepped up when Wolves needed him most, inspiring the comeback win.
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