Wolves’ Manager Reveals Ambition to Win FA Cup After Narrow Victory Over Brighton

Gary O’Neil has outlined Wolves’ determination to claim the FA Cup trophy after they progressed to the quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Brighton. The only goal of the match came early, with Mario Lemina scoring within 77 seconds, securing a home tie against Coventry in the next round. This marks only the second time since 2003 that Wolves have reached the last eight in the competition.

While Wolves were on the winning side, Brighton dominated much of the match, with Facundo Buonanotte missing a golden opportunity and goalkeeper Jason Steele misfiring in stoppage time.

Reflecting on their FA Cup journey, O’Neil spoke of his ambitions for the tournament, revealing that he had set winning the FA Cup as their goal before their third-round tie at Brentford in January. “When we travelled to Brentford, I made it clear to the players that our aim was to win the FA Cup,” he explained. “I know it sounds ambitious, but every win brings us one step closer. We’ve worked hard to get here.”

O’Neil also acknowledged the challenge posed by Coventry in the next round, calling them a “good side” that plays attractive football. “Everyone outside will expect us to beat them, which can be difficult. But whoever we play, it’s a huge opportunity. We’ve beaten top teams like Chelsea, Tottenham, and Man City here, and we love playing in front of our fans. They’ll be dreaming of a semi-final, and I’ll be focusing on Coventry.”

Wolves made a fast start in the match when Lemina scored in the second minute, tapping in after Steele failed to clear Jean-Ricner Bellegarde’s cross. However, Wolves were unable to build on their lead, and Brighton created a number of chances, with Simon Adingra and Jakub Moder failing to test goalkeeper Jose Sa. Buonanotte had a chance to level the score before halftime but missed the target with a header.

Lewis Dunk also had an opportunity to score but sent his header wide. Meanwhile, Wolves were dealt a blow as Hwang Hee-Chan picked up a hamstring injury. O’Neil expressed hope that the injury wasn’t too serious, although he was doubtful the player would feature in their upcoming match against Newcastle.

Despite late pressure from Brighton, including a dramatic final-minute miss by Steele, Wolves held on for the win. Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi praised his team’s performance, despite the defeat, saying, “We played well and created plenty of chances, but we made too many mistakes in the first half. We are managing a lot of injuries, but the future of Brighton is bright, with a lot of young players getting valuable experience.”