Wolves drop points against dogged Brighton

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - March 7, 2020 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Willy Boly in action with Brighton & Hove Albion's Leandro Trossard REUTERS/Rebecca Naden

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Premier League top-four ambitions stalled as they were held to a dismal 0-0 draw at home by struggling Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday.

Last week's win at Tottenham Hotspur fuelled confidence that Wolves could challenge for a Champions League spot but they were far from their best against a resolute Brighton side.

With Adama Traore left on the bench until late on, Wolves's attacking flair was missing and Brighton hung on for what could be a precious point in their fight to avoid relegation.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - March 7, 2020 Wolverhampton Wanderers' Conor Coady in action with Brighton & Hove Albion's Martin Montoya Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough

Wolves, who could have gone level with fourth-placed Chelsea, almost nicked it late on when Leander Dendoncker blazed over the crossbar.

Brighton's draw kept them two points above the bottom three while Wolves are fifth, two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - March 7, 2020 Brighton & Hove Albion's Davy Propper in action with Wolverhampton Wanderers' Diogo Jota Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough

(Reporting by Martyn Herman, editing by Ed Osmond)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - March 7, 2020 Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Nuno Espirito Santo applauds fans at the end of the match Action Images via Reuters/Craig Brough

Soccer Football - Premier League - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion - Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton, Britain - March 7, 2020 Brighton & Hove Albion manager Graham Potter REUTERS/Rebecca Naden EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.