Brighton 3-2 Wolves: Carlos Baleba's stunning strike sees Seagulls continue their unbeaten start under young boss Fabian Hurzeler as they book spot in Carabao Cup fourth round

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If Aston Villa want to beat Wolves in the Premier League on Saturday, they could do worse than try shooting from 25 yards. Right now, Gary O’Neil can only feel as if they are all flying in after this Carabao Cup exit to Brighton.

After conceding two screamers in their loss to Newcastle, Wolves were beaten twice from outside of the box at the Amex Stadium, one representing Carlos Baleba’s first-ever goal and the other from Simon Adingra after dire defending from the visitors.

A late third from Ferdi Kadioglu was enough to ensure Brighton reached the fourth round at the expense of Wolves, with manager O’Neil lamenting: ‘We concede a goal from miles out and a nothing situation. We were the better side after that.’

This maintained Fabian Hurzeler’s unbeaten start as Brighton manager and he said: ‘I’m very happy with the attitude from the players. They know there is potential where we can improve.’

Hurzeler made eight changes to Wolves’ 10 for this clash with Evan Ferguson brought in. It was not so long ago that Ferguson was being touted as ‘the next Alan Shearer’, though a serious ankle injury had stunted the 19-year-old’s progress in 2024.

Carlos Baleba scored a brilliant long range goal as Brighton beat Wolves in the Carabao Cup

The Cameroonian curled the ball into the far corner from 30 yards to open the scoring

Baleba performed a somersault as he celebrated breaking the deadlock in the third round tie

Jose Sa looked comfortable collecting his early strike, but it was when Ferguson’s team-mates began shooting from distance that Wolves’ goalkeeper showed why Sam Johnstone is now first choice in the Premier League.

After 14 minutes, Brighton’s high press allowed Baleba to steal the ball from Joao Gomes before taking aim from 25 yards. Having never scored before, the 20-year-old talent celebrated making it 1-0 with a somersault and a jig.

At the other end, Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele showed Sa how it is done as he tipped over Goncalo Guedes’s venomous shot from the same yardage as Baleba.

Brighton doubled their lead after 31 minutes when Adingra breezed beyond Santiago Bueno before beating Sa from 20 yards, but Wolves scored before the break through Guedes.

The Brighton players celebrate with Carlos Adingra (2nd right) after he doubled the lead

Ferdi Kadioglu scored the home side's third goal in an entertaining clash at the Amex Stadium

The Wolves players applauded their travelling supporters after a disappointing evening

How the visitors did not then equalise, only they know, as Rodrigo Gomes and Guedes wasted glorious chances while Jack Hinshelwood had to save Adam Webster from scoring an own goal.

Brighton punished Wolves’ wastefulness in the 85th minute when Kadioglu scored on the rebound. In stoppage time, Tommy Doyle netted a belter from the edge of the box, but it was too late for the comeback as Hurzeler’s side saw out the win.