Brighton & Hove Albion sink Wolverhampton Wanderers to stay in European frame

Brighton & Hove Albion thrashed Wolverhampton Wanders 6-0 to close the gap on the Premier League's top seven sides in the table.

Deniz Undav, Pascal Gross and Danny Welbeck all scored braces in an incredibly one-sided affair in the Saturday afternoon sunshine at the Amex Stadium.

After suffering defeat on penalties to Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final last weekend before being beaten by Nottingham Forest in midweek, Roberto De Zerbi's side came out with a point to prove and duly delivered with four goals before half time.

Undav, a surprise introduction into the Seagulls' starting XI, scored his first Premier League goal for the club to open the scoring from close range after only six minutes. Joel Veltman created the goal with a fine cross from the right flank.

Brighton then caught Wolves cold by counter-attacking from a corner for the visitors, with Gross - enjoying himself back in a midfield role after being deployed at right-back against Man Utd at Wembley Stadium - lifting the ball over the onrushing Jose Sa to double the hosts' lead, before doubling his own tally with a textbook volley 13 minutes.

Anything Gross can do, Danny Welbeck can match it seems, with the England forward clearly fully recovered from a knock which he sustained against his former club last Sunday to mark his return to the starting XI by bagging a pair himself with neat strikes either side of half time.

Julen Lopetegui made four changes at half time in an attempt to provide a positive reaction after the break, but his side could not prevent Undav completing a treble of double's for De Zerbi's side, with the former X striker capitalising on yet another Wolves defensive error to delightfully chip Sa and seal the rout.

Realistically, Wolves probably secured their Premier League survival by beating Crystal Palace in midweek, but they will want to bounce back from this humiliation by hiting the 40-points mark as quickly as possible.

Brighton, meanwhile, march on with games in hand in their favour as they look to qualify for European football for the first time in their history.