Brighton & Hove Albion's winless stretch in the Championship was extended to five games as Wolverhampton Wanderers secured their third straight victory by edging a tight game 1-0 at The Amex on New Year's Day.
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Brighton's Manchester United loanee James Wilson, who threw up on the pitch moments before kickoff, was the first to threaten when he raced through on goal and was tackled at the last moment by Ethan Ebanks-Landell.
Wilson then tested Carl Ikeme with a long-range drive on the quarter-hour mark shortly after Wolves striker Benik Afobe had fired the visitors' first opening of the match at David Stockdale.
It was a lively start, but the contest soon cooled down and the winning goal came out of nowhere after half an hour.
Jordan Graham put in a cross from the left that was heading straight to Stockdale until Brighton defender Connor Goldson prodded it into his own goal at the near post.
Wolves cruised through to half time, but Brighton were back at it after the interval as Wilson fired at Ikeme before Lewis Dunk ballooned over a clear opening in the 51st minute.
Wilson continued to be the hosts' biggest threat, but he was being restricted to efforts from distance. Wolves midfielder Conor Coady tried his luck from distance, but Stockdale was equal to it.
Brighton came close to an equaliser twice in the closing stages. First, right-back Bruno took aim from 20 yards and pinged a fierce drive back off the face of the crossbar before Lewis Dunk's header in injury time was tipped over by Ikeme.
Wolves remain 11th, despite the win, but they are now within six points of the playoffs. Brighton, meanwhile, have lost three home games for the first time since moving to The Amex and miss the chance to close within a point of the top two.
Pascal Lemesre
