All of a sudden, Brighton have become a very different team with mixed benefits.
The good is the clean sheets.
Having gone ages without one, a shutout at West Ham was their first in 24 games.
Another followed against Wolves and the improved defensive resilience will be welcomed.
But the goals have dried up at the other end too.
Brighton moved up to seventh in the table following a 0-0 draw against Wolves
The goals have dried up for the Seagulls, who have failed to score for the third time in their last five matches
Before their trip to Arsenal last month, Brighton could not be stopped netting in 32 games in a row.
However their blank against Wolves was a third in five games, and second in a row, as their familiar failings in front of goal resurfaced.
Lots of the ball, in dangerous areas but their finishing and decision making repeatedly letting them down.
The frustration felt by Roberto de Zerbi, despite his side climbing a place to seventh, was shared in the stands as another opportunity to rack up three points went begging and they were held to a second successive goalless league draw
Wolves had their chances too but spent more of the game defending, which they did brilliantly.
That made it a better point for them and extended their unbeaten run to six games.
Though there was an element of missed opportunity for them too as they could have gone into the top-10 for the first time this season with a victory.
Wolves were boosted by the return of Pedro Neto, making his first start since October after being kept out long term with a hamstring injury.
Roberto De Zerbi cut a frustrated figure as his side couldn’t get going on Monday night
The Italian and Gary O’Neil were involved in a flashpoint on the sideline in the first half
But Brighton began with a spring in their step too, rested and recharged after 16 day-gap between games, some of which they spent on a mini winter break in Dubai.
They attacked with intent, their movement was fluid and passing was slick, some of it especially expansive.
Jason Steele and Lewis Dunk both sliced through the heart of the Wolves’s midfield with eye-catching fizzing passes that created promising situations.
James Milner – playing his 633rd Premier League game which took him one above Ryan Giggs into outright second on the list of all-time appearance makers – had a brief sight of goal at the back post from a right-wing delivery, as did Facundo Buonanotte.
Following Dunk’s defence-splitter, Danny Welbeck had a shot that took a deflection off Matt Doherty and dipped over.
Matheus Cunha was lucky to escape a red card for remonstrating with referee Craig Pawson
The Brazilian missed a glorious chance to put Wolves ahead in the second half
Pedro Neto (left) looked bright in his first Premier League since October 28
Brighton continued to look the most dangerous and midway through the half the Amex was expectant when Pascal Gross slipped in Milner on the overlap down the left.
That quickly turned to disappointment when his cross was blocked and then hearts in mouths when Neto broke up the other end and fired just wide.
That sense of relief was soon being felt at the other end when Jose Sa came for Gross’s vicious free-kick, was beaten to it by Jan Paul Van Hecke but just about got enough of a touch on it to help the ball over the bar.
Aside from another Sa save from Joao Pedro the other notable first-half incidents were in keeping with the tetchy scrap the game descended into.
Matheus Cunha was caught off the ball by Gilmour, who escaped punishment, and got his revenge with a foul that earned him a booking before he continued his protests long after the half-time whistle and went down the tunnel with boos ringing in his ears.
Another flashpoint between Gilmour and Craig Dawson sparked a clash between the two benches, Roberto De Zerbi seemed ready to rumble with Wolves’s head goalkeeping Neil Cutler who ended up being booked for his involvement.
Pantomime villain Cunha had an instant chance to silence the boo-boys seconds after the restart. Neto dashed down the right and squared for the Brazilian whose first shot was saved by Steele before he poked the rebound over an unguarded net.
The first-half pattern briefly resumed with Nelson Semedo needed to produce a brilliant last-ditch challenge to thwart Pedro before Sa spared teammate Max Kilman’s blushes when his attempted interception diverted the ball goalwards.
But Wolves remained a threat going close through Neto before Dawson volleyed well over.
They had three more brilliant chances as the game headed towards the final 10 minutes.
Neto was played in behind sub Adam Webster but fired across goal with the help of a touch off Steele.
Cunha then beat Steele to a through ball, rounded the Brighton keeper but fired wide from a narrow angle. Steele then repelled an effort from Mario Lemina.
And Brighton’s indecision was epitomised at the death when Pedro had another presentable situation but dallied and the opportunity, like the chance of three points, slipped away.
