Mario Lemina struck after just 77 seconds to put Wolves within 90 minutes of Wembley.

The midfielder’s early goal was enough to edge Gary O’Neil’s men past injury-ravaged Brighton – whose goalkeeper Jason Steele missed a glorious chance to equalise in stoppage time after heading forward for a corner – and set up a quarter-final tie here against Championship club Coventry. 

Yet Wolves will need to play much better than this to have a chance of lifting the FA Cup for the first time since 1960. 

For all their promising approach work, Brighton could not test Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa as much as they should have. 

Wolves reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Wednesday as they beat Brighton 1-0

It wasn’t all smiles for the hosts, however, who lost Hwang Hee-chan to injury in the second half of the game

Roberto De Zerbi’s side were the better for much of the game but were unable to find the back of the net

Despite leaving key men Pedro Neto and Craig Dawson out of the starting XI, Wolves were immediately into their stride and took the lead inside two minutes. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde raced away from Jan Paul van Hecke and when Steele flapped at the cross, Pervis Estupinan dithered. Lemina did not and slid Wolves in front.

Weakened severely by injuries, Brighton did not threaten until just before the half-hour, when Jakub Moder fired just wide from 20 yards. At the other end, Bellegarde hunted down Lewis Dunk’s underhit backpass but Steele bailed Albion out.

That was when the visitors started to play. They demanded a penalty when Estpunian’s shot hit Max Kilman’s forearm and then Facundo Buonanotte – unsighted by Van Hecke leaping in front of him – headed wide from eight yards. On his full debut, Cameron Peupion shot weakly after cutting in from the right and on the other flank, Simon Adingra was off target from a similarly promising position.

Wolves were poor despite beating Sheffield United last weekend and they were not much better here. Brighton were sharper again at the start of the second half and Dunk headed Pascal Gross’ corner wide.

To make matters trickier for Wolves, Hwang Hee-chan pulled up after playing a pass and was immediately replaced by Neto, with Lemina also moving gingerly down the tunnel when he was substituted at the same time.

Neto was swiftly involved as he tore from inside his own half and was just halted by the covering Dunk.

And with Wolves limited to counter-attacks as Brighton pressed, Neto fed fellow substitute Pablo Sarabia and his low strike forced a corner. Roberto De Zerbi’s men were still dangerous though and half-time sub Danny Welbeck put a header a fraction too high from Valentin Barco’s cross. Then in the closing seconds Steele stabbed a knockdown wide at the far post.

To make matters trickier for Wolves, Hwang Hee-chan pulled up after playing a pass and was immediately replaced by Neto, with Lemina also moving gingerly down the tunnel when he was substituted at the same time.

Pedro Neto proved a tricky customer for Wolves when he came on for the injured Hwang

Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele perhaps should have equalised when he poked wide in the dying moments

Gary O’Neil’s side will now take on Championship side Coventry in the last eight of the competition

Neto was swiftly involved as he tore from inside his own half and was just halted by the covering Dunk.

And with Wolves limited to counter-attacks as Brighton pressed, Neto fed fellow substitute Pablo Sarabia and his low strike forced a corner. Roberto De Zerbi’s men were still dangerous though and half-time sub Danny Welbeck put a header a fraction too high from Valentin Barco’s cross. Then in the closing seconds Steele stabbed a knockdown wide at the far post.