A former Manchester United forward showed a future one how it’s done.

So much of the talk at Wolves surrounds Matheus Cunha’s impending summer move to Old Trafford, and yet it was Danny Welbeck, a man that once tread that starry path, who inspired Brighton’s win with a first-half penalty.

That it was Cunha who gave the spot kick away, a foul for which he was fortunate not to be shown a red card, was a fitting irony to it all.

The 34-year-old thought he’d given Brighton the lead earlier in the first half when he turned in Tariq Lamptey’s cross only for a painfully long VAR check to confirm that Yankuba Minteh had interfered with play from a marginally offside position.

It was also Welbeck’s clever run five minutes from time that opened the space for Simon Adingra to play in fellow substitute Brajan Gruda to double Brighton’s lead and wrap up the win.

Danny Welbeck opened the scoring in the first half, sending Sa the wrong way from the spot

The penalty marked the first time in Welbeck’s career he’s reached double figures in the league

Simon Adingra played in fellow substitute Brajan Gruda to double Brighton’s lead and secure the win

‘Danny is an unbelievable role model for everyone, especially the young players,’ said Brighton boss Hurzeler. ‘He supports them, on the pitch and beside the pitch and on top of that he’s a great goal scorer. He has proved that this season.’

For Cunha, this was likely to be the penultimate time he steps out at Molineux in a Wolves shirt. Wolves accept that the Brazilian will leave this summer once someone, expected to be Manchester United, match his release clause.

In just under an hour before his substitution he showed flashes of why United want him but so many more reasons why lots of Wolves fans won’t be fussed to see him go.

Technique and artistry in one swish of the boot, petulance and frustration with another.

Cunha was at the heart of lots of the hosts’ good play. His early free-kick found Goncalo Guedes at the near post, who put the ball just over the bar with a neat flick of the outside of his boot. He forced a fine low save from Bart Verbruggen with a shot from the edge of the box in the second half.

And yet it was his doziness that gifted Brighton the lead when he clumsily brought down Mats Wieffer inside his own box.

Brighton’s bench leapt in furious unison at seeing referee Michael Oliver show Cunha a yellow card instead of something stronger. Officials gave Cunha the benefit of the doubt and believed he was making an attempt to play the ball, which was a rather generous interpretation of events.

It got to Cunha. He went down quickly after looking for a free-kick, lucky not to be booked again, and then sent a shot from 40 yards flying halfway up the stands. Misplaced passes were met with flung arms or hands to his head.

For Matheus Cunha, this was likely to be the penultimate time he steps out for Wolves at home

Fabian Hurzeler’s men sit in 9th place, level on points with Brentford with just two games left

Brighton host Liverpool before travelling to Spurs as they look to secure European football

When he sent another speculative effort flying high and wide in the second half, the Wolves fans behind the goal began to sing the name of benched striker Jorgen Strand Larsen.

The clock had not even ticked past the hour when the fourth official’s board went up and Cunha’s number flashed alongside Strand Larsen’s.

Within moments of his arrival, Strand Larsen almost had Wolves level as Rayan Ait-Nouri burst down the left, squared the ball and the new man was only denied a tap in by the sprawling arm of the diving Verbruggen.

It was left, though, for Welbeck to have one final say. His clever run made a Wolves defender follow and the space was left for Gruda to slip in and score his first Premier League goal as the substitute fell to his knees in tears.

‘Brighton deserved to win,’ said Pereira. ‘We know that we can be better and it’s time for me to correct my team physically and mentally.’