Ten-man Albion had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Wolves after conceding a late equaliser.

The Seagulls were well worth the lead which had been given to them in the tenth minute by Darren Bent.

But the dismissal of Bruno for a wild challenge on Kevin McDonald in the 58th minute allowed the hosts back into the game.

It looked like Sami Hyypia’s men might hold on only for Wolves skipper Danny Batth to scramble home from a corner in the 88th minute.

The result sees Albion remain 22nd in the Championship table although they are now four points adrift of safety.

Albion made a bright start with Bruno giving them a steady platform in midfield as they dominated possession right from the kick-off.

Calderon was almost operating as a winger when the Seagulls had the ball and that positive approach saw the visitors take the lead in the tenth minute.

Joao Teixeira spread the ball out wide to Calderon who delivered a perfect first-time cross which found Bent unmarked eight yards out to send a stooping header past Carl Ikeme.

It was the perfect start for Albion but the worst possible one for Wolves who had not won in front of their own fans for two months.

Dave Edwards put a header wide from a Kortney Hause cross in the 20th minute but that was the best the hosts could manage until sparking into life just before the break.

Bakary Sako was the catalyst for Wolves as he thumped a powerful volley straight at David Stockdale in the 40th minute after connecting sweetly with a high cross to the back post from James Henry.

The winger went close again less than 60 seconds later when his surge into the Albion box ended with a shot into the side netting.

Sako went close for a third time after pouncing on a stray pass from Danny Holla deep inside Albion’s half but his low shot was saved by Stockdale.

Referee Darren Bond became the centre of attention in the second half with two decisions that had a big affect on the game.

Bond pointed to the penalty spot when half-time sub Nouha Dicko went down under a challenge from Stockdale in the 50th minute having pounced on a poor backpass from Joe Bennett.

Stockdale would most likely have been sent off as well but Bond overturned his decision after consulting with his linesman and instead booked Dicko for diving.

Bond did get out his red card in the 58th minute when Bruno slid in dangerously on Kevin McDonald having given the ball away moments earlier.

Albion boss Sami Hyypia responded to going down to ten men by instantly bringing on Gary Gardner in place of Solly March.

Wolves now had the upper hand but were unable to make the most of their numerical advantage with the closest they came to an equaliser being a long-range shot from Dominic Iorfa which Stockdale parried while Dicko blazed the rebound over.

Dicko also had an effort deflected wide with Hause sidefooting over from the resulting corner but Wolves’ pressure finally paid off in the 88th minute.

Albion failed to deal with a corner and the ball fell kindly at the feet of Batth who stabbed it home from close range.

Wolves (4-4-2): Ikeme; Iorfa, Batth, Stearman, Hause; Henry (Price, 45), McDonald, Edwards (Clarke, 76), Sako; van La Parra, Graham (Dicko, 45). Subs not used: Kuszczak, Evans, Rowe, Ebanks-Landell.

Albion (4-1-2-3): Stockdale; Calderon, Dunk, Halford, J Bennett; Holla; Bruno, Forster-Caskey; Teixeira (Ince), Bent (Colunga 85), March (Gardner,61). Subs: Walton, Chicksen, Hughes, McCourt.