Albion, it seems, are going to do it the hard way, point by point, if they are to survive in the Championship this season.

It was a case of deja vu at Withdean last night as they were unable to hold on to a 1-0 lead at home for the second time in four days.

Ipswich levelled in the first half on Saturday. Glenn Hoddle's injury-hit Wolves took much longer to achieve equality, substitute Colin Cameron's 82nd minute effort cancelling out a second goal in the space of three home games for Alexandre Frutos five minutes before the break.

Draws are the Seagulls' speciality. This was their tenth in 17 Championship outings this season.

Too many stalemates cost Wolves the chance of promotion last term. The danger is that Albion will be similarly damaged at the other end of the table although the result was enough to ease them out of the relegation zone.

As against Ipswich, it was the failure to double their lead when they were on top which prevented Mark McGhee's side from claiming all three points.

One of the game's fascinating sideshows was the clash of the two keepers, Wayne Henderson and Stefan Postma, both on loan from Aston Villa.

Postma, a formidable Dutchman deputising for the injured Michael Oakes, was forced into early action by the Seagulls to save Seb Carole's angled volley from 12 yards from Paul Reid's cross.

Henderson, making his farewell appearance after three successful months with Albion, showed a couple of minutes later that anything his Villa colleague could do he could do better.

A promising three-man move by Wolves, launched by Jolean Lescott and continued by Lee Naylor, ended with a low drive from Darren Anderton which Henderson had to parry.

Carole, outstanding in Albion's 1-1 home draw with Ipswich on Saturday, again looked one of the most likely players to unlock the Wolves defence.

The little French winger sliced wide from outside the area when Colin Kazim-Richards set him up for a pot at goal.

Paul McShane picked up an expensive caution in the 19th minute, together with Leon Clarke, following a tussle off-the-ball with the young Wolves striker.

McShane's fifth booking of the season means he is suspended for Saturday's trip to Stoke.

Although Wolves enjoyed more of the possession in the opening half hour, Albion looked far more incisive and they went close to taking the lead twice in quick succession during a furious burst of pressure.

Carole, released by a crossfield pass from Alexis Nicolas, rounded Naylor as the Wolves leftback lost his footing and his effort from an acute angle was blocked by Postma with his chest.

The keeper then came to the visitors' rescue again with a flying tip-over from a snapshot by Kazim-Richards following a poor clearance by Jody Craddock.

Albion made their emerging superiority count in the 40th minute as Postma, having done so much to keep the scoreline blank, allowed a low angled drive by Frutos from close range to slip through his hands.

Frutos and Carole are proving to be valuable acquisitions on the wings.

The compatriots are comfortable with either foot and swapped flanks at the start of the second half.

Along with the French connection, the industrious Nicolas was doing a fine job in the middle of midfield on his first Championship start since March in the absences of the injured Charlie Oatway and Richard Carpenter.

Wolves continued to struggle to carve out chances and they had Postma to thank for keeping them in contention in the 64th minute when Leon Knight's pass put Dean Hammond clean through.

It was a good opportunity for the midfielder to celebrate his 50th League appearance for the Seagulls with another goal after ending a lean run against Ipswich but credit was due to Postma for coming smartly off his line to smother.

Postma, so much busier than Henderson, made another relatively routine stop when Carole could not get enough power in a shot from Kazim-Richards' pass.

Wolves almost snatched a fortuitous equaliser with 18 minutes remaining when Guy Butters' clearing header inside his own half hit the back of Reid and rebounded into the path of Ki-Heyon Seol. The substitute, on for Seyi George Olofinjana, cut inside to fire narrowly wide.

Seol brought fresh life to Wolves but it was another substitute who hauled them level eight minutes from time after Albion had themselves simultaneously brought on Adam El-Abd for the flagging Frutos and Jake Robinson for Knight.

Kazim-Richards failed to retain possession in the Wolves half, which allowed Mark Kennedy to release Clarke on the left wing. His cross was met at the far post by Vio Ganea with a shot which struck Henderson's head and then the crossbar before Cameron, introduced at half-time for Anderton, pounced on the rebound.

Postma rounded off his mixed evening by parrying Robinson's angled drive on the break at his near post from Henderson's clearance in the closing stages as Albion were forced to settle yet again for parity.

McShane's absence will be felt in the Potteries on Saturday but Albion's away form is impressive and they can travel in confidence on the back of a four-match unbeaten run.

  • Albion (4-4-2): Henderson 7; Hart 7, McShane 7, Butters 7, Reid 7; Carole 8, Nicolas 8, Hammond 7, Frutos 8; Kazim-Richards 7, Knight 7. Subs: Dodd, Turienzo, El-Abd for Frutos (withdrawn, 76), Robinson for Knight (withdrawn, 76), Blayney.
  • WOLVES: (4-4-2): Postma; Edwards, Craddock, Lescott, Naylor; Olofinjana, Anderton, Huddlestone, Kennedy; Clarke, Ganea. Subs: Cameron for Anderton (injured, 46), Ross, Seol for Olofinjana (withdrawn, 67), Murray, Gobern.
  • Match Facts
  • - Shots on goal: Albion 8, Wolves 3.

- Shots off goal: Albion 3, Wolves 8.

- Corners: Albion 5, Wolves 5.

- Offside: Albion 1, Wolves 6.

- Free-kicks: Albion 6, Wolves 10.

  • Albion booking: McShane (19, unsporting behaviour).
  • Wolves bookings: Clarke (19, unsporting behaviour), Huddlestone (43, foul).
  • Albion scorer: Frutos (40).
  • Wolves scorer: Cameron (82).