Chris Hughton praised the desire of Glenn Murray after he overcame a serious head injury to claim his 100th Brighton goal in the 1-0 win over Wolves.
Veteran striker Murray required hospital treatment after being knocked unconscious in last week’s victory at Newcastle.
The 35-year-old was determined to return to action at the Amex Stadium on Saturday and made it a century of Albion goals with the second-half winner in front of a record crowd of 30,654.
Seagulls manager Hughton said he had no doubts about playing his top scorer.
“Glenn always was adamant he was fine, he wanted to play,” said Hughton.
“Because we followed the protocol, we knew that medically he was fine to play so then really it’s about the player.
“If we feel that there might be some reluctance, a little bit of fear or so…but we never got that feeling with Glenn.
“He’s somebody who wants to play and wants to play as many games as possible.
“My thoughts were always to play him, if we were able to. He’s somebody that’s desperate to score goals.”
Murray, making his 231st Albion appearance over two spells, swept home the winner three minutes into the second half with his side’s only attempt on target.
Despite hitting a post through Shane Duffy’s first-half header, the hosts were second best and had to defend doggedly to secure a third successive 1-0 Premier League win.
“Winning three on the spin for a club like ourselves is something very difficult to do,” added Hughton.
“We certainly can play better. In the last two weeks we’ve really had to rely on determination, team spirit and players defending very, very well.
“It would be nice to have a more comfortable victory but at this level, a victory is a victory.”
The dominant visitors peppered Albion’s goal with 25 attempts but were unable to make a breakthrough.
Full-back Matt Doherty wasted several chances, while Ruben Neves twice threatened from range in the second half.
Doherty was also denied a first-half penalty when his powerful drive appeared to strike the arm of Jose Izquierdo.
Wolves head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, who changed his starting XI in the league for the first time this season by selecting Adama Traore in place of Diogo Jota, was unhappy that referee Anthony Taylor did not point to the spot.
“I know it’s hard, the job of the referee, but I think everybody saw it was a clear handball – but he didn’t see it, he didn’t give it,” said Nuno.
“Sometimes the referee sees things and gives them, sometimes they don’t see it.”
Despite defeat on the south coast, the Portuguese felt his side produced an improved performance following last Saturday’s home loss to Watford.
“(I am) feeling that we deserved more, feeling that we played better; better than last week, better than our opponents,” he added.
“(It was a) tough game, tough day but good reaction from the boys and we have to look forward knowing what happened today was not the same as last week, we played better.”
