Wolves have lost Matheus Cunha for the next three games at least – and Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards have now had their say after his red card at Bournemouth.
Wolves lost in the FA Cup fifth round on Saturday, falling to the Cherries on penalties.
After Wolves had took the lead in the shootout, Matt Doherty missed, with Lewis Cook scoring and Boubacar Traore then missing. Luis Sinisterra then converted the winning kick for the hosts.
But most of the talk about the game has been about Cunha and his moment of madness at the end of extra-time.
Cunha kicked and headbutted Milos Kerkez and got himself a red card, a decision that could be so costly for Wolves.
Cunha will miss the next three games for Wolves, which are against Everton, Southampton and West Ham United.
It’s not thought Cunha’s previous FA ban will impact his latest punishment, but fans are still worried.
Today, pundits Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards all reacted to the Cunha sending off.
Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards in agreement about Matheus Cunha after red card vs Bournemouth
Wolves now have to try and get points on the board without Cunha for the next few weeks.
It will be difficult, because Cunha has contributed heavily for Wolves this season and has been involved in 17 of Wolves’ 37 league goals so far – accounting for 46% of the team’s whole tally.
Today on the Rest Is Football podcast, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards all reacted to Cunha’s red card against Bournemouth.
Richards and Shearer were both irritated by the fact they both had Cunha in their fantasy football teams.
But all three were in agreement that Cunha’s antics were crazy, with Richards suggesting Wolves’ relegation rivals would take heart from the situation.
Lineker said: “I suppose perhaps the story of that game was Cunha, as he has been so often this season. An extraordinarily brilliant goal from long range and then completely lost his head and managed to get himself a red card.
“He didn’t just have one go at him, he had a little kick at him and then he stuck his head in his face!”
Shearer: “Yeah, stupid wasn’t it.”
Lineker then went on to praise Cunha for his recent visit to young Wolves fan Junior, who is suffering with cancer, with agreeing it was ‘touching’ from the Brazilian.
the pair then went back to the red card.
Lineker: “Silly moment, wasn’t it?
Shearer: “Mad, madness.”
Richards added: “It’s not just a silly moment. It’s the fact we’ve been saying for weeks now the difference down at the bottom of the league is Cunha. And he’s out for three games. Now, if you’re the other three teams you’re looking at that thinking, we could get some points here. It just gives other teams a little bit of confidence, because he’s been sensational.
“Every single piece we’ve done on Wolves has involved Cunha in some sort of way, whether it’s a goal or assist.”
Lineker: “Or a red card. I mean he had the kerfuffle at the end of the game a few weeks ago. (vs Ipswich Town). He’s obviously a bit hot-headed, gets that red mist.”
Wolves surviving relegation feels touch and go after Cunha red card
This is potentially a hugely significant moment in Wolves’ season.
While there is still a five-point gap down to the relegation zone, Wolves have now lost their game-changer for at least three games.
He has contributed massively all season for Wolves and had it not been for him and his quality, Wanderers could have been in the relegation zone.
Vitor Pereira needs other Wolves players to step up in Cunha’s absence, otherwise that gap will surely close.