Wolves secured another brilliant win on Sunday afternoon as Manchester United were the latest club to feel the wrath of a Vitor Pereira masterclass.
Pablo Sarabia’s stunning second-half free-kick proved the difference as Wolves posted five victories on the bounce for the first time ever in the Premier League.
It was a perfect away performance from the Old Gold, as Vitor Pereira tactically outsmarted Ruben Amorim to deliver all three points, which moved them level with Man United.
Wolves fans demanded a new contract for Sarabia after his peach of a goal sparked wild scenes in the away end, and supporters also mocked Bruno Fernandes by claiming Ruben Neves is better than him.
The positivity around Molineux is infectious, and Pereira has made one key change since Gary O’Neil was sacked.
Alan Shearer praises Vitor Pereira for changing the atmosphere at Wolves
It was a dark day for Wolves in December. A 2-1 loss to Ipswich Town left the Old Gold four points adrift of safety, and some fans feared relegation.
But in came Pereira, who has completely turned their fortunes around, instilling belief and confidence into the players and deploying a system that has worked wonders.
Speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day 2 after Wolves’ win at Old Trafford, Alan Shearer praised how Pereira has transformed the whole atmosphere of the football club.
“Well, they were 13 points behind Manchester United when he took over in December; they’re level with them now. He really has done an incredible job, the whole atmosphere on the pitch and off the pitch,” Shearer said.
“He’s given everyone belief and confidence, made them more solid at the back. All over the park, they’re better, so he’s done a great job.”
Pereira shares honest verdict after Man United win
The game on Sunday wasn’t the most exciting as both sides looked lethargic and lacked urgency on the pitch.
As seen by the statistics below, only four shots were registered on target between the two sides, with Wolves scoring from their first.
| Man United vs Wolves stats from the game | Man United | Wolves |
| Shots | 12 | 4 |
| Shots on target | 2 | 2 |
| Possession | 60% | 40% |
| Corners | 9 | 2 |
| Passes | 557 | 387 |
It was a smash and grab result from the visitors, and speaking after the game, Pereira accepted it wasn’t the best match but was pleased with how his players showed spirit and dug in.
“It was not our best match. Technically and tactically, we know that we can play better,” he said. “We played with our souls, with our spirit and that is what I saw in the game. The supporters believed and the moment that we had a chance, we scored.”