Yet another late heartbreak came for Wolves in their 1-1 draw against Brighton, and Lee Naylor was left ‘baffled’ by something Vitor Pereira did, and Andy Thompson was shocked at another.
Pereira was sent off for aggressively kicking a ball in his technical area, but that was not the situation that the former Wolves players were referring to.
The Portuguese head coach was criticised for his in-game management, and many fans believe the decision to go defensive cost them the game.
Danny Murphy believes Pereira was correct to make that call, but now Naylor and Thompson have delivered their verdict on the head coach’s choices.
Lee Naylor in disbelief at Jorgen Strand Larsen being subbed off
Former Wolves man Lee Naylor was left confused by Vitor Pereira taking Jorgen Strand Larsen off against Brighton.
Naylor said via the Official Wolves Podcast, “I think it was the changes, if I am totally honest. I thought we were looking safe. Brighton was always going to come.
“We made the changes, and I am a bit baffled why Larsen came off. He was the one player causing problems for Brighton, and when the ball was getting cleared, and because the defence and midfield felt under pressure, he was the one who held it up for us and could bring people into play.”
The moment Naylor is referring to came in the 56th minute. A long ball forward was chased down well by Jorgen Strand Larsen, and with no other Wolves players around, the Norwegian held the ball up excellently to allow his teammates to get into play.
The striker was able to get the ball to another player, and a chance for Jhon Arias to score came. The Colombian should have made it 2-0.
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At this point, Wolves were already on the back foot, but the presence of their number nine at least gave them an outlet to create on the break.
After the forward was subbed off in the 76th minute, Wolves did not have another shot on goal.
Andy Thompson surprised Hugo Bueno was taken off against Brighton
Andy Thompson was also left bemused by another substitution.
The former fullback was surprised that Hugo Bueno was taken off by Vitor Pereira for David Moller Wolfe.
Thompson said, “Hugo Bueno, the left back as well. I am surprised by that one. If anything, if you are bringing on someone who can attack and get forward and get balls into the box, he is going to be the one. I am surprised that they did it.”
It was by no means Pereira’s greatest game in terms of substitutes, and the pair are right in disagreeing with him.
The decision to go defensive increased the pressure on the defence, and when you play a team like Brighton, they can be relentless going forward, and they eventually punished the Old Gold.